National FCCLA Week slated for Feb. 14-18 years ago
Feb. 14 through 18 is National Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America Week and the local chapter at Hillsboro High School has a full week planned for its members and for the rest of the high school.
According to sponsor and Family and Consumer Science teacher Monica Leihy, FCCLA members will have secret pals next week who will be identified at the end of the week.
On Monday, FCCLA members will start a scavenger hunt for faculty and students and provide special treats for high schoolers. Tuesday the person wearing the most red and white will win a giant cookie. On Wednesday, the organization plans to have a birthday party at Salem Home. Peppermints will be placed in students' lockers on Thursday, and popcorn will be given to students on Friday. This week, FCCLA members served breakfast to HHS faculty members.
All of this work will be accomplished by the 12 members of FCCLA, including Jessica Allen, president; Rose Vineski, vice president of membership; and Whitney Allen, secretary and treasurer. The organization is open to high school students, and HHS has seven freshmen, three seniors, and two sophomores in its group.
Leihy, who has 10 years of experience working in FCCLA, inherited the group when she began teaching at the high school in 2003.
"The focus of FCCLA is to provide leadership in the family and consumer science field," she said. "We're hoping to get more people involved."
This school year, FCCLA has been involved in an Elf Auction to raise money for Christmas Rebuilders, a self-defense class, ropes leadership course, fall leadership academy, and a membership kick-off at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Mo.
The group funds many of its activities by baking and selling Monster cookies on Fridays when the high school has a home game. The proceeds go back into the FCCLA coffer to fund activities. The school district also receives vocational education money to help fund FCCLA.
A district Students Taking Action for Recognition (STAR) competition scheduled for Wednesday in Newton was postponed because of inclement weather. However, when it is held, the local group plans to compete in three areas. There are 13 districts in Kansas, and students winning a gold at district will be eligible for state competition in April in Wichita.
Sophomore Whitney Allen will compete in the Power of One — Better You division. Allen recently completed a quilt for her friend's, JuliAnne Chisholm, birthday.
"My goal was to improve my sewing skills by making a quilt and running a monogram machine," said Allen. "I learned a lot. I like what FCCLA promotes.
Allen will take her project to district competition and share what she did and what she learned.
Kayla Letterman plans to compete in the Power of One junior division and Becky Steketee and Jayme Claassen also will compete.
"I incorporate FCCLA in my classroom," Leihy said. "We focus on community service and careers. FCCLA provides students with leadership opportunities."
Monday, the display case in the main lobby of the high school will showcase FCCLA. The 12 members and Leihy will try to put into one small space all that FCCLA stands for and they are happy to have the opportunity to promote their organization.
