Newsletters (NWSISD) NWSISD newsletter - August 2016 | Page 3

400 Attendees at
Student Leadership
Conference 2016
Northwest
Suburban
Integration School
District hosted their
6th annual Student
Leadership
Conference on
Friday, May 13,
2016, at the Minneapolis Marriott
Northwest in Brooklyn Park. This annual
conference unites a diverse group of high
school students from across the NWSISD
consortium.
Well renowned comedian, actor, and radio
personality, Shed G, was this years keynote
speaker. Known for his clean, faith-based
comedy, Shed brought his inspiration, wit,
and
comedy to
the
conference
and also
shared his
life story
with the
students. Wanting to be better then "what I
was growing up," Shed broke barriers and
succeeded where others thought he couldn't.
Shed overcame obstacles of having to start
over many times in his college and
professional career but told the students to
"clear your mind and have a good mindset
on what you want to achieve. Believe in
yourself and do NOT let yourself down!"
Students
had the
opportunity
to
participate
in
workshops,
competitions, and a college and career fair.
Through these interactive events and
competitions, the conference supports
efforts to help close opportunity gaps by
providing a culminating experience to
practice college and career readiness skills
with professionals from all over the Twin
Cities and beyond.
This years conference was also streamed live
via the Twin Cities Radio Network.

Step-Up Summer Summit 2016
Summer Summit Enjoys 6th Year at University of St. Thomas-Mpls
Northwest Suburban Integration School
District (NWSISD) along with University of St.
Thomas Minneapolis Campus (UST) hosted the
6th Annual 2016 Step-Up Mentorship Summer
Summit. Over 60 young men from the
NWSISD consortium districts spent a week at
the Minneapolis Campus of UST June 20-24,
2016. This intense educational experience
helps prepare
just graduated 8th graders for high school by
focusing on four key educational constructs:
Aspirations, Expectations, Opportunities, and
Achievement. These young men heard from
leaders of the community as well as peer
leaders who spoke of their experiences in life,
high school, sports, college, and business.
Each day begins with a keynote speaker that stresses the importance of
education as a way of maintaining
control over one’s future. Fridley
Middle School Principal, Matthew
Boucher, spoke to the students about
opportunities. Boucher regaled his
life story of barely graduating high
school and trying to figure out how
to get into college – any college.
He’d been down the road that many
students are currently facing and
wanted them to seriously think about their high school career and beyond.
“Set yourself up for opportunity. You have
to begin to see the adults in your life as
your greatest resource, your greatest ally,”
stated Boucher. He went on to say that an
at-risk student is a
student that “fails to
make a connection with
an adult at school” and
encouraged the students
to surround themselves with positive friends and
supportive adults.
Students spend the morning participating in classroom
activities focused on introspection, learning how culture
shapes expectations, setting goals for their high school
careers and creating plans that will assist them in
accomplishing those goals. Besides classroom activities,
students took part in an art scavenger hunt in downtown Minneapolis,
joined in outdoor sports activities at Loring Park, spent a day at Camp Eden
Wood being challenged on
high ropes and team building
activities, and ended the week
with their own presentations.
Step-Up students receive
additional guidance
throughout the year and are
involved in mentorship
activities during their high school careers.