Anything you can do to create buzz is going to have a gravitating effect. Keep in mind you're talking about a bunch of teenagers.
Make something explode (safely), fly something around the cafeteria, do a community service engagement project (stolen from above).
Also... to get the parents to endorse... put some structure behind it and guarantee some publication. Anything to help a college application look better will also bolster support from the parents.
Finally - to the 4 kids you have who are proficient in JS - remind them they need to act as leaders, mentors and teachers to the other kids. Perhaps a little difficult for kids who are trying to break out of their nerd shells but it'll be a good crash course in human interaction for them!
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Anything you can do to create buzz is going to have a gravitating effect. Keep in mind you're talking about a bunch of teenagers. Make something explode (safely), fly something around the cafeteria, do a community service engagement project (stolen from above). Also... to get the parents to endorse... put some structure behind it and guarantee some publication. Anything to help a college application look better will also bolster support from the parents. Finally - to the 4 kids you have who are proficient in JS - remind them they need to act as leaders, mentors and teachers to the other kids. Perhaps a little difficult for kids who are trying to break out of their nerd shells but it'll be a good crash course in human interaction for them!