Mashantucket Tribal Community Center
8:05 Groton STA bus picks up New London High students
8:25 Groton STA bus picks up Fitch High students
8:45 Groton STA bus picks up Ledyard High students
9:00 Arrive at Mashantucket Tribal Community Center
9:00 Icebreakers
Dyads – introduce new friend, school and plans for the summer
Name games
Movement games (Blob tag and fishy, fishy)
9:30 Mission statement and goals 🡪 Read statement and then review year’s program:
More Than Words is a group of student leaders form Fitch, Ledyard and New London High Schools and the Mashantucket Pequot tribal nation. Our mission is to promote respect for diversity, facilitate communication and build trust among members of our community. Our goals are to develop a group able to respond to crises, work proactively to prevent problems and celebrate diversity.
2023-24 Activities:
Sept. Camp Hazen
Nov. 2 – New London STEM workshop
Dec. 15 -Workshop at Tribal Community Center to prep for Ledyard Middle School workshop
February 3 - Black History Month celebration in Mystic – student led panel
Mar. 15 - Ledyard Middle School workshop
April 8-10 and May 16 – Amistad Leadership Academy
May 31 – Final workshop for year
School groups report out what they accomplished – large group setting
How did we do in terms of meeting the mission and goals?
10:00 Amistad Leadership Academy – Video and program overview by Reeshemah
10:15 Pre-mortem: Set up small groups
NAACP Award – 2024 Education Award
The More Than Words program disbands and you find out a few years after you graduate.
In small groups, identify the reasons why the groups died out. 🡪 report out
In small groups, how do we address the problems identified 🡪 report out
11:00 Lessons learned from LMS program as we plan for next year.
Kurt reads follow-up notes.
Year-end review in small groups 🡪 Report out in large group
Best aspects of program, what should we keep, what eliminate?
11:30 Lunch
12:00 Refocus activity: Fishbowl/Opinion Continuum:
Fishbowl: - Student generated topics?
Can a student leadership group like More Than Words make a meaningful difference in the school community? Can student leaders really affect change?
Is modern technology as source of new good for out country?
Academic integrity in world of AI; what does it mean to invest in your own education?
How might ChatGPT help us?
Opinion Continuum:
Most students have become too dependent on smart phones and other types of tech
In schools where students must place their phones in pocket racks are better for learning
Allowing student athletes to compete in events by the gender with which they identify is unfair.
Colleges were right to call in police to remove peaceful protestors
Thankfully the pandemic is over and there are no longer any effects
12:45 Senior recognition
Post-secondary plans
What would be hope or future of More Than Words
What do you want to pass on?
Recommendations for the future.
1:15 Free time
1:30 Bus departs Tribal Community Center
1:45 Drop off Ledyard High students
2:05 Drop off Fitch High students
2:25 Drop off New London High Students