Student Council Recognition Projects

Straight-A Function

South Plantation HS in Plantation, FL uses the nine-week list of straight-A students to organize a function for the first three nine week periods. For the first nine weeks they invite all straight-A students to a breakfast in the cafeteria. The students eat, listen to a speaker, and receive special certificates. After the second nine weeks they host a dessert in the same manner, followed by a catered lunch for the students who have straight As in the third nine-week period.

MAD Cards

Student council members at Lake Hamilton (AR) HS distribute index cards on which is printed "Thank you for making a difference in my life. All I ask of you is that you send this card to two people who make a difference in your life, and stay anonymous." Students who receive the cards pass on the message to others, sometimes attaching balloons and treats to make the event more special. "By doing this project, people realize that with just a smile or a simple hello they can make a difference in someone's life," said Patrick Leahy, student council member.

Lifesaver Day

The student council at Elsik HS in Houston, TX, declared a Lifesaver Day on which members passed out lifesaver bracelets to random students and staff to pass along to people who are their "Lifesavers." Made by taking string (in school colors) and needling it in and out of the wrapper of a mint Lifesaver, these lifesaver bracelets were also made available in the cafeteria during lunch. An announcement was made in the morning announcing Lifesaver Day and all students and staff members were encouraged to thank their everyday lifesavers.

Teacher Appreciation

Each month the students at Bule Valley Northwest HS in Overland Park, KS, nominate teachers for Teacher of the Month. The nomination form asks for the teacher's name, class taught, what makes that teacher special, and the student's name. The nominations are counted and whoever has the most nominations is designated the Teacher of the Month. The teacher receives a certificate signed by the student council president and the principal, along with a letter thanking the teacher for his or her excellence in teaching. The teacher also gets exclusive use of the Teacher of the Month parking space, which guarantees front row parking for the month. In addition, the teacher fills out an information sheet--with questions about why he or she is unique, what animal would he or she be, biggest pet peeve, words to live by, spare time activities, etc.--that is posted on a bulletin board with a photo of the teacher.

Faculty Dinner

As a gesture of appreciation, the student council at Rockdale HS in Conyers, GA, hosted an Italian dinner for the faculty. The dinner featured a variety of pasta dishes, garlic bread, and desserts and was served by the students. Italian-themed decorations completed the theme.

Standardized Test Survival Kit

Every month, student council members at Lexington (SC) HS leave goodies in the teacher mailboxes that are associated with something happening that month. For example, during April they leave a standardized test survival kit that includes such things as crayons and a crossword puzzle.

Roses of Recognition

Each staff member at Pinckney (MI) HS receives a form entitled "Roses of Recognition" on which to nominate two students for recognition. The recognition criteria are left to the individual teachers--good attendance, helpfulness in class, good effort, being polite, good attitude, and so forth. The Student Recognition Committee collects the forms then orders chocolate roses from www.fundraising.com. The committee sends each student a notice that says "you have been nominated for a Rose of Recognition. Please report to the media center conference room during your lunch period." Parent volunteers are on hand to help hand out the roses and a certificate to students as they come in and hand over their notice. "It was a great success. Everyone came out of the media center with huge smiles and the rest of the day you saw students sharing the certificates to see why and from what teacher their friends received a rose of recognition," said Mary Picucci, student council adviser. "It also gave the staff a chance to recognize those students that do not get awards. One math teacher gave hers to a young man who finds math difficult but works extremely hard and he was so proud!"

Buddy Program

As a gesture of appreciation, student council members at St. Mark's HS in Wilmington, DE, are assigned to a department to pamper the teachers for a week. Members bring in goodies, write notes, and provide a luncheon at the end of the week.

Superstar

Students who display positive attitudes and friendliness are rewarded at Fort Osage HS in Independence, MO, with a Superstar award. Given each Monday, the award is given to students who have been nominated by their peers for such acts as telling jokes to make someone's day, picking up someone's dropped books in the hallway, and helping out in other ways. Winners are selected based on the explanations written on the nomination forms. The winner receives a traveling trophy cut out of wood in the shape of a star and painted red with glitter. He or she gets to sign the star and take it home for the week. The superstar brings the star back on Friday so it can be presented to the next person on Monday. At the end of the year the star goes into a display case.

Central Perk

As a special treat for teachers, Forsyth Central HS student council members in Cumming, GA, fill a cart with a wide variety of breakfast items including coffee and take the cart around to every teacher in the school. The breakfast is free and is served with a big "thank you" for all they do.

The Wall

At the end of the first three nine-weeks grading periods, National Honor Society members at Lake Hamilton HS in Hot Springs, AR, pass out forms to every teacher asking them to choose one student they wish to recognize, who wouldn't usually receive recognition, and pick an adjective that describes that student. After the forms are collected, NHS members write each student's name on a paper brick along with the positive adjective. They align the bricks on a wall in the school where everyone can see them.

Standardized Test Survival Kit

Roses of Recognition

Buddy Program

Superstar

The Wall

Steak Dinner

The school board in Farmington, MO, hosts a steak dinner for all students who make the honor roll at Farmington Senior HS. The dinner is for the students and their parents, who are treated to a guest speaker. Past speakers have included an astronaut, the governor, and other dignitaries.

Snowmen Magnets

As a gesture of appreciation, student council members at East Rowan (NC) HS create snowmen magnets to present to faculty members. They paint Popsicle sticks white, glue hats on them, draw faces, and affix a magnet to the back. The magnets are delivered to teachers during their planning period.

Teacher Talent Show

The student council at Eleanor Roosevelt HS in Greenbelt, MD, organizes a teacher talent show to showcase the talents students might not otherwise have an opportunity to appreciate. "It gives teachers a chance to show another side to their personality that doesn't get shown normally in the classroom," says senior Emerson Davis.

Central Perk

As a gesture of appreciation, student council members at Forsyth Central HS in Cumming, GA, go around to all classrooms to deliver a room service breakfast of coffee, juice, donuts, and other breakfast foods to all teachers on a designated day.

Custodian Appreciation

To thank the custodians for all their hard work, the student council at Cimarron-Memorial HS in Las Vegas, NV, sponsors custodian appreciation day. While the custodians eat a complimentary lunch, students clean the cafeteria and lunch area. In addition to thanking the custodians, the clean-up work gives students a greater appreciation for the hard work they do.

Anniversary Pins

For its 25th anniversary celebration--which included a rededication ceremony, speeches from notable alumni, and a timeline of photographs-Bonanza HS in Las Vegas, NV, created a special anniversary pin that was given to all guests at the event. The evening concluded with refreshments and a social hour.

Flower Power

NHS members at Ursuline Academy in Springfield, Ill., show their support for peers involved in drama productions and raise money at the same time with flower sales before each school play. Carnations obtained at cost from a generous local florist are sold to students for one dollar each. Audience members then present the flowers to cast and crew members and production staffers at the school play.

Destination: Hawaii

Sometimes teachers need a real special day to make them feel appreciated. At Washington (Mo.) HS, student council had done most of the normal "appreciation" things and was looking for something a little special to do for the faculty. They decided that the entire faculty needed a trip-a trip to Hawaii. Not having the money to really send them there, they had to come up with the next best thing. They decided to create a little bit of Hawaii right at school.

"We got airplane ticket folders from a local travel agency and produced something that really looked like an airline ticket. We put these very realistic "tickets" in the teacher's mailboxes with a departure time printed on them for the next morning at 7:30 a.m.," said Karen Dawson, student council adviser. "A few of the teachers were almost convinced that they had a real ticket in their hands and were wondering where we were going to get all the subs for the next day!"

On the afternoon before the ticket's departure time, council members decorated the teacher's lounge with netting, real pineapples, flowers, and fresh fruit and placed leis in each teacher's mailbox. "With Hawaiian music playing the next morning, the teachers walked into a place that no longer looked like the dreary teacher's lounge but more like a tropical luau," said Dawson. "The scents were of fresh flowers, the sights were lovely fruits, breads, and pastries, and the music added to the feel of really being somewhere very special. Of course everyone was still right there in the old lounge, but for just a little while they were transported to a very different, exotic spot," she said.

With very little cost, council members created a very special day for the faculty. "For the rest of the day you would see smiles on everyone's face and a lei around their neck. The brief trip to the tropical paradise had surely done its magic," said Dawson. Next time-destination Australia!

Starring Role Project

The student council at Bastrop (Tex.) HS invites its members, the officers of all organizations (including team captains), and one senior from each organization who has been named by the adviser as playing a major leadership role in the organization to an ice cream, Coke float, and cookies party. They thank them for their positive efforts in making Bastrop HS successful and present each one of them with a business card that reads "Thanks for playing a starring role in my life." Each card also has a pin attached that student council members make with either glow-in-the-dark stars or small foil stars to which they have attached pin backs. They also give each attendee three additional cards with star pins and ask them to sign the cards and give them to three adults at the school.

"The first year we did this, we held our party two weeks prior to the end of school. Our principal's secretary and our attendance clerk each got three or four pins, and they each wore them every day until the end of the year. The secretary said it was the best thing that had happened to her all year," said Terry Hamm, student council adviser.

Value Our Veterans

With the purpose of honoring local veterans, the Olton (TX) HS student council organized a project that pulled together students from the entire campus. Initially, student council worked with FFA to develop an idea for a veterans' memorial. To raise funds, they applied for and received a $2,000 Learn and Serve grant and raised $700 by enlisting the help of the theater department to write and perform a USO show on Pearl Harbor Day. To develop the area for the memorial, FFA and FCA leveled soil, installed sprinklers, and planted trees. The Lions Club helped by selling brick pavers inscribed with veterans' names. Students from an art class designed a brass sculpture to be set in the memorial along with a flagpole. The idea to honor veterans turned into a project in which students and community members came together to accomplish a worthwhile goal. The dedication occurred on Memorial Day. (Reprinted from the August 2001 TASC newsletter.)

Student Council Recognition Projects

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