Readings, Projects, & Quotes

Have we met our goals?

Energize your School!

      During a summer planning meeting or even at the beginning of the school-year, your student council probably made a list of goals they wanted to accomplish.  These goals varied from personal or group or short/long term.  Whatever their kind, the student council came together to formulate their plan.
          Now is the time to come together and evaluate your progress thus far.  Decide on a time outside of your normal meeting time to call a "special meeting."  During this meeting assess your goals and your time line.  Perhaps things have been going well in one area and you need to increase your goal. For example, your long term goal for the school-year was to increase attendance at sporting events by 10%.  It is possible that you have already met this goal and feel that you can afford to increase this percentage for the upcoming semester. 
          Also during this meeting start to discuss how you can continue to achieve the goals you already have on the table.  What activities do you have scheduled that will accomplish these goals?  What other "homework" do you have to do in order to see that your activities and goals are successful for the semester.  This meeting can help to insure your group of a great finish to your school-year.
          Also remember to be S.M.A.R.T. when setting your goals!

S: Specific - detailed. 
M: Measurable - results can be seen and
      outcomes can be counted. 
A: Achievable - can be accomplished with the
     council's present strengths & resources.
R: Responsible - worthy of our time, relevant to
     our group, & realistic for us.
T: Timely - important now - with deadlines set.
     Target date is named

          After your group has met, plan to do something fun as a group.  It is important to add this element of team-building in any meeting.  This time together allow you to get to know each other better and understand that student council does NOT always equal work!  But it does mean that the work can equal FUN!  

         For More Information on
Goal Setting
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A COKE & A SMILE
Photograph the smiles of students and staff members.  Number each picture and post them on the student council bulletin board.  Distribute "guess" sheets and award an ice cold Coke to students who match a designated number of smiles with the correct student/staff names. 

SCHOOL SLEEPOVER
Here is a sure way to boost school unity!  Once a year, have a whole-school sleepover.  After the necessary paperwork is completed for each student who attends, get to work!  The students - with pillows and blankets in hand arrive early on Friday evening, ready for a fun-filled night of arts and crafts, storytelling, a sing-along, a special snack, and a movie (to put them to sleep!).  Younger students are invited to stay until 10:00PM, while those in 4th-8th grades are permitted to stay overnight.  Everyone participates, even parents and teachers are invited to share stories and sleep over for the night if they wish.  This big event ends with early Saturday morning reveille and bagels! 

RAKES & KIDS
Students learn responsibility and lend a hand to the elderly in the community with a "Rakes& Kids" project.  After all the necessary permission forms have been completed, students and as many parents as possible meet at the school on a Saturday morning.  the students are divided into teams, with each team having at least one adult chaperone/driver.  The teams then go out to the homes of pre-selected elderly folks to rake leaves.  The young people bring their own gloves, rakes and bags.  Refreshments can be supplied by local businesses.  Then older folks in the community really love seeing the children and getting this extra needed help.  To follow up the visit, students send cards and poetry to the senior at holiday times.  Each student also is awarded a certificate to remind them of this wonderful, giving experience!

THE PRIDE PATROL
Your student council can serve as your school's Pride Patrol.  Student council members, who wear brightly colored vests, write down the names of students who pick up trash and perform other kind deeds.  your principal can randomly draw several of these names each week and reward those students with certificates from local restaurants.  Your "Pride Patrol" is a great way to encourage students to be responsible for keeping your camps neat!

To Take Time to Live

Quote of the Month

TIME to absorb the thoughts of poets &
            philosophers, seers & prophets.
TIME for music that washes away from the soul
            the dust of everyday life.
TIME for friendships; time for talks by the fire &
           walks beneath the starts.
TIME for laughter; time for letting go & filling the
           air with mirth.
TIME to love & be loved, for love is the greatest
           thing in the world.
TIME for people; time for the interplay of
           personalities and the exchange of ideas.
TIME for solitude; time to be quiet and alone and
           to look within.
TIME to give of yourself, your talents, abilities,
           devotions, convictions, that you may
           contribute to the onward march of man.
         

Be alert to give service.  What counts a great deal
in life is what we do
for others. 
- Anonymous

If you have a quote, inspirational story, or activity idea you would like to share with us, please email us at:
tacsc@tacsc.org