Thursday, March 31, 2016

BulldogMUN Set Up

Hi Everyone, we are hosting a Model UN Conference here at Bedford High School on Saturday, and we are setting up for it this Friday night (tomorrow). We already have a good amount of volunteers, but if you are in need of chapter hours, feel free to join us.

________




Chapter Service Hours Available for Students Who Volunteered at PWS on 3/29

If you are one of the NHS students who volunteered at Peter Woodbury School this past Tuesday and you would like to receive chapter service hours, fill out your name on the second page on this form!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xlgcI1Sg9IXl5w8jQe6pADPnx7fovpCebTe1nvf7uD8/edit
________
Emily Lawrence



Pledge to Save Energy

BE YOUR FAMILY'S ENERGY WATCHDOG!! That means: when you're at home and you see lights left on in empty rooms, TV's on with no one watching, or any other electronic device that doesn't need to be on, you turn it off! It's a simple habit that we should all practice but often forget about. Every weeknight for the week of service, you can get 2 hours of community service by exercising this habit from the time you get home to the time you go to bed. Choose a day when you won't be out of the house and just sign up here:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0949ADAA22A2F94-ipledge/38728561 

I'll send out an email to remind everyone signed up a couple days before. Thanks!
________
Elisa Chen



Volunteers needed for the BHS Bake-off!

Here's a fun new chapter service project, earn up to 4.5 hours during Week of Service!

Monday, April 11, 1:30-6:00pm, BHS Library Come help run the BHS Bake-off to support the Joe Dambach Memorial Fund! People will be bringing baked goods to the contest. Others will pay $5 to be judges and taste all the food. We need as many helpers as possible to set up, cut up baked goods into sample sizes, serve the goods to the judges, and clean up afterwards. Set up is from 1:30 to 2:35. The actual event runs from 2:35 to 5:30. Clean-up is from 5:30 to 6:00. Come whenever and for as long as you can! (Please indicate when on the signup.)

You can read more about the event here: http://bit.ly/1pNGdW5.

VOLUNTEERS SIGN UP HERE:
https://docs.google.com/a/bedfordnhk12.net/document/d/1dzWpfqVx-aZlBtTfF7VSI0D2GLjYWNOu4C2fpw67Tqs/edit?usp=sharing

 For questions, contact Anli Zhang or Megan Pemberton.
________
Joe Dambach Memorial Team


Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Tomorrow is last optional meeting before Week of Service

Members who come to tomorrow's meeting should expect to work with or support a Week of Service activity. Alternatively, members should help with the scheduling and advertising of the event.

Next week, April 7, is a mandatory meeting.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Activities! Please Report to WoS Scheduling.

Check out how awesome our Week of Service schedule already looks:

Click to Open
There's just a tiny problem... there are only 6 of our 12ish activities represented on the schedule. If your event is a GO, please send your event details Molly's way so she can add you (and the sooner we do that, the sooner we can get these schedules up around the building).

Keep the schedule posted with changes as they come up. One of our nursing home groups has already had to change locations, and communication will continue to be key.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Love Your Body - Week of Service Team-Up ASSSSSEMBLE!!

If you're up to date with your email, you know that the counseling department is pumped that our Week of Service and their Love Your Body week is overlapping. They know what a great resource we are, and they want to tap into your willingness to lead or get involved.

Mrs. Lipinski has set aside a time this Thursday morning at 7:30 am in her office for students who want to lead Love Your Body activities to meet with her and do some planning.

Now, check out those keywords. It's a meeting that's being held a half hour later than our planned optional meeting, but would definitely be furthering the goals and outreach of our chapter. It's a great example of how the independent meeting pilot program could be tested.

So, if you're not already invested in another Week of Service project, and you're interested in leading some Love Your Body work, do these two things:

  1. Someone will need to fill out a meeting form. It's okay if more than one person tries, you can sort that out in the room Thursday morning. By the way, a finished meeting form is attached below.
  2. Please email Mrs. Lipinksi (lipinskiv@sau25.net) and tell her you're coming. She shouldn't have to wake up early if no one shows; or, she'll need to be prepared if all 200 of you plan to stop by!
  3. Front
    Back

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Lunch Schedule for next weeks (March 28 - April 1) Dodgeball sign-ups during lunches

Here is the Google spreadsheet of who is running the sign-up table at which lunch which day next week.

Link to spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/a/bedfordnhk12.net/spreadsheets/d/1vIHhe7YCtGhl9cCohUbYUqAakc524G12TBLkG-eITz4/edit?usp=sharing
________
Sophia Dobrowski



Thursday, March 24, 2016

Dodge for a Cause 2nd call



The Dodge for a Cause team are looking for volunteers for the following shifts:
  • Red first lunch
  • Red third lunch 
  • Red fourth lunch
  • Silver first lunch
  • Silver fourth lunch
They also have updated the form to include the dates (Sign-up dates are 3/28-4/8). That form is located here.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Literary Magazine Submissions

The BHS Literary Magazine, Al-LIT-eration, is currently looking for submissions of art, photography, and/or any pieces of writing.

We want to encourage our high school students and teachers to express their creativity and showcase the talent of our BHS community. NHS members can receive chapter service hours for submitting to the literary magazine! Each submission will earn a 1/2 chapter hour.

By submitting to the literary magazine it would show character and scholarship. The member would be helping a new club flourish while inspiring peers to submit their own work. It would also strengthen the academic goals of the member beyond the classroom. Submitting to literary magazines encourage people to step out of their comfort zones, which will ultimately make BHS a place people feel free to express themselves and share with others creating a more connected school.

Email your submissions to bhslitmag@bedfordnhk12.net. After submission, an Al-LIT-eration/NHS member will collect your signature on the chapter form.

________
Brooke Sicco and Madisyn Simpson



Lots of meeting opportunities coming up

Tomorrow's optional meeting

Computers will be available and members will have the opportunity to continue working on Week of Service activities. Mr. Ahnert will be meeting with students to begin planning the End of Week Party.

Week of Service Scheduling & Promotion team

The WoS scheduling & promotion team needs to know when your activity is taking place, and how BHS students will be signing up to participate. Email Molly Quinn with your information or join her team.

Charity Ball

The New Hampshire National Honor Society is holding a charity ball, which can count as 2 meetings or chapter service. The flyer has been posted to our communication board or visit the state chapter Facebook page

Spring Conference

Ever wonder why Bedford isn't on the state executive committee? It's because we didn't go to the state conference last year. Spring Conference has been set for Friday, May 20th. I doubt Seniors will be interested (unless they're desperate for hours/meetings), but for Juniors interested in getting involved on the state level, it's an opportunity to become a state-wide leader or to pick up 2 meetings. Put it on the calendar, we'll sign up for this at the May 5th mandatory meeting

Reminder

You can now get meeting credit for any of these events, as long as you document your time there. See this news post. Forms and flowcharts for all NHS processes are available at our lovely communication bulletin board, and you can always invite members to join you in a meeting or service project by making an NHS announcement yourself via this Google Form.


Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Volunteers needed to sign up students for dodgeball tournament during lunches

The Week of Service Dodgeball Tournament needs volunteers to help sign up teams during lunches. Hours are available for sitting at these tables! Further details available on the Google Form.

Google form link: https://docs.google.com/a/bedfordnhk12.net/forms/d/1xfFw9Lu6pPVJ4uS2l3v6Lm_wr-7kaXQ2psridHbak7c/edit?usp=sharing
________
Sophia Dobrowski



Monday, March 21, 2016

Independent Meeting Pilot Program

The "Optional Meeting" concept was designed in Fall 2014 as a way to break up our large membership into smaller, more productive chunks. This policy change occurred because members observed the theater meetings were unproductive and usually involved listening more than doing. While it is true that the smaller, optional meetings have potential, the concept still needs work.

Take the March 17 "Optional Meeting", for example. It was well attended, with nearly 80 students showing up to participate. Members who were working on Week of Service activities found plenty to do, and the room was abuzz with activity. However, an informal poll revealed that nearly 2/3 of the students there were in attendance simply because they had to be for attendance. That's terrible. That's not why we have meetings.

Meetings are recommended as a way to plan events, practice our leadership skills, and to stay in communication with one another. They are not supposed to separate the students who can get to school early in the morning from the students who can't. They are not supposed to be a chore.

Thus, NHS will be piloting an Independent Meeting Program for the remainder of the year to see if it can effectively replace our current system. In order to test it authentically, any meeting submitted via this program will count. There are lots of opportunities left to use this idea this year.

Here's how it works:

Students can plan and attend their own meetings, provided the purpose of the meeting is clearly stated, matches with NHS goals, and is of an appropriate length and quorum (number of members present). Meeting-goers must record meeting minutes, and submit to the adviser for approval. This flowchart explains the process in detail:



Incidentally, all of our processes now have flowcharts that can be reviewed here or found under the new "Stay Active" sidebar.

The Meeting Minutes Form has been added to the NHS member links. Let's see what happens!

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Optional Meeting Agenda, News & Notes

Tomorrow's optional meeting will be available for Week of Service groups to further plan their activities, begin to finalize Week of Service scheduling, and to address any NHS-related questions. A discussion on the purpose of meetings will also be on the agenda.

If you're interested in any of these agenda items, more detail is covered below.

Attendance
Attendance records are now up to date except for Junior attendance for the 2/18/2016 optional meeting. Who has the attendance list? 

Attendance probations have been delivered through advisories.

Week of Service
Activity
Status
Prom Dress Drive
Good to Go!
Be Your Family’s Energy Watchdog
Good to Go!
Peer Tutoring Classroom Assistance
Good to Go!
Helping our Nursing Home (Hillsborough County)
Good to Go!
Visiting the Carlyle Place
Good to Go!
1000 Paper Cranes
Good to Go!
New Horizons
Good to Go!
Restoring to Restore
Status Update?
Relay for Life - Suns and Moons Sale
Status Update?
Spring Black Light Dance
Status Update?
Send a Compliment, Save a Life
Status Update?
Dodge for a Cause
Status Update?
Joe Dambach Memorial Fundraiser
Status Update?

I am proud that all Week of Service groups made plans to meet with Mr. Hagen regarding the questions he still had about their planned activity. But, I need to know if your activity is now approved. Could you please give me a status update about how your meeting went?

Optional Meeting Alternatives
We need to repurpose and renew our commitment to why we hold multiple meetings during the year, and what it means to be a commited and functioning NHS member. I will be leading a discussion and proposal tomorrow and will be looking for feedback from the membership on my idea.


Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Room Helpers for SP Celebration Days

The Senior Project committee is looking for one/two NHS Juniors to help facilitate NHS volunteers to help make sure Seniors are all set tech-wise prior to giving their presentation on the two SP Celebration Days (June 2-3, 2016). Sample of some issues in the past have been because a computer is not mirrored to projector, or more batteries are needed for a clicker etc. Students do not need to be an expert with technology -- just comfortable helping troubleshoot if a situation arises. NHS volunteers would be responsible for checking in with 6-8 rooms prior to presentations happening. If anyone is interested in help spear-heading this, please feel free to contact Mr. Sheil and he can fill in more details. Thanks in advance for your time and consideration. - SP Committee
________
Mr. Sheil
SP Committee Member



Monday, March 14, 2016

PWS Fun Night Volunteers Needed

Tuesday, March 29th is our Family Fun Night from 4 to 7:30. Peter Woodbury School Family Fun Night needs volunteers!!! I am sure many of you remember family fun nights at your elementary school. We are reaching out for your support our current elementary students. We are looking for help with ticket sales, serving pizza and ice cream, and helping with activities. 12 Volunteers are needed for Session 1 from 4:00 to 5:30 12 Volunteers are needed for Session 2 from 6:00 to 7:30 Also looking for a few helpers for set up (3:30 to 4) and take down (7:30 to 8) Please email Sue Armstrong at armstrongs@sau25.net to sign up. Any questions please ask! Thank you for your support!!!
________
Sue Armstrong
PWS Teacher



Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Optional meeting dedicated to WoS activity planning

This is your reminder that we do have a meeting on the schedule tomorrow. It's optional, so it's set in room 113/115 and dedicated to a smaller workshop setting.

Our goal tomorrow is to give time for students to work on their Week of Service plans. As a reminder here is how our WoS plans look:
 
Activity
Status
Prom Dress Drive
Good to Go!
Be Your Family’s Energy Watchdog
Good to Go!
Peer Tutoring Classroom Assistance
Good to Go!
Helping our Nursing Home (Hillsborough County)
Good to Go!
Visiting the Carlyle Place
Good to Go!
1000 Paper Cranes
Good to Go!
New Horizons
Good to Go!
Restoring to Restore
Meet with Admin
Relay for Life - Suns and Moons Sale
Meet with Admin
Spring Black Light Dance
Meet with Admin
Send a Compliment, Save a Life
Meet with Admin
Dodge for a Cause
Meet with Admin
Joe Dambach Memorial Fundraiser
Meet with Admin

Tomorrow would be a good time for ideas that need to meet with administration check with me and learn how to do that. If you are unattached to an idea of your own, the meeting might be an opportunity for you to jump on with helping plan one of the above activities.

There are only FIVE meetings until Week of Service begins

Monday, March 7, 2016

Week of Service activities have passed administrative review!

Good news! No ideas that I brought to administration were outright denied. With some tinkering, the list below should be the list we present to the school during the week of April 11th - 16th:

Activity
Status
Prom Dress Drive
Good to Go!
Be Your Family’s Energy Watchdog
Good to Go!
Peer Tutoring Classroom Assistance
Good to Go!
Helping our Nursing Home (Hillsborough County)
Good to Go!
Visiting the Carlyle Place
Good to Go!
1000 Paper Cranes
Good to Go!
New Horizons
Good to Go!
Restoring to Restore
Meet with Admin
Relay for Life - Suns and Moons Sale
Meet with Admin
Spring Black Light Dance
Meet with Admin
Send a Compliment, Save a Life
Meet with Admin
Dodge for a Cause
Meet with Admin
Joe Dambach Memorial Fundraiser
Meet with Admin
Activities that have a "Good to Go!" status, you are free to begin planning your Week of Service. Your idea will be happening! Those of you that have had your activity marked "Meet with Admin" will need to meet with Mr. Hagen. Generally, this is because you will need further training as to how to run your idea at the school, or in some cases, there are questions of liability. 

If your group needs to meet with the administration, contact Mr. Ahnert to get preparation ahead of time for what Mr. Hagen will be talking to you about. Mr. Ahnert will, of course, also be available at this Thursday's optional meeting.

Great job, groups!

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Kids Vote Volunteers Needed!

Hello, everyone! There is an awesome service opportunity on March 8th. Because it is election day, we have been offered a service project in which we help with Kids Vote. This lets the kids of Bedford vote for fun and color in the Cafeteria. It starts at 9 am and ends at 7 pm and it is asked that we work in 2-hour shifts, meaning, every 2 hours we switch out the volunteers. What is needed is 6 volunteers for every 2-hour shift (which in total is 30 volunteers) and each volunteer earns 2 Chapter Service Hours! Here I have a Google Spreadsheet for you to sign up if you're willing! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zfJkmi1ZuQdEAwbv9ZP86I-zCC9U1fTaJVaVPmCdM_g/edit?usp=sharing
________
Jill Tokac

And don't forget to take your Democracy in Action hours, too -- Mr. Ahnert

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Mandatory Meeting Tomorrow

Topics will include Week of Service updates, GPA checks, Kids' Vote plans, and other service opportunities.

Here's the agenda.

See you at 7:00 A.M. in the theater.