“Your ability to tell stories that connect with both staff and students while linking them to the important messages you need to deliver is very impressive - truly a pleasure to be an audience member.  It is not easy to keep the attention of 800 teenagers for an hour with just a stage and a microphone.  You had the attention of the entire audience for the entire presentation.  Thanks again for your focused message and heart felt presentation.”
Ryan Hume, Vice Principal, Southwood Secondary School, Cambridge, Ontario

Andy's High School Presentations 
14 minute review of options.

"Share Your Care" Assembly for High Schools & Dexterity Clap. 5 mins

"Get Your Hand UP!" Assembly for High Schools. 9 minute review

A full day at Dalhousie Middle & High School - 9 mins of Andy energy

Andy's High School Assemblies

Memorable presentations of laughter, high energy, school spirit and encouragement. Program length is flexible from 40 to 90 minutes, with an interactive cheer or activity every 15 minutes to get your audience up to laugh and learn!   
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The most unique quality of my presentations is that your school or organization’s events, activities, and accomplishments are incorporated into the presentation. I will promote upcoming activities while offering recognition and praise for past events. Money spent on my programs can be considered an investment in more successful future activities! Plus, all your leadership groups and their advisors will appreciate a speaker that mentions their accomplishments!

Student Assembly, Option 1: “Get Your Hand UP!” 

On the first day of high school, I was 6 foot and 115 pounds. My #1 enemy … the wind! I tried out for the Junior football team and on the second day of school I experienced the failure of being cut. This hilarious and inspiring program encourages your students to have an attitude of “Pick Me, Pick Me”! Fight the fear of failure and be the student that “Gets Your Hand UP” to answer questions, ask questions, and volunteer. School is about balancing learning and having fun!

Work ethic, School Spirit, Self-Confidence, Resiliency, and Volunteerism are the key themes of this assembly.

Student Assembly, Option 2: “Share your Care” 

"Share Your Care" is about balancing learning with having fun! Dress up for the spirit day while answering questions in class. Hand in your project on time and then participate in the fun after school or lunchtime event.

My top 3 examples of care: Show up. Participate. Listen.

The version for grades 5 to 12 ends with this story: In grade 10 English, I was asked to draw an image and write a description of “the most important moment of your life, so far.”  The drawing was set in June of grade 7.  How does the image connect to my election as the grade 8 student council vice president? Why did this action change EVERYTHING about the direction of my life in grades 8 to 12?  It is a moving and comedic story about self-confidence, compassion and sharing your gifts. It will have everyone in your audience relating to my journey from shy 6th grader to confident high school grad and student body president.

Themes of Community Service, Inclusion, Kindness, School Spirit, Self-Confidence, Bullying Awareness are woven into the program.

Grads only Assembly, Option 3: “Get Your Hand UP GRADS!” 

A special grade 12-focused version of my “Get Your Hand UP’ assembly, focusing on enjoying the final year of school, being an example of leadership for the younger grades, and successfully preparing for life after high school. Perfect for grad retreats and second semester visits. I have examples in my program of all possible school and career pathways - university, college, trades, workplace.  

Adjustable from 45 minutes to a half day retreat.

Student Assembly, Option 4: “Initiate Inclusion by Invitation” - Building Community. 

Inclusion is “Seeing differences, without seeing the difference.”
Inclusion is at the forefront of all schools’ goals. For 10 months in 2018-19, my family had three young women from Congo live with us until their housing situation was settled. The ongoing experience of being “Uncle Andrew” to new Canadians from Africa is hilarious, powerful, and insightful.  When you initiate inclusion by invitation, my family’s experience shows that the rewards go both ways – blessing the giver and receiver! From this experience, my work at the King’s College Peace Camp, and working for 9 months in 2020 at Costco, I offer perspective to the following challenges: How can you initiate inclusion? What limits our courage to invite? How can one maintain enthusiasm for invitation and leadership when negative experiences and rejection challenge us in our schools and community? Include, invite, and lead by initiating!

Keynote themes: Inclusion, Appreciation of Differences, Self-confidence, Communication Skills, Team Building, Community Service. 

School Staff Assembly: “The Impact of Educators"

In the fall of grade 9, I received a letter inviting me to attend a “potential test” for track and field. That letter from Coach and Teacher Don Young changed my life! Expect tears of laughter and powerful reflection as I share the lessons I learned from Coach Young and his efforts to connect with students. The program is an inspiring reminder to all school staff of their IMPACT on the lives of youth. 

When booking me for your school, consider organizing an after-school staff meeting so I can share this powerful program. Its length is flexible to your needs, from 20 minutes to 1 hour, with teambuilding activities and hilarious interaction!  Also available as a one to two-hour Professional Development session! 

"Dexterity Check" and "Fire it UP!" Cheers at Aldergrove HS - 3 mins

"Impact of Educators" School Staff Appreciation, 10 mins

Andy's Student Leadership Workshops

Inspiring Leadership Training that is Educational, Interactive and Habit forming. 

Program length is flexible from 40 to 90 minutes, with an option for a half-day or full-day leadership retreat. All sessions feature an interactive activity, school spirit cheer or game every 20 minutes to get your audience up to laugh and learn!   
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​Workshop 1: "Making Care Contagious!” – Andy’s Habits of Successful Student Leaders.

Care is Contagious, but as a LEADER, it must start with ME! Lessons learned from being a grade 8 student council VP, a high school student president, and the orientation coordinator of my university. A powerful student leadership program that can run from 1 to 3 hours on improving communication and event marketing, handling rejection and negativity, being an example of good decisions and promoting inclusion!

Workshop 2: "Can I Count on You?”  - Improving Your Reliability to Lead Yourself and Others. 

Execution of ideas is the number one challenge for young people in organizing themselves and others. This session will immediately improve the ability of your team to work together and improve their organization and time management skills. I will share immediately applicable ideas from my time as a student leaders balancing commitments with student leadership, athletics, academics, family, and friends. Includes insights on effectively using smart devices for reaching daily goals and commitments!  For students and school staff!  

Workshop 3: “Initiate Inclusion by Invitation” – Leadership Training on Building Community. 

A leadership workshop version of my program on Inclusion. Leaders are the first “I” – Initiate. Leaders start the conversation, extend invitation, learn about barriers to inclusion, and work with others to find solutions! 

​Workshop 4:  Co-Op / Business Class/Leadership Class/Careers Class/Workplace Training Workshops Versions of “Can I Count on You? Improving your Reliability” and “Initiating Inclusion by Invitation”. 

Have teachers sign up and bring together several classes to participate in my workshops as part of your co-op class, leadership, business, trades, or careers curriculum! I have created workplace preparation versions of my Leadership Programs, with presentation lengths from one or two periods for a half day or four periods for a full day.

The programs includes insights from my three very different jobs I had in 2020 to 2022 during the pandemic: Costco; Health Unit Vaccine Clinic; Supply teacher for all grades.  ​

"Making Care Contagious" Leaders Training for grade 6 to 12 - 5 min clip

"Can I Count On You?" Reliability Training for all leaders. 10 min. clip

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Andy Thibodeau - Assemblies, Conference Keynotes and Leadership Workshops across North America from London, Ontario
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