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Session Summaries: LUHS Junior/Senior, Fall '08 |
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Intercultural Leadership
Initiative
2008-2009
All ILI Activity Period #1
12/17/08 9:46am-10:04am
LUHS
ILI Students: (F) 7, (S) 8, (Jr.) 6, (Sr.) 5
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr, Alice McFarlane, Ernie St. Germaine, and Matt White
We had an all ILI meeting today because we wanted to get a picture for the yearbook. All the students came in and we welcomed them and then we had them get themselves organized for a group picture. We had a good time with this and had our picture taken a number of times. Then some students decided to leave to attend holiday parties in their homeroom.
We continued with some activities to get acquainted. Some of the younger and older students don’t know each other. The first activity was called “Known and Unknown.” This activity introduces people who do not know one another. The students enjoyed this and at the end of the activity we were all joined together! Then we went onto “Mingle, Mingle.” This is an activity where people randomly connect and introduce themselves and learn about each other. It is a fun activity for people to get introduced. The students enjoyed interacting and meeting new peope.
Next all ILI April 29th
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
Junior/Senior Activity Period # 7
12/3/08 9:46-10:04
LUHS
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
Junior/Senior Activity Period # 6
11/19/08 9:46-10:04
LUHS
2008-2009
All ILI Activity Period #1
12/17/08 9:46am-10:04am
LUHS
ILI Students: (F) 7, (S) 8, (Jr.) 6, (Sr.) 5
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr, Alice McFarlane, Ernie St. Germaine, and Matt White
We had an all ILI meeting today because we wanted to get a picture for the yearbook. All the students came in and we welcomed them and then we had them get themselves organized for a group picture. We had a good time with this and had our picture taken a number of times. Then some students decided to leave to attend holiday parties in their homeroom.
We continued with some activities to get acquainted. Some of the younger and older students don’t know each other. The first activity was called “Known and Unknown.” This activity introduces people who do not know one another. The students enjoyed this and at the end of the activity we were all joined together! Then we went onto “Mingle, Mingle.” This is an activity where people randomly connect and introduce themselves and learn about each other. It is a fun activity for people to get introduced. The students enjoyed interacting and meeting new peope.
Next all ILI April 29th
Bob Kovar,
Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
Junior/Senior Activity Period # 7
12/3/08 9:46-10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (Jr.) 11, (Sr.) 7
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr and Ernie St. Germaine
Craig welcomed the students and let them know that Mr. Bouche was going to be attending again today to talk with the students. Before he arrived Craig had the students participate in an activity, Jolly Green Giant, to get them moving around. After the activity the students sat in a circle and talked with Mr. Bouche. We began the conversation where we left off last time- about negative graffiti that is written in some text books that students use. We also talked about the feelings some students have about how their culture is regarded in the school. We had a good, but too short of a conversation. We would like to thank Mr. Bouche for making time to meet with us.
Next meeting is Dec. 17th
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr and Ernie St. Germaine
Craig welcomed the students and let them know that Mr. Bouche was going to be attending again today to talk with the students. Before he arrived Craig had the students participate in an activity, Jolly Green Giant, to get them moving around. After the activity the students sat in a circle and talked with Mr. Bouche. We began the conversation where we left off last time- about negative graffiti that is written in some text books that students use. We also talked about the feelings some students have about how their culture is regarded in the school. We had a good, but too short of a conversation. We would like to thank Mr. Bouche for making time to meet with us.
Next meeting is Dec. 17th
Bob Kovar,
Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
Junior/Senior Activity Period # 6
11/19/08 9:46-10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (Jr.) 11, (Sr.) 7
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr, Alice McFarlane, Ernie St. Germaine, and Matt White
LUHS Staff: Jim Bouche
Today we had LUHS Principal Jim Bouche meet with us to answer questions ILI students have been discussing the past few weeks. Craig welcomed the students and let them know we were happy they were there. Craig asked Mr. Bouche to give the students a little background information on himself, and then we would get into the issues that the students wanted to address. After Mr. Bouche was finished with his introduction we talked about the issues the students wanted to discuss. The students told Mr. Bouche about the experiences they have had mentoring the younger students and the importance they see in meeting with the younger students more often. Then, Mr. Bouche talked about the reasoning behind the shortened homeroom time. He made a decision to shorten the homeroom time because of the research that shows homerooms over twenty minutes decline in productivity. As the conversation began to become more in-depth the bell rang. The students stayed after the bell, but Mr. Bouche asked that we continue the conversation the next time we meet. ILI staff and students greatly appreciated having Mr. Bouche come to talk with students today!
Next meeting Dec. 3
Bob Kovar,
Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
Junior/Senior Activity Period #5
11/5/08 9:46-10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (Jr.) 5, (Sr.) 5
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr, Alice McFarlane, Ernie St. Germaine, and Matt White
We had a smaller group today because of the ASFAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) being taken by the juniors. Craig welcomed the students and let them know he had talked with Mr. Bouche about the juniors taking the ASFAB and they we would probably have a smaller group. Craig suggested that Mr. Bouche come in two weeks when the Juniors/Seniors would meet again. With all of that explained, it was time to get active.
Craig introduced and activity called “Chariot War.” This activity involves three people on a “team,” and the abject is to get the bandana from the other teams without yours getting taken. This activity creates intense communication, movement, smiles, laughter, and endorphins. It was fun to see the students interacting and communicating with each other, having to make quick decisions, an solving the problem of how not to get out. Activities are important for the growth and development of all students. In a research paper conducted by the New Policy Institute which you can read if you like at (http://www.npi.org.uk/reports/play%20literature.pdf) there is a quote that states,
“Play is an essential part of every child’s life and vital to processes of human development. It provides the mechanism for children to explore the world around them and the medium through which skills are developed and practised. It is essential for physical, emotional and spiritual growth, intellectual and educational development, and acquiring social and behavioural skills” (Charter for Children’s Play 1998)
ILI feels strongly that this is true and that the value of “play” is very important to all of our students.
Children’s Play Council (1998) The New Charter for Children’s Play, London, Children’s Play Council and the Children’s Society
Next meeting on November 19.
Bob Kovar,
Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
Junior/Senior Activity Period #4
10/29/08 9:46-10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (Jr.) 12, (Sr.) 6
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr and Alice McFarlane
A couple of weeks ago we had a conversation with all of the ILI LUHS students and asked them if they would like to speak to Mr. Bouche about their concerns. All of the students indicated that they would like to talk with Mr. Bouche about what they had on their minds. Today we sat down with the students and decided what issues/topics they would like to talk about with Mr. Bouche. The students came up with four different issues/topics that they would like to talk about with him. We had to cover the topics pretty quickly because of time.
1. They would like to meet more often with the younger students.
-some of the reasons they gave for the importance of this were: They see it as important for the younger students to get to know each other better and for the LUHS students to also get to know the younger students. They feel it is important for the younger students to meet more often to make better and deeper friendships to improve understanding among different races. They also thought it was important to help the younger students get a better understanding of LUHS.
2. They would like for the 8th Graders to meet during school so that they could meet with them.
-some of the reasons they gave were: They would like to help 8th graders get ready for LUHS. They would like the 8th graders to have someone they can connect with their first year. The students said that 8th grade is the most important year to have ILI because it is the year before they come to LUHS.
3. Controversies in LUHS.
-some of the reasons students gave were: graffiti in bathroom stalls & school books. Students would like to give Mr. Bouche their prospective on their school experience.
4. They would like to have a longer homeroom.
-some of the reasons students gave were: They do not have enough time to “get things done.” They would like to have more time together. They would like more time to do more activities.
We are thankful that Mr. Bouche will be coming to our next meeting Nov. 5 to talk with our students about their concerns.
Bob Kovar,
Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
Junior/Senior Activity Period #3
10/15/08 9:46-10:04
LUHS
Junior/Senior Activity Period #3
10/15/08 9:46-10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (Jr) 10, (Sr) 2
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr, Ernie St. Germaine, and Matt White
Craig welcomed the students and let them know that he appreciated them coming and that they were important. He went on to make some announcements that he has made over the first two Junior/Senior meetings because some of the students have not been in attendance. Craig explained the changes to ILI this year and told the students that the Freshman/Sophomore group wanted to speak to Mr. Bouche about these changes. This groups of students replied that they would like to speak with Mr. Bouche as well about the changes. Craig told the students he would ask Mr. Bouche to attend their next meeting and the students were excited about the opportunity to speak with him. We think it is important to give the youth an avenue to have a voice in decisions that affect them. (ILI staff met with Mr. Bouche later in the day and he agrees that students should be able to have their concerns heard and addressed and he will be meeting with the students.)
After the discussion the group split into two. One group did an energetic activity and the other group was involved with a more quiet option. It is nice to be able to give the students a choice in their activities to meet the state of mind that they are in at the moment. Both sets of students were very engaged in their activity and before we knew it was time to go.
Next meeting is October 29.
Bob Kovar,
Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008-2009
Junior/Senior Activity Period #2
9:46-10:04 10/1/08
LUHS
ILI Students: (Jr.) 8, (Sr.) 6
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr, Alice McFarlane, and Ernie St. Germaine
Craig welcomed everyone and made a few announcements for the students who have not heard about the changes in the ILI sessions. Craig told them that if they had worked with 7th grade last year that they would have to work with 7th grade again this year because we are not working with 8th grade this year. He also told them that they would only be working with the middle school students two times during the school day this year. There was an immediate reaction from the students. They were disappointed that we only have two sessions during the school day to work with the younger students because they really look forward to their time mentoring the younger students. They were also surprised and frustrated that we were not working with 8th graders. The students expressed that it is the most important grade to work with. Since we’re all about trying to help give students a voice, ILI staff is working to find a positive outlet/forum for these students to voice their opinions with administration to see if, together, we can brainstorm some strategies that could resolve their concerns.
We went on to do an energetic activity because that is what they asked for. We did a couple of rounds of partner tag and they were tuckered. We ended with an activity that gets the students to know one another and then it was time to go. The students had to go to their homerooms to get their student id’s so we ended a little early today. Still-we got a LOT done in 17 minutes J
Next meeting Oct. 15
Bob Kovar,
Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
Intercultural Leadership Initiative
2008 – 2009
Junior/Senior Activity Period #1
9/17/08 9:41 – 10:04
LUHS
Junior/Senior Activity Period #1
9/17/08 9:41 – 10:04
LUHS
ILI Students: (J) 6, (S) 1
ILI Staff: Craig Kerr, Ernie St. Germaine
We had a small group of students today due to the Wisconsin Education Fair that was being held at LUHS. A number of high schools from the area brought their junior and senior students to visit with college representatives from all over the Midwest and beyond.
Craig welcomed everyone and talked about the hopes he had for the year. He congratulated the students because of the award ILI is up for through Harvard University. Ernie related to the students how it is because of the work that they are doing that ILI has this honor and we are proud of them! When we had made all of our announcements there was only a couple of minutes left and the students visited and made up a game quickly to keep themselves busy until the bell rang.
The next meeting will be Oct. 1
Bob Kovar,
Project Director
Intercultural Leadership Initiative