Involving students in America Goes Back to School activities is a great way to build community support and broaden the impact of your efforts. Students will add energy and ideas to your project, and you can provide them with the challenging experience of organizing a community event. They won't let you down! Get them involved from the very beginning--and if you start planning in the spring, you can recruit students to help during the summer months, before your America Goes Back to School activities really begin!

Here are some ideas on how students can help your community go back to school:

* Create invitations for parents, community leaders, employers, and others to join America Goes Back to School events and long-term projects.

* Sponsor a poster contest to publicize your event and spread the America Goes Back to School theme.

* Hold a student poetry competition with local writers as judges. Structure the topic along the lines of your community's educational concerns.

* Write and give speeches on the priority areas in education.

* Debate a current education issue in your community. Have your local cable channel broadcast a videotaped version.

* Write articles for school or local newspapers on how the community can help improve the schools and America Goes Back to School events in your community. Invite journalists to give lessons on the elements of a good article.

* Start a student ambassador program to welcome new students at your school.

* Perform at an event. Ask the school's drama club, dance troupe, orchestra, band, or cheerleading squad to perform at an America Goes Back to School event.

* Join in planning for the new millennium. Brainstorm ways that students can help the community celebrate the coming of the new century. Join year two of the Mars Millennium project (Go to http://www.mars2030.net for more information).

* Sponsor an "Academic Olympics." Along with community volunteers, high school students can organize a series of academic competitions between local elementary schools. Children can compete in spelling bees, math challenges, science experiments, art, music, history, second language competitions, and other learning games. Challenge young minds--they will live up to your expectations, and soar!