HHS Guidance Counselor Mary Jo Crihfield brainstorms with members of the school's Student Council on opening-day activities for the upcoming state convention to be hosted at the school in March. The convention draws from 400 to 800 student and adult delegates each year, a large undertaking for a school with an enrollment of only 400. Students, from left, seated, Craig Davis, Ashton Smith, co-secretary-host Nathan Smith, Kelly Reynolds; middle, co-secretary-host Heather Hill, Natalie Grantland, Holly Crook, Madison Hamlet, Britney Moore; back, Michael Hudson, Jessica Moore and Tony Hudson.

Halls High School will give lessons in leadership and the country life to students leaders from across the state this March when the school hosts the state convention for the Tennessee Association of Student Councils.

The theme for the 2007-2008 conference will be "Sowing the Seeds of Leadership," with planned activities including motivational speakers, small group sessions, a community-service project and fun activities like a square dance, petting zoo and tractor exhibition.

"We're bringing the city to the country," said HHS Guidance Counselor and Student Council advisor Mary Jo Crihfield. "This is a major undertaking because no school or community as small as Halls has taken on something this big."

The TASC currently has 120 member schools including high schools and middle level/junior high schools, with as many as 800 student and adult delegates attending state conferences each year. HHS officials expect between 400 to 500 participants at this year's event, a large task for a school with only around 400 students.

"The size (of the convention) depends on the size of the school hosting. It also depends on the location. Dyersburg High School hosted it in 1995," said Crihfield, who said the convention has been held in Memphis since then. "It's been several years since it has been located in West Tennessee."

The state conference is held each spring at the home school of the student elected to the position of secretary-host in the state Student Council organization. This year's co-secretary-hosts are HHS juniors Heather Hill and Nathan Smith.

Hill and Smith were chosen for the job by acclamation of the state executive board after Crihfield and co-advisor Joanie Ketchum received permission and support to host the conference from Lauderdale County Superintendent of Schools Phillip Jackson and HHS Principal Andy Pugh.

"We are very excited that Halls High, our Blue Ribbon School, is hosting this event," said Jackson. "It not only brings recognition to Halls and Lauderdale County but to the fact that rural areas are leading the way in the many areas in education including leadership. I hope that everyone will join Halls High Student Council to make this a success and showcase our area of West Tennessee."

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The two-and-one-half-day event will take place at HHS, with students staying in "home stay" accommodations while they attend the conference.

The host school is responsible for finding homes for the students to stay in, transportation to and from the conference and breakfast each morning. The organization is also seeking sponsorships for meals, snacks, give-a-ways, door prizes and large event sponsors.

"Dyersburg High School is helping us with the project," said Crihfield. "They are trying to find us home stays for the students. Our facility can accommodate the conference, but Halls is a small place. We'll need help housing the students."

Those interested in offering their homes for students may call Mary Jo Crihfield at 836-9642.