Get Your Students Hired
There are so many activities that can be done!
Each holiday just have some type of get together in the breakroom: Cinco de Mayo-Chips and Salsa. 4th of July is coming up-Hot dog and chips.
In the summer time have a summer themed activity with a cookout.
We are actually a massage school so we like to have activites such as going to do charity events at marathons. It is great for the student body. They love going out there as a group and volunteering their time, even if they have to be there at 3 am!!
Nyssa,
Everything here provides for a strong orientation, and other activities to help students bond with the school.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Orientation activities that focus on inclusiveness and welcoming the student.
Student appreciation activities.
Pro-active phone calls to students who are absent.
Noticing when students seem troubled - inviting them in to discuss.
Accessible tutoring hours designed to fit student schedules.
Volunteering opportunties in the community, like sports events, facilitated and monitored by instructors.
Big graduation celebrations - students are encouraged to bring friends & family, which they do. Photographs are taken and special commendations issued.
All of these and more are what we routinely do.
Jaime,
You have a good start. Consider asking students for ideas.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
We have done health fairs in the past and 5K walks for certain fundraising events. I think that brought the students together and was a sort of team building for them. We need to do more events like that.
Mentor programs would be great on our campus. we have so many graduates that stay connected with the school that I think we should start an informal mentor program to pair up students who want that additional help and information.
We have clubs on campus, but they don't seem to be very successful. Unfortunatley, that is the schools fault. We don't seem to have the faculty that want to take the time to make these culbs successfull.
daniel,
There is more collaboration today then ever before. The internet and how it is used in a company has made a great impact on this.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Jamie,
It would be interesting to hear about the results after a few terms.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
With our school being a Tech School, we allow our students to work with each other most of the time in order for them to know what it is like working in the field. In our field of construction, no one works alone.
I agree, Stephen. Our team discusses this each quarter - the time spent on "problem" students.
This quarter, we plan to try something new. In the past, we have used staff mentors to "adopt" entry level classes - ones in which, historically, we have lost students. We are planning to adopt some upper level classes this quarter - majority of students who are on track - to provide more recognition and more opportunties for growth.
Jamie,
Thank you for your detailed response. The focus groups could provide interesting feedback.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Dr. Hansen,
We create a quarterly roadmap of events. We have weeks 2/3 breakfast sessions (emotional health checks!)to gauge the students' initial experiences. We always have an all clubs' meeting at the onset of the term to regroup and invite new participants. Spirit Week and Student Appreciation events are fun times for all. Our quarterly academic achievement events are so important; we also award perfect attendance. We have recently formed staff focus groups to examine how we can improve our students' experienes - we conduct student satisfaction surveys 2x/year.
Melvin,
Yes. Some activities should be related to what they are learning.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Any student activities will that bring them together will create a bonding and sense of community and belonging which will make it difficult for students to want to leave the group. The more activities, the better.
I agree. I think while awards may motivate some students, it can also be a pint of discouragement for others. Every student is different in what motivates them to reach certain goals.
I think this is a very good idea. With doing these types of things, the students feel appreciated making them feel individualized and not just another in the bunch.
Sharon,
These are all good implementations. This involves students and provides recognition to faculty and staff.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.