QUICK TIPS SEPTEMBER | New Student Check In
It is important to connect with new students so that they don’t fall through the cracks. Finding ways to connect new students with both students and adults in the building is especially important. MASSP Board of Directors share some keys to their success related to New Student Check-in: New students get a family appointment with their counselor. Host a "Get to know you" meeting with the principal within the first week. Provide…
September DEI Awareness Guide
September is a great month to start your DEI journey, as it brings numerous occasions to observe and celebrate DEI, such as through your Homecoming practices, Hispanic Heritage Month, Constitution Day and International Day of Peace. I hope to give you a few considerations that may help guide you to recognize and integrate DEI principles during this important month and beyond. Homecoming Homecoming is a cherished tradition in many schools, where alumni…
LegalEase September 2023 | I know I put that book somewhere …
Situation: Your school library has a book that a parent is objecting to on religious grounds. No one has checked out – or even seen – that book in decades. The kids didn’t even know it was there. Question: Does the First Amendment limit a public school board’s discretion to ban or remove books from its libraries? Yes. As most educators know, “students do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and…
A New Student Voice Opportunity is Here!
The Michigan High School Esports League is proud to announce a new student competition. Shoutcaster Showdown is Michigan’s first-ever high school competition designed for students who are passionate about playing, watching, streaming and shoutcasting esports and video games. Similar to other popular statewide competitions like Student Voice, BPA, MIFA and Solo & Ensemble, this one-of-a-kind event will have students represent their school to shoutcast and provide play-by-play and color commentary to an…
SAT Suite of Assessments Parental/Guardian Consent Form Guidance
In last week’s Spotlight on Student Assessment and Accessibility, MDE released guidance on the SAT Parental/Guardian Consent Form. You may recall that students who opted into the Student Search feature during paper and pencil testing required a parental permission form to be signed and kept by the district. The Digital SAT suite now provides BigFuture School, and Connections. Principals providing the PSAT/NMSQT and/or the PSAT8/9 should consider this information carefully for school…
FAFSA Completion Challenge Grant: Application Now Open
The Michigan Department of Education, working in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Treasury and MCAN, is implementing the FAFSA Completion Challenge Grant to build the capacity of school districts as they support students in completing the FAFSA. The deadline to complete the application form is Oct. 6, 2023. The application must be completed by the district through the GEMS/MARS system. Data indicates that a senior who completes the FAFSA is 84% more likely to enroll in postsecondary…
What’s New with The Digital Learning Network?
For more than five years, the Digital Learning Network has been a great resource for educators of all types to find asynchronous, affordable and applicable online learning opportunities. With more than 45 different courses available, the DLN has something for teachers, counselors, support staff and building administrators. Whether you are new in your role or looking to expand your horizons into different areas of interest, the DLN has something for everyone –…
The MASSP Anti-Vaping Toolkit: Curated Resources by Principals for Principals
Vaping is a crisis in our schools. The National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) indicates that while vaping has decreased over the last couple of years, 1 in 4 students still use e-cigarettes daily. Data from Truth Initiative suggests that 82.9% of teens use e-cigarettes over other forms of tobacco and that those “vapes” have at least 2x the nicotine as similar devices sold outside the United States. Unsurprisingly, the research from the…
Balancing, Managing and Thriving in the Principalship: MASSP – AETNA Member Assistance Plan
EDCON23 was an incredible event! Hundreds of school leaders shared ideas, networked and learned to thrive as a result of, not in spite of, one another. The MASSP community is a robust one that thrives and grows with the assistance of our colleagues. However, there are times when our phone-a-friend or an MASSP Leader2Leader webinar is not enough to fill that bucket. Sometimes, we all need help. The last four years have…
Fall ‘23 is Going to be EPIC for Esports!
The Michigan High School Esports League (MHSEL) is leveling up for the Fall 2023 season! We’ve been hard at work planning and preparing for our 4th year, which is going to offer some new and exciting events for students all across Michigan. After setting league records for enrollment last spring with 93 schools, 385 teams and over 1300 students across 9 different game titles, MHSEL is planning to surpass those numbers once…