Our students are adapting in real-time to a world that’s constantly changing. The Foundation is committed to programs to help ensure that they have the skills they need to be productive and successful in life after high school. – This pillar of our work “Build Skills for Life” includes some well-established initiatives, like Career Day, some evolving programs, like Launch Day, and some that are brand new. I’m writing today to get you up to speed on some of our most recent efforts.
District-wide- Middle School Career Day
On March 17, over 5000 middle students will participate in a district-wide virtual career day exposing them to dozens of careers with the intent of inspiring curiosity and informing class selection choices. Brian Williams will be the keynote speaker. This event is a joint project of our Middle School PTA’s and the Northshore Schools Foundation. We will report back after the event and let you know how it goes. Special thanks to Evergreen Karate for sponsoring the event.
Youth Advisory Board
We’re thrilled to announce the founding members of the Foundation’s Youth Advisory Board. Please help us congratulate and welcome these students to board service:
Bothell High School’s Ariana Juritz Berrios, Yashwant K. Datti, Lexi Olson-Gwin
Inglemoor High School’s Isabel Amaya, Sky Darkhand, Maya Nair
North Creek High School’s Sydney Waldrop
Woodinville High School’s Saydia Phillips
This group – creative, practical, and solution-oriented – brings needed perspective to conversations not just about what’s happening now, but important questions and expectations for the transition back to in-person learning.
Dealing with stress – academic, social, and emotional – is an urgent topic for this board. Students face weeks filled with tests and multiple assignments due, the fatigue of always working on-screen, and social isolation compounding feelings of overwhelm.
“When we were in school, no matter how little free time you had, you still had a lunch break and you still would see your friends. Now, you can’t even have casual conversations before the bell rings. If you want to see friends, you have to take initiative to message them or set up a video call. When you’re already low on energy, that can be really difficult to do.”- Northshore Schools Foundation Youth Advisory Board Member
The Youth Advisory Board is open to Sophomores and Juniors, and students can apply beginning on 5/1 for service in the 2021-22 School year.
Northshore Youth Voice
In another new initiative, actually started from the work of the Youth Advisory Board, we have invited students to join Northshore Youth Voice, (not to be confused with Northshore Speaks) Northshore Youth Voice are focus groups that we’ve organized with the Northshore YMCA. Kids share their thoughts about programs aimed at serving them, plus, participants earn community service hours.
The February group, which included students in grades 10, 11, and 12, discussed the future. Eventually, these kids will be living on their own. We asked, what things are you wondering about how to do, but you haven’t been taught yet? What situations are you worried that you will not be prepared for? Student input will be used to shape the content at Northshore Schools Foundation’s Launch Day schedule for next Fall.
At the upcoming session on Tuesday, March 23rd, students will talk about staying connected through hobbies and shared interests. This has been especially hard at this time when we can’t be together. We’ll ask kids in grades 8, 9, and 10 to share experiences and expertise about things students can and want to be doing together. Input will be shared with local nonprofits and community-minded organizations who want to see if they can safely coordinate or host activities for students to participate in together.
A limited number of spots are still available for the March 23rd group. Interested students in grades 8, 9, and 10 can register at https://nyshobbies.eventbrite.com
During March, we’ll keep sharing news about Skills for Life initiatives on social media and in future emails. If you have any questions about what you hear or are interested in supporting the work – please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
