Payton Miller-Kay ASB Vice President 17 August 2023
July & August ASB Report
Position Assessment: To kick start this year I began by creating a google form that was sent out to each student who would be in the leadership class this year. The form gave me a chance to get to know the hobbies, interests, likes, and dislikes of my peers ahead of time so that I could better pair them with each other. From there I created the mentorship pairings and also began creating the Mentorship Monthly Assignments. Towards the end of July I got to attend Core Camp along with the majority of the class. While at the University of Santa Cruz Jenna and I got to work together to gain knowledge and also facilitate sessions within our class. We also helped produce our four core principles for the year. I led the “Gift to Camp”. Although this did not go as initially anticipated, I still think it was a lot of fun. I was able to attend the work day on July 18th and started paperwork for the Back to School Dance. Jenna and I also led the Leadership Bonding Day on July 31 where we presented a slides presentation on the “Standards and Expectations” of leadership so that everyone is prepared and knows what to expect for the year. Also I was able to hold a mentor/job/class activity during our lunch on this day where we were able to learn about the importance of communication, clarification, and trust. Throughout this time Jenna and I also attended zoom and in-person meetings regarding events during the upcoming school year and assisting other job positions. During the first day of Pow Wow, Jenna and I represented Leadership by encouraging students to vote for the homecoming theme and asked if they would like to purchase “ASB” for their student IDs. For the first day of school I came early to help passout beads to all of the students. A group of us handed them out at the parking lot which I thought was a great way to keep upperclassmen that drive involved also on for the first day I created the template to be used for the "thank you for lifting . Recently, I assigned the first monthly assignment for the mentorship program. The task was very easy and I hope to be able to ease everyone into the mentorship program. Along with this I also am attending weekly meetings regarding the mental health book that will be created by the committee. In regards to the Back to School Dance, Purchase Orders are turned in, supplies have already arrived, chaperones have been found, ticket sales have been set up, social media posts are ready, announcements are being sent out, a tik tok is being created, waters are being donated, and everything has gone well! In the upcoming days I will be focusing on ticket sales for the dance and making sure that everything runs smoothly. Standing Committees: I am currently the group leader for the “Student Spotlight” standing committee. I have been working to remind the lead commissioners of due dates and offering help wherever needed. Special Committees: In regards to the Back to School Dance, Purchase Orders are turned in, supplies have already arrived, chaperones have been found, ticket sales have been set up, social media posts are ready, the dance signature sheet is turned in, announcements are being sent out, a tik tok is being created, waters are being donated, and everything has gone well! In the upcoming days I will be focusing on ticket sales for the dance and making sure that everything runs smoothly. I’m also working alongside the rally commissioners to create a Tiktok promoting the dance. I’m really looking forward to seeing everything come together! For the Back to School Rally I have been helping wherever needed and will be performing in the rally alongside the Ripon High Cheer Team! Mentorship Evaluation: This may be biased considering I got to choose my mentor for this year however I’ve really enjoyed being Callie’s mentor. One reason why I really wanted to be her mentor was because she reminded me a lot of myself when I first started in the program. It’s been really fun getting to know Callie. We were able to spend a lot of time together during Core Camp and I’ve been trying to help her with things like updating our websites! Concern/Change: Although I understand this is not an easy fix and is mostly out of our hands, I hope to see some changes in seating. It’s hard to fit everyone in the small classroom but I think as we go along the year we will be able to see what works and what doesn’t when it comes to how we are able to coexist in the classroom. Positive Comment: My positive comment is for Jenna! She has done such an amazing job this year. She’s so organized and is somehow able to make sure everyone is on track while still balancing everything she has going on in her own life. Even though this is just the beginning, I know for a fact that she’s going to kill it the whole year! Core Principles:Our core principles this year are to be impeccable, your puzzle piece matters, the beacon of empowerment, and evolve and grow with change. So far, I feel I have done everything I can to not only follow these core principles but also apply them to my daily life. I’m working to become the best version of myself everyday even though recently I feel I need to improve on my attitude. I try my best to make everyone feel included whether it be in the classroom, at sports, or even just within my friends. I have empowered others but encouraged them to continue being great. I feel that all people need in order to be successful is someone that they know will have their back. Finally, I have evolved and grown with change by being open. Although change can be something very scary for myself I’ve learned to be more accepting and that change can also be good! My Impact:I have impacted the world by being kind to others. I always try my best to be approachable and open to others. During my classes I try to start conversations with people I may not necessarily know that well. We all know what it feels like to be ignored or taken for granted so I try my best to make sure I’m not the cause of that. It’s important to make others feel seen and acknowledged.
September ASB Report
Position Assessment: Throughout the month of September I have been working on homecoming, the community service project, and fundraising ideas. For homecoming I submitted my publicity posts for the publicity committee and I have attended all lip sync practices along with helping my class decorate our float and poster. Additionally, the Vice President's and I have decided to write letters to Bethany Home as our community service project. I called Bethany home and was able to get the total number of residents however I'm waiting for the Social Services Director to call me back regarding more specific details. For our fundraising project for this semester we have begun brainstorming but are mainly focusing on our community service first. I also assigned and graded the mentorship assignment for this month which created a combined list of goals each mentorship pair had for their life. Standing Committees: I am currently the group leader for the “Student Spotlight” standing committee. I have been working to remind the lead commissioners of due dates and offering help wherever needed. For the Mental Health Advocate Committee I am working to revise my current writing on over thinking. Special Committees: I am a part of the Homecoming Publicity Committee. I have turned in my social media post and announcements to Jenna for the night rally. Mentorship Evaluation: This month Callie and I were able to work on our mentorship assignment and I think it helped us to learn a lot more about each other. I learned that Callie wants to be a nurse when she’s older. I also got Callie and another underclassman as my “sister” for Girls League so I think that will be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other better as well. Concern/Change: One concern I have for leadership is communication. I think there has been a lot of confusion amongst the classes regarding homecoming so it’s important that everything is communicated clearly and over explained to avoid mistakes. Positive Comment: My positive comment is for Colt Isham. He’s been very active in taking initiative in the freshman Disco themed dance. He’s been asking questions which I think is great and I can see all of the hard work he’s been putting in to make this dance a success. Core Principles:Our core principles this year are to be impeccable, your puzzle piece matters, the beacon of empowerment, and evolve and grow with change. So far, I feel I have done everything I can to not only follow these core principles but also apply them to my daily life. Recently, I’ve come to appreciate the core principles “Your Puzzle Piece Matters”. Our puzzle activity in class showed how each person can bring something new to the table and that although we are all different, that means that we each have our own unique strengths that allow us to work well together as a team. Seeing the whole puzzle together really showed how each person is important and needed. My Impact: My Impact: I believe that I have changed the world by being there for others. Even though it seems like a small act it makes a big difference. I always try to be there for others whether that’s listening to their problems, smiling at someone I pass in the hallways, or even something as simple as telling someone that I’m there for them when they need someone. In this day and age people will always need someone that they can rely on and trust no matter what. I hope that I can be that person for others.
October, November, & Decembe ASB Report
Position Assessment: At the end of October, following homecoming I helped the Leadership class prepare for the arrival of the Kyoto students. There were many activities involved including a rally, lunch together, and dance. I was happy to be able to help the freshman representatives with paperwork and questions they had regarding the dance. Additionally, ASB and I attended the district meeting with the Presidents and Vice Presidents from each elementary school. Throughout the month of November the VPs ran the Snap Raise virtual fundraiser. This included creating a script, filming the campaign movie , a social media post that I for the whole class, the mentorship assignment of having mentorship pairs create a social media post for their Snap Raise Link. This fundraiser concluded with the Leadership program earning $4,986 towards activities and events. In November, I was also planning our community service project alongside the other VPs and the Leadership Development Day with ASB. We decided to write letters to the Bethany Home Residents and attach homemade origami to each card for our community service project. Each leadership student was responsible for writing one card. In regards to the Leadership Development Day, ASB and I prepared for the day by turning in a purchase order for snacks, cutting large pieces of paper, and keeping track of all things that needed to be done. On the day of, we came early to set up and be trained to be group leaders during the day. I think that the LDD was really successful and ultimately a great way to have a positive influence on the future generations of leaders. Afterwards, we wrote thank you letters to each of the elementary school Principals and Student Government Teachers. Also ASB was working on the CASL and NatStuCo application. We had a meeting with Mr. Rangel, requesting a letter of recommendation for the application. I also worked with my group on our essay and worked on my individual essay on how leadership positively affects the climate on campus. I participated in the Dude Be Nice Spirit week and also the Warm and Fuzzy spirit week. Also Jenna, Morty, and I have been working on things to prepare for next year's leadership class and will be having multiple meetings coming up. Standing Committees: Currently the Mental Health Advocate Committee has had multiple meetings regarding the creation of pages and has created a physical, rough draft of our journal. Additionally, as the winter sports have begun and the school year has continued, the student spotlight heads have been working to acknowledge a variety of students on campus. Special Committees: ASB’s special committee for both the CASL and NatStuCo applications are fully submitted. We worked on our own individual essays and our group ones. We also reviewed/revised the group essays and had a meeting with Mr. Rangel for a letter of recommendation. Mentorship Evaluation: I’ve really enjoyed the growth that has been made within the Mentorship Program. I think that by having monthly “assignments”, students are able to build bonds with their mentors naturally through activities and tasks. I feel that this year I’ve been able to learn a lot about Callie this year and hope to help guide her to success within the Leadership Program. Concern/Change: One concern I have is regarding the dynamic of the class. I feel students need to be held accountable for the things they do, and mostly don’t do. It has been normalized to not do your job or follow through with your word simply because it’s assumed that someone else will do it for you. This isn’t fair to the people that already have a lot on their plate but are now responsible for things outside of their job position because other people can’t simply do their job. Positive Comment: My positive comment is for Lucia Machado Perez. She has done so much for the spirit group and has even taken on multiple responsibilities including calculating spirit percentages each spirit day. Lucia has done a great job at attempting to guide the new spirit commissioners and has used her past experience to help better the program. Core Principles: A core principle I recently appreciated is “grow and evolve with change”. This year there have been many adaptations especially to the work that is done by the leadership class and I’ve been able to see the positive impact that it has had. Change does not need to be negative; rather it takes into consideration issues and creates a way to fix it. Change is necessary to grow. My Impact: I have impacted the world by being kind to others. I always try my best to be approachable and open to others. For example, in class I always try to smile at everyone and make sure to laugh at the teacher’s jokes. It’s important to make others feel seen and acknowledged.
Payton Miller-Kay ASB VP 30 January 2024
January ASB Report
Position Assessment: Throughout the month of January my work has been mainly focused on winterfest, elections, and preparing for the upcoming year. For winterfest I was able to help my class by coming early in the morning Friday and Tuesday to set up posters in the North Gym and to also put the lemonade stands up in front of the school. I also made sure to participate in each of the spirit days and particularly enjoyed anything but a backpack day. For the past couple of weeks, the panel and I have been preparing for interviews every Tuesday and are hoping to have some changes made for the upcoming elections. Currently, all questions are done and time slots. As of right now it’s just a matter of working on the small details and waiting to see how speeches and campaigning go until it becomes time for interviews to occur. Additionally, ASB has created and finished the presentation that will be shared to 8th grade students in early February. Along with this, Morty, Jenna, and I had a meeting to plan the final month of May and get important dates on the calendar. Currently, we have had trouble with finding an open day to hold our annual ASB banquet. Additionally, my mom and I signed up to work the almond blossom parking lot to raise money for our leadership class. Standing Committees: Currently the Mental Health Advocate Committee has gone live with our book and the majority of us are planning to order an author’s copy so that we can also benefit from the tools given. Additionally, as the winter sports and second semester have continued, the student spotlight heads have been working to acknowledge a variety of students on campus. Special Committees: I am currently signed up to volunteer for the almond blossom parking lot. Mentorship Evaluation: I’ve really enjoyed the growth and changes that have been made within the Mentorship Program. It was fun for me to see everyone create their vision boards this month. I think that by having monthly “assignments”, students are able to build bonds with their mentors naturally through activities and tasks. However, I hope to come up with more creative, engaging activities that allow bonds to be built naturally. I saw Callie as myself when I was younger in high school and I hope to help guide her to success within the Leadership Program. Along with that, this program is constantly being improved but my hope is that it can eventually have a significant impact. Concern/Change: One concern I have is regarding the accountability within the class. It’s gotten to the point of the year where many people feel that it’s acceptable to slack off. This has led a lot of people to have to pick up the pieces due to others' lack of effort. Positive Comment: My positive comment is for Morty. Morty has a million things going on in her life right now and is constantly pressured to never make mistakes. However, she never lets it affect her capabilities and her impact on her students. She does so much for other people and doesn’t get enough recognition for all of the blood, sweat, and tears she puts in to help the students, school, town, and community of Ripon. Without her, we would all be completely different people. Even some don’t like to accept it, Morty has taught all of the students valuable life lessons and changed them for the better. Core Principles: A core principle I have specifically worked to follow “your puzzle piece matters”. I know what it’s like to feel unheard so I’ve made an extra effort to check up on others. Everyone deserves to feel valued. It means a lot when people do it for me so I hope to be able to do the same for them. My Impact: I have created an impact by being a role model around campus. I’ve recently become close with a lot of underclassmen and so I feel it is important to set a good example for them. I know especially as an underclassman, I really looked to the older students for guidance and advice.
Payton Miller-Kay ASB Vice President 21 March 2024
February & March ASB Report
Position Assessment: Throughout the months of February and March my responsibilities have mainly consisted of planning for the end of the year and assisting in preparations for next year. For the past couple of months the interview panel including myself, and Morty has been meeting each Tuesday to prepare for elections and interviews. I was in charge of running the future Junior and senior class rally and was able to observe ASB speeches as well. Once preparations had concluded and we had finalized all that was needed for interviews we were able to determine next year's leadership class. Then, we began working on revamping the leadership constitution, job descriptions, and 8th grade interview questions. Then, we created a schedule for each of the eighth graders and were able to have all of their interviews. After that, we were able to determine next year's freshman leadership class and feel really confident in their abilities. Also in regards to 8th graders, I assisted in preparing food and all lunch set up for 8th grade day this included setting up tables, transporting food from the MUB, cleaning the dishes. and helping with anything that Morty needed. That same day the ASB team and interview panel was at 8th grade parent night where we were able to answer questions from parents and incoming freshmen regarding the leadership class and High School in general. Additionally, ASB has been working to plan the ASB banquet coming up. We have an official chair count and have created and sent out the Google form to vote on awards for the banquet. Also this month we began our work for the challenge. I was one of the team leads along with Sophia in charge of the End of the Year Dance. This involved delegating tasks, completing the dance procedure form, checking inventory, communicating with other class members, talking with admin, completing purchase orders, finding chaperones, creating publicity, while also working on my assignments for the week such as the coloring mentorship assignment, mentorship letter, A through Zs of leadership, and Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Once we had a solid plan for the challenge week we uploaded all information onto our slides presentation and the Friday before Morty came back I had everyone practice their slide in front of the class so that we would feel comfortable when the actual presentation day came. For gallery of the Arts I was one of the group leaders and we were able to successfully attach black pieces of paper to our assigned triangle. I also made sure to attend gallery of the Arts and assist with taking down each of the pieces of art along with removing all staples. Also, I have had weekly meetings with Jenna, Sophia, and Elias to work on next year's school calendar and planning dates/activities for homecoming, bonding, and much more. Additionally I'll be working with Jenna, Claire, Lucia, and Allie on our presentations for the conference in Modesto each week and I am currently working on my article. Finally I was able to present my Elder project to the class on focusing on yourself and completed my Elder project by spending a weekend picking up trash around school and putting up informational flyers on how trash affects our climate and environment. For community service and fundraising projects we were able to raise over $3,000 by working the Almond Blossom parking lot. I participated on Sunday and had a great time directing traffic and bonding with other leadership students. Also I was able to contact our representative for love Ripon and the class was able to sign up ahead of time to register for the storm drain identification project which will be participating in on April 27th. I'm currently also planning an additional fundraiser with the senior class during senior celebration week and plan to have a meeting with Mr. Rangel in regards to approval and any concerns he possesses. Standing Committees: So far the spotlights committee has done a good job of staying on top of things but I’ve been sending reminders to ensure they’re on time in regards to time. Special Committees: I was a part of the publicity committee for Gallery of the Arts and was able to help create unique videos and share different ideas. I was also one of the team leads for the End of the Year Dance committee for the challenge. This involved delegating tasks, completing the dance procedure form, checking inventory, communicating with other class members, talking with admin, completing purchase orders, finding chaperones, creating publicity, and much more. I also presented the dance during our presentation to Morty. Mentorship Evaluation: I have really enjoyed the recent mentorship activity of the coloring book with the letter. It was really nice to see all of the time my mentor dedicated to doing something positive for me and I’m really glad I got to show my appreciation for her as well. In the future I hope to speak with the other VP’s in the program to brainstorm more unique/creative mentorship assignments that they believe will be beneficial and enjoyable. Concern/Change: One concern I have for the program that needs to be improved on is accountability. I’m glad that we were able to have a class discussion regarding this topic however I feel that recently people are all talk. They say that we need to be held accountable and take responsibility for our actions, however when that time comes all they do is avoid and point the blame. We’ve gotten so used to not having to do our jobs because we know that there will be someone else there to save the day for them. However, when does this become too much for one person? Just because one individual fails to meet expectations doesn’t mean that more weight should be burdened onto others for their actions. Ultimately, I think this act has become “normalized” and needs to be stopped. Positive Comment: My positive comment is for Allie Camera. I love how genuine and real Allie is and I can trust her to always be truthful with me. She does so much for other people and takes on a lot of extra responsibilities. She's always dependable and never lets anyone down. I've loved getting closer with Allie during our 5th period TA and I'm extremely impressed by all that she has accomplished this year. Ali is a valuable member to this class and her hard work is not recognized or appreciated enough. Core Principles: One Core principle I have worked to follow is to evolve and grow with change. The interview panel committee has been working to make a lot of changes to our leadership program for the better and I hope that we will be able to adapt and benefit from these changes in order to have a stronger, more united leadership program in the future. My Impact: My impact has been by making an impact on the student body. I have worked to represent the student body with each thing that I do within leadership and I hope to make their voices feel heard and to show that they are appreciated and valued by Ripon High School.