https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxBsOnSXzQk

Check out our First Vice President Kristina Dyson speaking about our upcoming December 5th event as well as the recent presidential election last night at an AACPS board meeting.

Youth, Voice, and Vision Dinner

It's almost October, CRASC! That means it's almost time for our first ever Youth, Vision, and Voice dinner at the beautiful Merrill Center in Annapolis. This event will be an opportunity for student leaders in Anne Arundel County to get to know their local policy makers, as well as speak to them on issues of relevance to our school system and the youth of society as a whole. Those who are interested in attending this event should contact apoisson@aacps.org for more information and to RSVP. Students must RSVP in order to be added to the guest list.

CRASC Speaks On AACPS Transgender Guidelines Controversy

CRASC President Scott Howarth spoke today about the transgender guidelines set by AACPS along with the controversy that has gone along with them. 

See the video on AACPS's Facebook Below: 

https://www.facebook.com/aacps/videos/1093947157340778/

Welcome Back!

Happy September, CRASC! School is finally back in session, although most of our executive staff members have kept busy this summer attending Insight Student Leadership events, as well as planning for the upcoming year. 

This past summer we discussed hot-button issues about equity and diversity, received training in restorative justice practices, started to plan our legislative priorities dinner coming up in October, amongst many other things. 

But now that our crazy summer has wrapped up, we are ready to go into this year with full force. 

Some highlights for the upcoming 2016-2017 year include…

• Our previously mentioned Voices and Vision-Student Priorities Dinner: This event will be the first of its kind, and will replace our annual tradition of hosting a Lobbying Day. It will involve meeting with various Anne Arundel County representatives to discuss issues of importance to students of AACPS. This will be held on October 20th at the Phillip Merill Center and will be invitation only. Please contact apoisson@aacps.org or  Jacob.baumgart99@gmail.com if interested in being a part of this event. 
• CRASC’s first military themed event: This year CRASC will be planning their first ever military event for students interested in pursuing a military career in the future, as well as for students who are a member of a military family. This event is going to be geared at providing recourses as well as support for these students. 
• Being an involved member in discussing both policy and important issues of AACPS: It’s been less than a month into the school year and CRASC has already acted as a sounding board for things such as the new Cum Laude system for AACPS high school graduation and parking passes for high school students. With matters concerning things such as the School Board Nominating Commission and the recent school calendar changes for Maryland being very pressing, we are sure to have a lot to discuss in this upcoming year. 

We are all looking forward to to the new year, and plan on accomplishing great things. We love to see new faces, so please check out all our executive staff meeting dates on the calendar on our website (crasconline.blogspot.com). 

-Your CRASC Officers

CRASC Executive Staff Application 2016-2017

All students of AACPS are welcome to apply. Appointments will be made after Insight Events have ended for the summer. The deadline to send in applications is August 17th. You can email finished applications to the Administrator for Student Leadership Development Aimee Poisson at apoisson@aacps.org or CRASC President Scott Howarth at shcoltsrule@gmail.com.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwyD_faP5qw2NHBtRHBSejRYSk0/view?usp=sharing

2016 CRASC Insight Activities

https://www.eventzilla.net/web/upcoming?clientid=2135806396

2016 CRASC Officer Elections Results

Congrats to our new officers for the 2016-2017 year!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DSjTI8sQ06-afRQEad8UcDI8xrl4IlvHZWFDQ0Fiuc4/edit?usp=sharing

CRASC Officer Elections 2016 Agenda

ADVISOR/OFFICER PLAY BY PLAY

 

Chesapeake Regional Association 

of Student Councils

2016- 2017 Officer Elections

Chesapeake High School

May 20, 2016

​

9:40​Check in and Campaigning time

10:20​  ​Welcome and Pledge of Allegiance –President Scott Howarth

10:25 ​Middle School Coordinator Speech, 

​-Georgia Pickard

10:30​Middle School Coordinator Q and A

10:35​Treasurer Speeches

​-Kathryn Boisseau, Maryam Chaudhry, Austin McAlexander 

10:45​Treasurer Q and A

​

10:55​Secretary Speech

​-Hannah Mitchell

11:00​Secretary Q&A

11:05​Second Vice President Speeches

​-Kristina Dyson, Josie Urrea

11:15​​Second Vice President Q&A

​

11:25​First Vice President Speeches

​-Jacob Baumgart, Alex McGrath

11:35​First Vice President Q&A, 15 minutes

​

11:45​President Speeches

​-Scott Howarth

11:55​President Q&A, 15 minutes

​​

12:15​​Voting

12:25​Lunch

12:45​​Announcement of the 2016-2017 CRASC Officer Team 

​

12:50​Dismissal

Campaign Documents of Candidates

The campaign articles of candidates who wished to post documents on the CRASC Website are posted below:

Secretary
Hannah Mitchell-
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yEZaCi0fOABUK019SO3LJScDZheu6MWMo0GnGZUT5QE/edit?usp=sharing

Treasurer
Kathryn Boisseau-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwyD_faP5qw2eHpZZ2NqSG5mVUU/view?usp=sharing

Maryam Chaudry-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwyD_faP5qw2b3VWTDZsSl81NjA/view?usp=sharing

Second Vice President
Josie Urrea-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwyD_faP5qw2SjZ0dU1NaUxpMTQ/view?usp=sharing

Kristina Dyson-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwyD_faP5qw2eUFtVEJyNGlXbEU/view?usp=sharing

First Vice President 
Alex McGrath-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwyD_faP5qw2Y0dvdDFMOTBFMms/view?usp=sharing

Jacob Baumgart-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwyD_faP5qw2X3l4UUZ6LWZpVk0/view?usp=sharing

Candidates for 2016-2017 CRASC Officer Positions

The candidates for the 2016-2017 CRASC Officer Positions have been announced!

President- Scott Howarth

First Vice President- Alex McGrath, Jacob Baumgart

Second Vice President- Josie Urrea, Kristina Dyson

Treasurer- Kathryn Boisseau, Austin McAlexander, Maryam Chaudry

Secretary- Hannah Mitchell

Middle School Coordinator- Georgia Pickard

Elections will be at Chesapeake High School on May 20th. We hope to see you there!

CRASC Members Speak at the First Public Hearing for the 2017 Fiscal Budget

Last night some amazing CRASC members stepped up and spoke at the budget hearing at North County High School to defend AACPS elementary schools that aren't getting the attention and fiscal care they need.


Kristina Dyson, our parliamentarian, stated, "It is incomprehensible how anyone can prioritize brand new schools when existing elementary schools have become trailer park campuses," she said, in reference to the portable classrooms set up outside the schools.


We encourage you to attend the next budget hearing this Thursday at 7pm at Annapolis High School. It's important for the county to hear our voices!

Schuh included step raises for teachers in the new budget!

http://www.eyeonannapolis.net/2016/04/29/schuh-including-step-raises-for-teachers-in-new-budget/

Election Day

Happy Election Day CRASC! Admittedly, the large majority of us won't be voting in Maryland's primary elections today, but as reminded to us the Friday before last, we have an extremely important vote of our own. Anne Arundel County students get the privilege of voting for our Student Member on the Board (SMOB). Not only is the SMOB the only elected member on AACPS's board of education, but they are the only student member on a board of education in the entire country with full voting rights.

Over the past school year, in relation to AACPS's Student Member on the Board, accusations have been made with respect to the validity of our election process, the reliability of student voters, and the student member having the power that they do.

Recently an article has been written by a teacher of Anne Arundel county in response to these accusations. We encourage you to read it here, take pride in the fact that our votes are a part of something very influential and important, and remember the student voice matters.

Encourage your eligible friends and family to go out and exercise their right to vote today, and enjoy your day off!

Welcome to My House Lip Dub by Meade High School

Meade High School made an amazing lip-dub of "My House" by Flo Rida to showcase their school spirit! Check it out!
http://meadeseniorhigh.org/m/video/index.jsp

SMOB Election Agenda

SMOB Election Agenda 2016:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwyD_faP5qw2Mm5aVERyWklsVHM/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword

SMOB Candidates' Resumes

Jacob Baumgart's SMOB Resume:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwyD_faP5qw2NnY1TkxtbFRRUDg/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword

Molly Fitzpatrick's SMOB Resume:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BwyD_faP5qw2VlJCQUZjZTdUR0E

Carolyn Williams's SMOB Resume:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwyD_faP5qw2NHBtUjgxTGwyQmc/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword

SMOB Candidates Press Release

Student Leadership Announces Student Board Member Candidates

The Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils is proud to announce the three candidates who are in the running to be named the 2016-2017 student member of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education.

The students are:

Jacob Baumgart, Arundel High School 

Carolyn Williams, Glen Burnie High School 

Molly Fitzpatrick, Broadneck High School

The Student Member on the Board of Education election is hosted by the Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils The student member is appointed by the Governor and serves a one-year term during his or her senior year of high school, and receives a $6,000 college scholarship.  Anne Arundel’s student member is the only one in the nation on a local Board of Education with full voting rights.

Elections to determine the candidate whose name will be forwarded to the governor for appointment will take place on April 15, 2016, at the CRASC General Assembly meeting. The campaigning period is open and student campaigning activities are not limited to the day the election. CRASC’s constitution and bylaws call for high schools and middle schools in the county to be allotted a predetermined number of delegates, based on each school’s enrollment, at the election.  Delegates will represent student government, the arts, athletics, and other extracurricular activities. Before votes are cast, candidates will deliver a speech and participate in a question and answer session.

The three candidates will participate in a Candidates Night at 6:30 p.m. on March 30, 2016, at the Carol Parham Building, located at 2644 Riva Road in Annapolis. Students and community members are welcome to attend. 

Lobbying Day

Hi guys!

My name is Alex McGrath, and I'm your 1st Vice President! What that means is that I represent you and your over 80,000 fellow students to the County Council and the Maryland General Assembly. That also means that I'm responsible for Lobbying Day, which is our annual day for students throughout AACPS to go to the Maryland General Assembly and tell them how we feel about bills before them. Lobbying Day will be on February, 25th this year, and I can't wait to see you there!

This year, our executive staff and I decided that we are lobbying in support of HB 226, HB 87, HB 617, and HB 31.

HB 226 would increase student representation in Talbot County for their SMOB. Currently, the SMOB position alternates between a representative from a representative from one of the two schools in the county each year. If this bill passes, it would allow for Talbot County to have two SMOBs, and would increase their representation!

HB 87 is also a SMOB bill. This bill is to increase the voting rights of the Montgomery County SMOB. With this bill, we get closer to giving the MoCo SMOB a full vote, and we would help make history!

HB 617 deals with adjunct instructors at AACPS. What that means is that experts in their fields could come in and teach a class that they have specialty knowledge in without receiving a teaching certification. This bill would be great because it would let for people with specialized knowledge come in and teach us specialized skills, while also reducing the amount of work our teachers have, so they could dedicate their teaching time to subjects they are comfortable with.

HB 31 is an environmental bill, which aims to ban plastic bags, and charge everyone a 10 cent tax for every paper bag they use. This bill could help save the Chesapeake Bay! Plastic bags are bad for the environment, and this would let us help get rid of them.

We will end the day with a question and answer period with County Executive Steve Schuh, and will also hear from Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards who represents Maryland's 4th district!

I hope you are as excited as I am about lobbying day, and please tell your friends to come! If you have any question at all please don't hesitate to reach out to me, or to ask any of our amazing executive staff members, and we will do our best to answer it!

I look forward to seeing you,

Alex McGrath