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00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 Welcome to Your Morning Boost, your daily leadership advice to help you lead your school community.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:09 Brought to you by AWB Education and sponsored by Grundmeyer Leader Services,
00:00:10 --> 00:00:14 where together we are transforming education, one leader at a time.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:18 Now here's your host, Adam Bush. Good morning, school leaders.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 Welcome to Your Morning Boost from AWB Education.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:25 It's Thursday and we are diving deep into a topic that's close to my heart,
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 and that is extracurricular activities.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:31 I know that we all know the incredible benefits that these offer.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:35 They offer improved social skills and a boosted academic performance,
00:00:35 --> 00:00:39 a sense of belonging, and then also let's just not forget fun.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:44 But how do we get more students involved? That's a question I hear a lot from
00:00:44 --> 00:00:47 our administrators where we just, we have these great programs,
00:00:47 --> 00:00:51 but it's hard to get students motivated to join them. So that's the question
00:00:51 --> 00:00:52 we're going to tackle today.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:56 We're going to draw some inspiration from a recent blog post we had on AWB Education's
00:00:56 --> 00:01:01 webpage called Beyond the Bell, Boosting Extracurricular Participation at Your School.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 If you want to check that out and get a little bit more detail,
00:01:03 --> 00:01:09 I encourage you to go over to www.awbeducation.org, and on our resources page,
00:01:09 --> 00:01:10 you can find that article.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:14 Now, as we mentioned in this blog, research from the National Federation of
00:01:14 --> 00:01:19 State High School Associations, the NFHS, they highlight some of the barriers
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 that prevent students from participating in extracurriculars.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:27 These can include financial constraints, time commitments, or lack of awareness,
00:01:27 --> 00:01:31 fear of judgment, and maybe even a lack of perceived relevance.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:35 So how do we break down these barriers and create a thriving extracurricular
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 program that caters to all of our students?
00:01:38 --> 00:01:42 Well, it starts with accessibility. Financial constraints, they can be a major
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 hurdle for many students.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:48 Try to consider implementing a sliding scale for fees if you have them,
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 or offering scholarships or waivers for low-income families,
00:01:51 --> 00:01:55 or maybe even organizing some fundraising efforts to offset costs.
00:01:56 --> 00:02:00 Time constraints, they're another common challenge. We want to try to offer
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 activities at our various times throughout the day, including before school,
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 not always only after school.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 Maybe we even do some activities during lunch periods. Try to accommodate diverse students' schedules.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:14 Don't forget about transportation. If we can, we want to partner with community
00:02:14 --> 00:02:18 organizations or explore some school bus routes that will ensure that transportation
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 isn't that barrier to participation.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:26 Next, let's amp up our promotional efforts. Think beyond a simple flyer on a bulletin board.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:30 Maybe create a dynamic activity fair where students can experience different
00:02:30 --> 00:02:31 clubs and teams firsthand.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:36 Utilize diverse communication channels. Use social media, school newsletters,
00:02:36 --> 00:02:41 announcements, video showcases, anything that's going to help spread the word
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 about the opportunity that's there for kids.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 If even better, have the kids lead these presentations.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:51 Encourage student-led presentations where current participants can share their
00:02:51 --> 00:02:52 experiences and passion.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 Remember to highlight the benefits of extracurriculars, emphasizing how they
00:02:56 --> 00:03:01 can enhance college applications, or even just develop valuable skills that
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 are going to be great down the road as they join the workforce.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 And also, it helps create lasting memories.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:10 Now, cultivating a welcoming and inclusive environment is crucial.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:14 Ensure that all of our students feel welcome and valued, regardless of their
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 background or certainly regardless of their skill level.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:21 Implementing mentorship programs to pair experienced students with new members,
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 that's going to help provide support and guidance right out of the gate.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:29 Try to seek some student feedback on existing activities and then be open to new ideas.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:33 Celebrate the achievements of all participants, no matter how small.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:37 We want to create a positive and encouraging atmosphere for any extracurricular
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 our students are involved in.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:42 When we align these to student interests, that's a pretty big key to engagement.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:47 Maybe consider conducting regular student surveys to assess their preferences
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 and identify potential new activities.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:54 Empower student leadership. Encourage students to take ownership of their clubs and teams.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 Maybe even explore some different activities that cater to diverse interests,
00:03:58 --> 00:04:04 such as e-sports or coding clubs, debate teams, maybe even just community service
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 projects that are part of an activity.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 And if you don't have one, maybe a student-run newspaper.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:13 The more diverse our offerings, the more likely we are to engage that wide range of students.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:18 Last piece, try to connect your extracurriculars to academic goals.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 Demonstrate and show how these skills developed in these activities,
00:04:21 --> 00:04:27 such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, how all of these can benefit academic performance.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:31 If you can, invite some guest speakers in who can highlight the relevance of
00:04:31 --> 00:04:35 extracurricular experiences and how they relate to various career paths.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 Show students that real-world application of their involvement.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:42 One example would be a local engineer could speak to the robotics club about
00:04:42 --> 00:04:46 how their skills are going to apply to real-world engineering challenges.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 But I will say that building a vibrant extracurricular program,
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 it's going to take you time and it's going to take effort.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 But I really believe that the rewards are just immeasurable.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 As the African proverb goes, it takes a village to raise a child.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:02 And by fostering a collaborative effort between school, families,
00:05:02 --> 00:05:06 and the communities, we can create a rich and engaging extracurricular landscape
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 that supports that holistic development of every student.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:13 Thanks for listening today. I encourage you to revisit our blog post on the
00:05:13 --> 00:05:18 AWB Education webpage for more insights, and then really consider how you can
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 implement some strategies to boost this participation.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:24 Have a fantastic Thursday. Thanks again for tuning into Your Morning Boost.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:28 We will talk with you again tomorrow. You have been listening to your Morning
00:05:28 --> 00:05:32 Boost by AWB Education in partnership with Grundmeyer Leader Services.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:37 You can find out more about our services by clicking on the links in the description.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:42 Remember, you are doing this vital job that only a few can do.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:46 So until next time, thank you for your service to your community.