Dear Students, I want to wish all of you a happy and safe holiday season. As the year draws to a close and a new one begins, I look forward to hearing of your achievements. I would like to note that I am extremely encouraged by this year's selection of an environmental activist for the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. The Prize was awarded at a ceremony in Oslo, Norway, on December 10, to Wangari Maathai, the first African woman and first Kenyan, to win the award. She urged all citizens of the world to "to embrace the whole creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder." And I urge all of you to heed her words of wisdom. Read more about Wangari Maathai... Important Dates - Scholarship Deadlines Approaching February 1, 2005 Robert P. Sheppard Leadership Award May 1, 2005 Academic Paper Awards Competition Several NSHSS Staff members attended the Latin America Chief Administrators' Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, December 5-8, an event sponsored by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement. SACS accredits over 13,000 schools and school systems throughout the United States and overseas. NSHSS Chair Claes Nobel addressed the school administrators about his experiences with several Nobel Laureates, including Oscar Arias, former president of Costa Rica; Jimmy Carter; Mother Teresa; and the Dalai Lama. NSHSS Vice President Maudelle Driskell also spoke to the group, providing an illuminating power point presentation about NSHSS. Advisory Board Member Jean Danielson , Educational Director of FastWeb, offers advice to help relieve some of the stress of researching and searching for college information. December: A Time of Cheer, Stress, and Stress Relief By Jean Danielson Cheer and stress move hand-in-hand down the holiday yellow brick road, as Glenda the good witch would tell us as she led Dorothy to the Emerald City. On your own journey during this holiday time, don't forget to stop and smell a few roses and eat a few cookies along the way. If you live in lands of snow without greenhouses for roses and you prefer the companionship of the internet to the sugary goodness of cookies, I have many treats for you and much seasonal advice. First, don't neglect the creative and silly side of you. That side can be found in Sponge Bob http://www.spongebobmovie.com/, Shrek 2 http://www.shrek2.com/, and The Incredibles http://www.theincredibles.com/. You spend a lot of time packing serious thoughts into your neurons and agitating your synapses. Don't forget the laughter and giggles. Second, if you want to know about snow but are afraid to ask, go to http://nsidc.org/snow/. If you want to know about Santa, go to http://www.claus.com/. How about Kwanzaa? Go to http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/. How about Hanukkah? http://judaism.about.com/cs/chanukahsites/index.htm?terms=Hanukkah is the place to go for history, stories, and recipes. Finally, how about just plain fun? There's nothing like bubble wrap: http://fun.from.hell.pl/2003-11-24/bubblewrap.swf or the drag and release of googley-oogley toys: www.zefrank.com/goog1/index.html. When I was young, I played with sticks and dirt in the backyard. Nowadays, people have electronic blips and keyboards that bring beautiful, vibrant imagery to them. It can be useful and help you get things done, but don't forget to play outside. College Correspondent Robert Rowe, NSHSS member attending Princeton, continues his tips for students. Hello again from Princeton! As the first half of the school year winds down, and the holiday season approaches, it's not easy thinking about next fall. But for you seniors, next fall means a big and exciting change. That's right - COLLEGE. It's a new chapter in your life in which you hold the pen. Therefore, you can never start preparing too soon. Here are a few things that can make the transition to college life that much easier. Read More... Connect with other members in the NSHSS forums. Chat with members from around the globe. Visit the Member Connection Section. If you would like to be considered for the monthly Member Showcase, please click here. Brandy Bandaruk San Clemente, California San Clemente High School I am 50% Ukrainian and 50% German. I look up to my Ukrainian great-grandparents, who immigrated to America during the Russian Revolution and worked hard to learn English and to support a family. Celeste A. Chavez El Paso, Texas Maxine L Silva Health Magnet High School Live every day as if it were your last to be lived. Sarah Marie Perry Burlington, North Dakota Des Lacs Burlington High School "Take life one day at a time." Everyone needs to slow down and enjoy the time they have. Emma F. Sally Wyandotte, Michigan Theodore Roosevelt High School "Reach for the moon, and you'll land among the stars." Abe Taylor Mechanicsville, Virginia Hanover High School I believe life is about what you do, not what you don't do. So when faced with difficult obstacles, I look for and find opportunities, not excuses. Visit the NSHSS Scholar's store and check out our selection of great recognition items like honor cords and lapel pins, available only to members. Shop in the member section of the web site or print out an order form. Service Opportunity Right: Scott Jordan and James Lewis at the Hoi An Orphanage. The National Society of High School Scholars is inviting members to make a difference in the lives of a small group of orphans halfway around the world. NSHSS President James Lewis and NSHSS Director Scott Jordan recently visited Vietnam to attend the EARCOS conference of international educators. In their travels through the country, James and Scott came across an orphanage that is working diligently to provide a home and future to many disabled and struggling Vietnamese children. Read more to see how you can help make a big difference to some of the world's neediest children. Claes Nobel School of Distinction Award Congratulations to the Claes Nobel School of Distinction for December, Pompano Beach High School, in Pompano Beach, Florida, a magnet school offering a curriculum specializing in International Affairs with Informational Technology. Pompano Beach was nominated by Member Steven Garte-Wolf, who praises his school's diversity. Students at Pompano Beach represent over 12 different languages and 15 countries. The school is committed to the principle that cultural diversity can increase students' understanding of different peoples and cultures. An important part of the school's mission is to "provide a nurturing environment where a diverse group of students build a sound foundation for academic excellence and moral character." In addition, it has been rated an "A" school in Broward County, Florida, three years in a row. To nominate your school for consideration, please email Dr. Susan Thurman at susan.thurman@nshss.org with an explanation of why your school deserves this recognition. Be sure to include your name and contact information, the school's name and city, and a link to the school's website.   Scholar's Think Tank The Voice of Youth Last month, we polled our members about their thoughts on the Electoral College and members who responded were 62 percent in favor of retaining the current system, while 38 percent would like to see the U.S. president elected by popular vote. For a thoughtful approach to this issue, read remarks from member Peter Benesch, of Troy High School in Fullerton, California. NSHSS member Peter Benesch voices his opinion Survey question Turning from politics to academics, with the new SAT coming in 2005, we wanted to know how students feel about the upcoming changes. Specifically, do you think that adding a written essay to the SAT is a good idea? If you have anything you'd like to say about it, please email: editor@nshss.org