This document summarizes the history and activities of the ASSETS program at a suburban New York high school. It discusses how the program started in 2007 with 4 members and has since grown, with over 40 students now participating annually in a leadership training. The training uses hands-on activities and games to teach students about qualities like diversity, unity, leadership, and empowerment. It aims to select a diverse group of students to represent different school perspectives. Key activities discussed include building a spaghetti tower as a team and monthly meetings for past trainees to continue planning activities to spread ASSETS principles to other students through mentoring programs. The goal is for students to experience a full cycle of ASSETS from trainees to mentors to help continue building

2. What We Did to Get Our ASSETS Program Up and Running Get to Know Our ASSETS!

3. Icebreaker Koosh Ball Activity

4. Who We Are Vision Team (students) Two adult advisors

5. Our School High school in suburban New York 1571 students 14.6 student to teacher ratio 76% White; 14% Asian; 7% Hispanic; 3% Black 5% eligible for free/reduced lunch

6. Clarkstown North ASSETS History 2007: attended first ASSETS Conference (4 members) 2008 held first annual leadership training (8 + 40 members) 2009: took full control over freshmen orientation program and revamped it (12 + 40 + 40 members) 2010: presenting at Houston conference

7. What We Do Weekly Vision Team meetings Annual leadership trainings FRESH Mentors

8. Leadership Training 40 kids selected by their peers Half day training filled with hands on activities, games to demonstrate ASSETS, and stories about empowerment Are expected to attend monthly meetings afterwards to maintain importance of ASSETS In the attendees’ lives, help us spread ASSETS in the school, and plan for FRESH activities

9. Key Point 1: Diversity and Unity Students of all intellect, social cliques, and interests are represented in the training Students who are natural born leaders are chosen although a few are selected because they need ASSETS Different “types” of people are chosen because to obtain different perspectives of the school climate and affect as many groups of students as possible

10. Pasta Activity!

11. Pasta Activity! continued! What assets are used in this activity? Internal? External? What happened if multiple noodles were used for one “leg,” but one still broke? How did ripping up the marshmallows affect the structure as opposed to using the marshmallow as a whole? How did the different personalities affect your team? How can you relate this to high school?

12. Key Point 2: Play Games Interactive vs. lecture based Visual, audio, and dexterous contact with the ASSET being worked on Healthy competition creates fun bonding moments without even realizing it

13. Monthly Meetings Attendees expected to attend monthly meetings Brainstorm games that will portray an ASSET through a fun, hands on activity during Test run the games Monthly FRESH activity days

14. FRESH Activity Days Monthly meetings where upperclassmen lead underclassmen in ASSETS related games that also help them understand the experiences of high school Ms. Veilleux and Ms. Steinberg have more eloquently phrased ideas about FRESH/KO!

15. Key Point 3: Don’t Get Discouraged It’s okay if not all 40 students show up at the meetings Need a consistent group of dedicated people who push the club along Remember the receptivity curve

16. Receptivity Curve

17. Key Point 4: Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day Change occurs little by little As long as one child is bettered by the program, your job was fulfilled. Even new found knowledge of what the ASSETS are, or what any one ASSET is, improvement.

18. ASSETS Theme: Connected Communities Thriving Youth Mentoring program helps students bridge the gap between the two schools Building assets while the student mentors take the onus of responsibility for freshman success Leadership training occurs during sophomore year Upper classmen serve as not only mentors, but as a connection between underclassmen and even middle schoolers

19. Key Point 5: Continuing the ASSETS Flow Our mark of success is when students complete a full cycle being asked to attend leadership training and become club members choosing to complete the interview process and become an upper class mentor to incoming freshmen

20. One Last Game! ASSETS Idol! We broke the ice with akoosh ball game Created a team by bonding over building a spaghetti tower Test the strength of your new team by having a singing faceoff! Each group must sing a song with the given word in it. Whomever comes up with the most songs (and can SING it as a group) after a rally score is the winner!

21. ASSETS Idol Love Snow Baby (whatever we decide)