Why should your school participate in SchoolTube’s lip dub challenge?  Allow me to speak, or write as it were, freely.  Student and teacher morale is at an all-time low.  The pandemic has wiped out their desire for school spirit and all semblance of pride in their school. We created #SchoolTubeLipDub to try and help turn that around.

While there are no studies directly linking a student’s participation in a lip dub to an increase in overall mental health, it is not far-fetched that if a school produces a well-received lip dub by the student body featuring organized activities (especially those involving physical activity), a student may be more inclined to join the featured team or club.  Studies show a definitive link to participation in such activities to an increase in mental health and overall well-being (Boelens, Smit, Raat, Bramer, & Jansen, 2022). This is especially important for students in foster care or other out-of-home care (Conn, Calais, Szilagyi, Baldwin, & Jee, 2014).

It is imperative that the lip dub be well-received by the students.  The best way to accomplish this is by having the students create it.  A group of students should be responsible for planning, organizing, and editing the project.  If a teacher is “in control” students will likely think the whole thing is “cringe.” 

However, if you can get a group of students to take the lead on creating the video, the rest of the student body will gladly join in.  Your group of students should preferably be a mix of well-respected, talented, creative, and responsible students.  You’ll need the ones who can come up with and implement the ideas, the ones who can organize it all, and the ones that can get other students excited about it.

Principals are in a unique position to set the tone for the whole project.  I highly encourage you, principals, to take this opportunity to build school spirit and boost student and faculty morale by participating in this event.  (You can check out our getting started guide for tips on where to begin.)  If you can compile a group of hand-picked students to lead the charge, and be as involved as you possibly can (regular check-ins, a cameo in the video, providing access to resources, etc.), you will also help bridge the perceived gap in what students and teachers believe leadership should look like and what it actually looks like (Pina, Cabral, & Alves, 2015).

Sign Up

For a complete list of rules and to submit your video, visit www.schooltube.com/schooltube-lip-dup-2022

References

Boelens, M., Smit, M. S., Raat, H., Bramer, W. M., & Jansen, W. (2022). Impact of organized activities on mental health in children and adolescents: An umbrella review. Preventive Medicine Reports.

Conn, A.-M., Calais, C., Szilagyi, M., Baldwin, C., & Jee, S. H. (2014). Youth in out-of-home care: Relation of engagement in structured group activities with social and mental health measures. Children and Youth Services Review, 36, 201-205.

Pina, R., Cabral, I., & Alves, J. (2015). Principal's Leadership on Students’ outcomes. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 949-954.