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 RunningGet to Know Our ASSETS!

3. IcebreakerKoosh Ball Activity

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

5. Our SchoolHigh school in suburban New York1571 students14.6 student to teacher ratio76% White; 14% Asian; 7% Hispanic; 3% Black5% eligible for free/reduced lunch

6. Clarkstown North ASSETS History2007: 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 DoWeekly Vision Team meetingsAnnual leadership trainings FRESH Mentors

8. Leadership Training40 kids selected by their peers Half day training filled with hands on activities, games to demonstrate ASSETS, and stories about empowermentAre expected to attend monthly meetings afterwards to maintain importance of ASSETSIn the attendees’ lives, help us spread ASSETS in the school, and plan for FRESH activities

9. Key Point 1: Diversity and UnityStudents of all intellect, social cliques, and interests are represented in the trainingStudents who are natural born leaders are chosen although a few are selected because they need ASSETSDifferent “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 GamesInteractive vs. lecture basedVisual, audio, and dexterous contact with the ASSET being worked onHealthy competition creates fun bonding moments without even realizing it

13. Monthly MeetingsAttendees expected to attend monthly meetingsBrainstorm games that will portray an ASSET through a fun, hands on activity duringTest run the gamesMonthly FRESH activity days

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

15. Key Point 3: Don’t Get DiscouragedIt’s okay if not all 40 students show up at the meetingsNeed a consistent group of dedicated people who push the club alongRemember the receptivity curve

16. Receptivity Curve

17. Key Point 4: Rome Wasn’t Built in a DayChange occurs little by littleAs 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 YouthMentoring program helps students bridge the gap between the two schoolsBuilding assets while the student mentors take the onus of responsibility for freshman successLeadership training occurs during sophomore yearUpper classmen serve as not only mentors, but as a connection between underclassmen and even middle schoolers

19. Key Point 5: Continuing the ASSETS FlowOur mark of success is when students complete a full cyclebeing 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 gameCreated a team by bonding over building a spaghetti towerTest 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 IdolLoveSnowBaby(whatever we decide)