Teen Times March-April 2017

Magazine for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Inc.

Also Inside...

A Close Look at Cyber Interaction National Programs and YOU Test Your LifeSmarts 2017 NLC Media Team

March/April 2017

Unlimited Possibilities with National Programs Advisers integrate FCCLA National Programs into the classroom to teach about relevant teen issues and empower members to take action.

2016-2017 Safe Rides – Save Lives PSA Contest

AND THE WINNERS ARE…. www.teenlane.org

1st Place: Litchfield Senior High School FCCLA from Minnesota 2nd Place: Gallatin County High School FCCLA from Illinois 3rd Place:

Harrisburg South Middle School FCCLA from South Dakota

In an interview with our first place team and winner of $3,500, we learned more about the inspiration behind their PSA entry and how they came up with the idea. Their entry highlighted the dangers of having multiple passengers in one car and how the decisions teens make when driving or riding with a friend impact not only themselves, but their families and community members as well. Their inspiration came from what they saw around them. On the way to school in the morning, they would see at least three people driving distracted. This group just wanted to do something about it. FCCLA chapter member Grace Larson said, “We have seen the results of a car crash first hand.

A local high school student was in a car crash last year and he passed away. It was devastating for our school and community. We didn’t want to see people have to go through that.”

When asked what their biggest takeaway was from this experience, chapter member Taylar Smith said, “When we filmed our video and completed our project, we learned that you have to keep people interested and think outside of the box. Not many people want to listen to a long presentation filled only with facts. We had to create something out of the ordinary to get our point across and to make a lasting impression on people and their driving habits.”

We also asked Mary Ridgeway what advice she would give to another chapter looking to create a PSA, and she said, “Don’t overthink it. Come up with one main idea and build off of that. If you’re trying to put seven different ideas together, it will just come out messy. Keep it simple.”

This year’s Safe Rides — Save Lives PSA contest was a great success thanks to our sponsor, The National Road Safety Foundation, and the 46 chapters that submitted PSAs this year. We encourage you to take a look at these PSAs on our various platforms and continue to limit the number of passengers in your car!

Inside

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March/April 2017

Features

2017 NLC Media Team

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22.

Spotlight

FCCLA .. In Action

4 What Do you Know about National Programs?

8 Unlimited Possibilities with a Program of Work 12 National Programs and YOU 15 Using the FCCLA Planning Process

Regulars 2 Executive Director’s Note 2 From the National President 3 A Close Look at Cyber Interaction 5

Test Your LifeSmarts

7 2017 NLC Media Team 11 Social Media Roundup 16 Red Jacket, Red Hot Future 17 Partner Power!

18 2017 FCCLA National Meetings & Events 19 Top Ten Reasons to Attend 2017 NLC 20 FCCLA Faces 21 Class Acts 22 Spotlight on National Programs 24 NEC Recap 25 FCCLA Teen RSA Initiative 26 FCCLA … In Action 28 Spot the Changes

FCCLA Mission

To promote personal growth and leadership development through Family and Consumer Sciences education. Focusing on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner, and community leader, members develop skills for life through character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge, and career preparation.

Teen Times is the national magazine of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, a career and technical student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education, or as determined by the state department of education.

Josh Bowar, Editorial Consultant Jim Myers, Layout/Design NATIONAL STAFF Sandy Spavone, Executive Director Leah Buller, Director of Membership Marla Burk, CMP, Director of Conferences Beth Carpenter, Director of Programs Mark Hornby, CPA, Director of Finance Karen Patti, Director of Communications Ashley Pournaras, Senior Communications Manager Charles Carson, Mailroom Manager Kelley Conners, Meetings Manager Heather Davis, Partnership Manager Christine Hollingsworth, Competitive Events Manager Karen Montagne, Programs Manager Ana Torres, Staff Accountant Caitlin Osbourne, Affiliation & Registration Coordinator Alyssa Altice, Membership and Finance Assistant Rachael Long, Communications and Programs Assistant Niki Mount, Meetings Assistant Kim South, Executive Assistant Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a private, nonprofit national organization of more than 160,000 members incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia. It functions through public and private secondary school systems in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands as an integral part of the Family and Consumer Sciences education program, providing opportunities for enriched learning.

Editor’s Note: Please credit Teen Times for information you reprint, excerpt, or photocopy. Use the following statement to credit materials you use from this issue: Reprinted with permission from Teen Times, the national magazine of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Vol. 71, No. 4.

Teen Times (ISSN 0735-6986) is published four times per year in September, November, January, and March by Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Inc., 1910 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1584, (703) 476-4900. A portion ($4.00) of national dues pays for a one-year subscription to Teen Times.

Inclusion of an advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s claims, products, and services. Periodicals postage paid at Reston, VA, and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTERS: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: Teen Times, 1910 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1584.

March/April 2017 www.fcclainc.org Teen Times 1

Executive Director’s Note This year has gone by so quickly! Many of you are in the middle of your state meetings or about to attend them. As we reflect on this year of Unlimited Possibilities, we are reminded of the great impact you’ve had with your leadership. Your work in schools, communities, and families is the key to the success of FCCLA. We hope that as you learned new leadership skills this year, explored career opportunities, and built upon your life’s foundation that you found the programs of FCCLA both engaging and helpful in this process.

I have had the opportunity to meet many of you and have learned about your chapter’s program of work. You all amaze me and inspire me, and I know that our country’s future is bright and hopeful because young leaders like you are working to make sure you are ready to be successful in your chosen career. Whether you chose to get involved in a PSA contest or Teen RSA work or took on a need in your community through the Lead2Feed partnership, we hope that you learned new skills that will help you both now and in the future.

The FCCLA programs are available to help your advisers integrate FCCLA into the classroom and to expand on your classroom experience. The sponsors and partners that help to make these programs possible believe you are full of Unlimited Possibilities and support our efforts to help FCCLA provide you, our members, with unique leadership skills.

As you move through your state meetings, we hope that you then start planning and preparing to see us at the 2017 National Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN. We have so many exciting plans and hope YOU are there to be part of this year’s meeting.

If you are, please be sure to come and introduce yourself. I love meeting each and every one of you!

From the National President Hello, FCCLA members!

It’s hard to believe that we are approaching the end of the year. State conferences will be wrapping up soon, and we will be looking at a summer filled with Unlimited Possibilities.

Nevertheless, don’t think your chapter has to stop working to create better families, careers, and communities during the summer months. Be sure to take the time to meet up! Decide what you are passionate about and chose something to continue to give back to your community. Have a bonding night for your officers or your entire chapter.

The officer team at my school always heads over to my adviser’s house, and then we roast marshmallows and talk about the year behind us and our plans for the next year. This can be a great way to keep members engaged while we are all on break.

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Also, who could forget the most exciting event of the summer? The National Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN, is right around the corner. The National Executive Council has been working hard to ensure that this year’s NLC will bring energy and excitement while remaining purposeful and inspiring. We can’t wait to see you there!

A Close Look at Cyber Interaction How many times a day do you check your Instagram? Snapchat? Twitter?

According to a study by Common Sense Media, 78% of teens check their devices hourly (with 69% of parents reporting the same). Cell phones and cyber interaction are an extension of our lifestyles, and we often do not realize how much we are communicating and engaging online. In the same study, 72% of teens say that they feel the need to immediately respond to texts, social networking messages, and other notifications — some of which may be harmful, threatening, or bullying. It can be a quick downward spiral into the misuse of online technology that can threaten self-esteem, emotional well-being, and social standing with peers.

SOCIAL NETWORK Image by Freepik

CareerSafe and FCCLA Partner to Tackle Cyber Bullying CareerSafe is proud to sponsor FCCLA’s Students Taking on Prevention (STOP) the Violence program awards for the 2016-2017 school year. The STOP the Violence program empowers youth with the various tools and skills to recognize, report, and reduce youth violence. FCCLA members use peer education to reach other youth with violence prevention training, help others recognize warning signs of potential youth violence – including cyberbullying – and encourage youth to report troubling behavior. As part of our safety mission, CareerSafe raises awareness and promotes knowledge of the online environment through our Cyber Safety Awareness Training series and strategic partnerships like the one with FCCLA. CareerSafe’s Cyber Safety Awareness Training series and FCCLA’s STOP the Violence program share common goals, which provides both organizations an opportunity to collaborate and equip students with the skills they need to respond to cyberbullying situations. Partnering with FCCLA allows CareerSafe to reach FCCLA’s youth audience with key information to keep them safe.

As a result of unique training like the STOP the Violence program or Cyber Safety Awareness Training, peer empowerment, and overall awareness, teens are better able to recognize and respond to violence online and offline in ways that stop the cycle and lead to opportunities for personal development and growth.

Many instances of violence can arise from unsafe, online communication, which is why CareerSafe and FCCLA partner together to make a difference in online interaction with the goal of reducing violence. With awareness in mind, here are some quick tips to protect you online.

Block it: Block bullies on your social media platforms and cell phone.

Report it: Report violent behavior when you see it – even if it’s not directed toward you.

Consider it: Be mindful of the information you post online. Never post your address, date of birth, or other personal contact information that can compromise your identity.

We invite you to join us in making our online communities safer and kinder for everyone. For more information on the CareerSafe Cyber Safety Awareness Training series, please visit our website at: http://www2.careersafeonline.com/Cyber. For more information about the STOP the Violence program, head to http://fcclainc.org/programs/stop-the-violencestudents-taking-on-prevention.php.

March/April 2017 www.fcclainc.org Teen Times 3

What Do you Know about National Programs?

It’s time to test your knowledge of the FCCLA national programs!

See if you can match the correct national program to the correct description.

1.

3.

5.

7.

2.

4.

6.

8.

NATIONAL

PROGRAM

S

MATCH THEIR DEFINITIONS

A. Learn how to explore career pathways and skills for success in families, careers, and communities.

B. Discover how you can strengthen family relationships.

C. Put the brakes on impaired driving and traffic crashes. Through peer education, help your friends arrive alive and lower the number one cause of death for youth in America.

D. Manage your money! Use this program to help you make, save, spend, and protect your money wisely.

!

Luck ood

G

E. Take action in your community, and discover the difference you can make.

F. Give yourself the power to make a positive change in your families, careers, and communities, one goal at a time.

G. Empower youth with attitudes, skills, and resources to recognize, report, and reduce youth violence.

Pick

One Image by Freepik

H. Learn more about The Healthy You, The Fit You, The Real You, and The Resilient You.

Pick one national program. Then come up with a project idea that you could do related to the national program. What would you like to do?

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1. D 2. F 3. B 4. C 5. H 6. E 7. A 8. G

Don’t forget that national program activities tie easily into STAR Events and Skill Demonstrations! View a list at http://fcclainc.org/programs/resources.php.

Test Your FCCLA and the National Consumers League partner together to provide the FCCLA/LifeSmarts Knowledge Bowl each year. During the 2016 National Cluster Meetings and the online “Second Chance” competition round, FCCLA teams competed to qualify for the 2017 National FCCLA/ LifeSmarts Knowledge Bowl Championship, to be held in Nashville, TN, during the National Leadership Conference. A full list of all sixteen qualifying teams can be found at www.fcclainc.org.

Each team, consisting of 5 FCCLA members, is tested on knowledge in these areas:

• Personal Finance • Consumer Rights & Responsibilities (to include Family, Career & Community Studies) • Technology (to include Fashion & Housing Design) • Health & Safety (to include Food Science & Nutrition and Early Childhood & Human Development) • Environment (to include Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation) • FCCLA Knowledge How consumer savvy are you? Test your skills with these questions, used this year during the National Cluster Meeting competitions.

Personal Finance

Technology

Environment

You’re saving up money to pay for your college education. Which of these forms of financial aid are you required to pay back?

Which of the following terms best describes the pure name of a color?

Acid rain is less acidic than which of the following substances?

A. shade B. tone C. hue

A. battery acid B. drain cleaner C. salt water

Health & Safety

FCCLA

The FDA tests which of the following products for safety and effectiveness?

According to the FCCLA mission, members focus on multiple roles to develop skills for life. What are the three roles mentioned in the FCCLA mission?

A. scholarships B. student loans C. grants

Consumer Rights and Responsibilities During the job application and interview process, employers are looking for two types of skills. What are they?

A. open and closed skills B. learned skills and instincts C. hard and soft skills

A. prescription drugs B. dietary supplements C. both

Looking for another way to brush up on your consumer knowledge and get prepared to compete next year?

Try out the LifeSmarts new app, LifeSmarts Adventure. Answer questions to earn scores, badges, and trophies in the app. Gift cards are awarded at the end of each LifeSmarts Adventure episode. There are about 8 new episode per year. Visit www.lifemsmartsadventure.org for more information on this free resource!

Personal Finance - B. student Loans; Consumer Rights and Responsibilities - C. hard and soft skills; Technology - C. hue; Health & Safety - A. prescription drugs; Environment - A. battery acid; FCCLA - family member, wage earner, community leader

March/April 2017 www.fcclainc.org Teen Times 5

What’s a team without a leader?

Barbara Blatter

Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher JOIN a nd get a F REE Back to School Poster! *

Change the game.

Barbara’s students developed cooking skills through Fuel Up to Play 60.

They’ve also learned about the importance of a healthy breakfast.

She says FUTP 60 is fun and easy with a lifelong impact on her students.

FuelUpToPlay60.com 6 Teen Times www.fcclainc.org March/April 2017 *Posters will be mailed during Fall 2017. Offer valid while supplies last. © 2017 National Dairy Council

. Fuel Up is a service mark of National Dairy Council.

®

2017 NLC Media Team Want to serve during NLC while gaining experience you can put on your resume?

Consider being a part of the 2017 NLC Media Team!

This year we will be putting together our first-ever Media Hub – complete with an FCCLA photo booth, mobile app support, an NLC mobile app scavenger hunt, interviewing stations for Teen Times features, and more!

National FCCLA is seeking ten energetic students to participate as student reporters, student photographers, and student media ambassadors. Read each position description below, and keep an eye out on social media for the application process, available in March.

NLC Student Reporters (4) NLC Student Reporters will be responsible for the following tasks: • Interviewing: Conduct interviews with exhibitors and partners during NLC’s Exhibit Expo and College & Career Fair, and with FCCLA advisers, National Executive Council members, speakers and presenters, and FCCLA members from around the nation! National staff will provide you with a list of interview questions, an audiorecorder, and a schedule for your interviews • Transcribing: National staff will save the audio recordings from your interviews and will send the audio files to you after NLC. Student Reporters are responsible for listening to and transcribing their interviews into a Word document, which will be sent back to national staff for use in publications.

• Writing: Take notes on your experiences as a Student Reporter, highlights from NLC, and thoughts about Nashville, TN. After the conference, send national staff some creative writing pieces that could be used in Teen Times and the FCCLA blog throughout 2017-2018.

Applicants should be confident in approaching and engaging potential interviewees on their own, and should have availability during exhibit hall hours. Transcription of interviews and writing pieces should be returned to national staff within three weeks of the conclusion of NLC.

NLC Student Photographers (3) NLC Student Photographers will be responsible for the following tasks: • Headshots: Take headshots of Media Team members for use in publications and social media.

• Photo Booth: Manage the photo booth in our FCCLA Media Hub. Take photos of members, advisers, and attendees in front of our step-and-repeat wall, complete with lighting and a tripod. Use props provided by National FCCLA to capture the Nashville spirit, the Unlimited Possibilities conference theme, and the excitement of NLC!

• Event Coverage: Take your camera with you and cover events with your chapter during the conference. Based on availability, national staff may assign specific events to attend and cover.

Applicants should have their own digital DSLR camera to use at NLC, and should be confident in staging and directing the subjects of their photos to capture the best shot. Student Photographers should arrange a time to meet with national staff each day during NLC to transfer their photos over for use in general session “meeting-inreview” slideshows and/or social media.

NLC Student Media Ambassadors (3) NLC Student Media Ambassadors will be responsible for the following tasks: • Mobile App: Assist with our mobile app scavenger hunt, contribute to the NLC mobile app photo stream, and teach members and advisers how to download and use the mobile app.

• Social Media: Take photos during NLC and post them on social media using #2017NLC. Collect useable content for national staff to send out through the @ NationalFCCLA accounts, and generate ideas for Snapchat.

• Media Hub: Help manage our Media Hub by assisting at the photo booth, recording video footage of “Why members love FCCLA”, and assisting FCCLA staff with media-related duties as needed.

Applicants should be comfortable using their social media accounts in a public capacity (no private accounts), and should have the FCCLA mobile app downloaded on their phones during NLC. Due to the inconsistency of Wi-Fi from location to location, Student Media Ambassadors may be required to use their own mobile data.

March/April 2017 www.fcclainc.org Teen Times 7

with a Program of Work How can you organize all of the Unlimited Possibilities that you have with FCCLA? How can you get your entire chapter moving the same direction? How can you put the power of FCCLA behind some specific goals for the year? Create a program of work!

What’s a program of work?

Simply put, it’s an organized way to make a plan for the year. It’s a calendar as well as a set of goals and action steps. Just like individuals need goals, so do organizations. A program of work is your chapter’s plan of action for the year. A balanced FCCLA program of work should include these things: • Membership development • Community service/National Outreach Project • Competitive Events • Programs • Public relations • Leadership development • Fundraising • Meetings and conferences • Recognition activities Make sure that activities are varied throughout the year and not packed all in one month. You don’t want to be overwhelmed!

So what should be in your chapter’s program of work? Talk through the following questions, and then use the next pages as a resource for creating a powerful program of work for the 2017-2018 school year!

1. What is important to your chapter?

2. What events do you already do throughout the year? What things would you like to add to what you already do?

3. What does your community need? How can you serve the community?

4. Which national program(s) would you like to focus on this year?

5. What leadership development activities do you do? Which would you like to add?

6. How can you recruit members? When should you recruit members? How can you celebrate the members you already have?

7. Which Competitive Events will your members participate in and how can you support them?

8. How can you promote the work of your chapter?

9. Which meetings and events will you attend?

10. Which fundraisers will you continue? Which will you add?

Now use the templates on the next pages to put together a program of work for your chapter. Once you’re finished, make your program of work public. Post it everywhere someone might see. Why? This holds you accountable to complete your plan, and it is also great public relations for your chapter and FCCLA!

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Work together as a chapter to create at least 3 goals for your program of work.

Complete this page to help you get started on the right track.

GOAL 1:

Plans for achieving the goal: (Include details on who will be responsible, timeline to follow, etc.)

How can you incorporate national programs in your program of work?

Check out these ideas!

Career Connection Organize a Mock Interview Day at school.

FACTS

Evaluation: (Include details on how accomplishments will be measured.)

Create a public awareness campaign about the effects of alcohol and drugs on the body and on a person’s decision-making and reaction time.

Financial Fitness

GOAL 2:

Create an interactive booth that helps students protect themselves from identity theft.

Leadership Service in Action

Plans for achieving the goal: (Include details on who will be responsible, timeline to follow, etc.)

Identify a community need and then form a plan to meet that need.

Power of One

Evaluation: (Include details on how accomplishments will be measured.)

Have every member complete The Planning Process to help members identify what area in which to begin.

Then challenge members to complete all 5 units.

Student Body Plan a “Spike Out Cancer” volleyball tournament or “Dodging Diabetes” dodgeball tournament to encourage physical activity and to bring awareness.

GOAL 3:

Plans for achieving the goal: (Include details on who will be responsible, timeline to follow, etc.)

Evaluation: (Include details on how accomplishments will be measured.)

STOP the Violence Organize an awareness campaign with the cooperation of your counselor or school social worker called “Leave at the Door or Take it to my Door” to encourage students to leave violence outside of school or to take serious matters to the counselor or other appropriate authority.

Families First Create family “survival kits” to use over school breaks. Include DVDs, card and board games, art supplies, etc., and make sure to include a list of ideas of what families could do together.

March/April 2017 www.fcclainc.org Teen Times 9

Now it’s time to organize your chapter events and plans for the year. Use the calendar to make sure that you have a balanced program of work. After you complete the calendar, check to make sure that you have at least one event, project, etc. that focuses on each of these things: • Membership development • Community service/National Outreach Project • Competitive Events • Programs

• Public relations • Leadership development • Fundraising • Meetings and conferences

August 2017

September 2017

October 2017

November 2017

December 2017

January 2018

February 2018

March 2018

April 2018

May 2018

June 2018

July 2018

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Facebook Katie McGraw: Today my FCCLA group spent the day being filmed by a production company from New York. KARE 11 came to do a story on us. Watch us here: http://kare11.tv/2kRUCP6 Virginia FCCLA: Today your #VAFCCLA State President spoke with Governor McAuliffe about #FCCLA and #FACS as part of the VACTE Legislative Conference! #CareerTechEd! Westlake High School FCCLA – Utah: Look how happy and great these FCCLA members look at nationals 2016! Start working on your competition event now so you can find yourself like this at nationals 2017!

Twitter @lynneselynnese: Your FCCLA Advisors are learning great things at the Midwinter Conference! @GMSMrG: Thank you to our @GHS_Falcons FCCLA students for coming to share a powerful message with our 8th graders today about taking a stand. @magonzalez888: Love to see my former students come back to present to our classroom about cyber bullying. #FCCLA

/NationalFCCLA

/NationalFCCLA

/NationalFCCLA

FCCLAinc.org/blog

NationalFCCLA1945

Instagram @bountifulfccla: Recycle and Redesign (an individual event) recognizes participants who select a used fashion or home apparel item to recycle into a new product. #fccla #starevents @anokafccla: This past week Anoka FCCLA worked with FEC/Educators Rising to put together a sock drive. Thank you to all students who donated socks, we reached a whopping total of 223 pairs of brand new socks! #fcclamn #fccla #anokafccla

National FCCLA

FCCLA 365 App

March/April 2017 www.fcclainc.org Teen Times 11

National Programs and FCCLA has eight national programs: Career Connection, FACTS (Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety), Families First, Financial Fitness, Leadership Service in Action, Power of One, STOP the Violence, and Student Body. In addition, involvement in FCCLA’s Competitive Events offers members the opportunity to expand their leadership potential and develop skills for life necessary in families, communities, and workplaces.

Our members are proud to share their personal stories about the positive impact these national programs have had on them. To learn more about how you can participate, visit http://fcclainc.org/programs/ and http://fcclainc.org/programs/competitive-events.php.

Change Starts with You

By Morgan Meyer, Vice-President for Community Service, Mustang High School FCCLA, OK I created my own service project named Denim for Hope. I collect donations of used jeans from my school and community and upcycle them into completely new household products such as coasters, pot holders, curtains, and rugs. We received nearly 300 pairs of donated jeans and are in the process of converting them into new products.

The new jean products are donated to the HUB Mission Ministry in Mustang, OK, for families in need.

I competed in the Recycle and Redesign District STAR Event and received first place. I had high expectations for my project, but I never expected the huge response and awesome feedback! Several college recruiters contacted me, as well as news outlets wanting to do a story on Denim for Hope.

People approach me in public asking, “Are you that girl from the denim project?” It’s crazy to me that it has become as big as it has. This whole experience has helped me gain confidence in myself. More than ever, I really feel like I can change the world.

If one girl could make this big of an influence in her community, think of what we could do if we all banded together to make a difference everywhere.

If it wasn’t for STAR Events, I might not have been able to get as far as I have. I hope to inspire people everywhere to give selflessly to the call of service where you live and learn. Change starts with you.

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Putting Families First to Bridge the Hunger and Education Gap

By Zack Love, Alabama FCCLA 1st Vice-President After being shocked by the staggering poverty and hunger statistics in Alabama, my STAR Event partner and I began a fight to help end this travesty affecting our state. We wondered if the need for food was helping to fuel the increase in high school drop-outs.

We surveyed a kindergarten class and found students who did not eat regularly performed more poorly compared to those who did eat regularly. They also did not eat with their families as much and had trouble identifying healthy foods. It was apparent that the basic family unit our students had at home needed help, so we decided to implement FCCLA’s Families First national program. We collected food donations and filled bags for each child with nutritious, easy-to-prepare, shelf-stable foods to take home to their families to help bridge the hunger and education gap. Recipe and nutrition information

was included to promote cooking with their families and to help educate family members about nutrition.

We set up fun classes to teach kindergarteners about healthy eating and the Unlimited Possibilities they can unlock through education. We had just as much fun as they did! Teachers were astonished by the turn-around and found students more attentive, more productive, and more able to interact with classmates. The kids could now identify healthy foods, were eating on a more regular basis, were spending time cooking and eating with their families, and were excited about going to school. Starting with a group so young was one of the best decisions my partner and I ever made. Something as simple as food was empowering them to possibly change the rest of their lives. With the help of this program and our experiences in FCCLA, my partner and I have had the pleasure of discovering the Unlimited Possibilities that passion, a love for children, and hard work can unlock. The hope is that with their future help, Alabama will have a brighter tomorrow.

From Rock Bottom to Financially Fit

By Carter Bracht, FCCLA National Vice-President of Finance, Howells-Dodge High School, NE Prior to joining FCCLA and even up to last year, I was an awful spender. My parents let me get my first debit card at 14, which was a very bad idea. I swiped my card almost every day, making useless purchases, spending my whole paycheck the second I would receive it. I eventually found out how to transfer money from my savings account and ended up with about $400 left to my name by the time I entered my FACS class. I had blown thousands of dollars on food and other useless things and had spent all of the money I had saved for college. I hit rock bottom and realized I needed to do something. I decided to take my first full FACS class and start my first project with Financial Fitness. I learned the importance of earning, saving, and protecting my money, which was a vital part of my plan. But the biggest lesson learned through my class and project was how to spend my money. I learned that if you keep track of how much money you have saved and spent every day, you will make wiser financial decisions.

I began budgeting my money and tracking every purchase I made, even if it was for a 50¢ granola bar. I now have $6,000 saved up for college, and I would not have this money available if it wasn’t for FACS, FCCLA, and Financial Fitness. Be sure to take advantage of all the opportunities available to you through FACS and FCCLA and exercise your Financial Fitness!

March/April 2017 www.fcclainc.org Teen Times 13

Bringing Christmas Joy to Children from Low-Income Families

Leadership Service in Action: Giving Thanks and Giving Back

By Case Tolliver and Ethan Lindsey, Healdton High School, OK

By Ashwin Konkimalla and Devanshi Shah, John P. Stevens High School, Edison, NJ

Winter Wonderland is the last thing the Healdton FCCLA chapter does before Christmas break, and it is the best thing that we do. Months of preparation go into just this one event that helps hundreds of little children in our town who otherwise might not get to have a Christmas. Our adviser told everyone to focus on empathy and fun, and that’s what we did! My job was to lead one of the 1st grade classes around to each of the stations we set up. These stations included face painting, a book walk, a wreath toss, story/snack time with Mrs. Claus, and even a surprise visit from Santa. Winter Wonderland requires a great deal of patience and kindness, especially when some of the students don’t believe in Santa anymore. It is great watching all the little kids and even the volunteers having so much fun and spreading Christmas cheer. My favorite part is when they open the big doors and all the kids start running because that means Santa has arrived. We watch their faces light up as he walks through the door, and the presents are passed out. We were able to get every student in the elementary school a gift. This will truly be one of my favorite high school experiences. Winter Wonderland has changed my life and has taught me there are still communities that say it’s OK to be nice and help the people in need.

FCCLA provides unlimited opportunities for us to improve our lives with national programs. Through the Leadership Service in Action program, John P. Stevens chapter members partnered with the program Bake for Good to make 500 delicious dinner rolls for our local soup kitchen, Elijah’s Promise. This was the first community service opportunity that many of our chapter’s members could participate in. Newly-joining members of FCCLA as well as returning upperclassmen came together to bake bread from scratch. As students from diverse backgrounds and interests, many of us learned how to make bread for the first time. The final product was astounding; all of the batches of bread were close to perfect! Most importantly, all of the bread that we made went directly to Elijah’s Promise, an anti-hunger agency devoted to eradicating hunger throughout the community.

Although I was able to be a part of several other community service initiatives before Bake for Good, this donation proved to be the most successful and most satisfying. Since this event took place right before Thanksgiving, it was the perfect chance for our members to learn about the importance of service and giving back, not only during the holiday season, but also every day.

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Using the FCCLA

Process

Image by Freepik

The FCCLA Planning Process is a decision-making tool used by members and STAR Event participants to plan individual and group projects.

Set a Goal – An arrow stands for pointing to the goal or end result. Use this step to help you know which direction to go.

The Planning Process has five steps: Identify Concerns, Set a Goal, Form a Plan, Act, and Follow Up.

Form a Plan – The square represents the coming together of ideas. During this step, determine the who, what, where, when, and how of your plan.

Did you know that each of the Planning Process symbols has a specific meaning?

Identify Concerns – Is this a circle or a target? As a circle, it represents a continuous flow of ideas, and as a target, it symbolizes zeroing in on one idea. This step starts the process with brainstorming to generate ideas and/or problems.

Act – The different squares represent the activities you carry out to meet your goal – your action.

Follow Up – This broken square suggests examining the project piece by piece, or you can think of it as window panes through which you look through to review your activities.

Once you become familiar with The Planning Process, you’ll find it’s used for more than just FCCLA projects and activities. It can be a valuable tool for you to use in multiple areas of your life!

“In order to successfully carry out projects, The Planning Process must be used. I think of The Planning Process like this. Without a concern, projects serve no main purpose.

Without a goal, the project can go off on a tangent. Plans may change, but they are the core of how a project can be implemented. Of course, a project can’t be successful if you don’t act. Future members want your feedback on how to better the impact of your project so that, in the future, similar projects can avoid inconvenient bumps in the road you may have faced.” Kyle Sorbe, Chapter Member, SD “In the 8th grade, I was introduced to the FCCLA Planning Process. Since then, it has been at the center of all projects that I have worked on. I use it for work and community projects that I am involved in, no matter the size of the project. The Planning Process helps guide discussion and organization. At a National Cluster Meeting, a national officer taught me how to remember the steps of The Planning Process. If (Identify Concerns) Sara (Set a Goal) Forgets (Form a Plan) Again (Act) Forgive (Follow Up).”

Megan Ford, Chapter Adviser, GA

“I use it in all my STAR Event projects in order to guarantee that I stay organized and that I know exactly what I am working towards. The Planning Process doesn’t just help with STAR Events. I’ve applied it in school group projects and even while planning school dances. No matter what the activity, The Planning Process is sure to help you get to where you want to go.” Megan Pearson, Chapter Member, UT “One attribute of the FCCLA Planning Process that I enjoy teaching members is the practical application. People of all ages utilize this process on a daily basis to make a variety of decisions without realizing it. Once members realize the practical applications of the FCCLA Planning Process, their true leadership potential can be unlocked. The FCCLA Planning Process is a tool that members can use long after their time as FCCLA members.” Jared Cappers, Chapter Adviser, TX

March/April 2017 www.fcclainc.org Teen Times 15

Red Jacket

Red Hot Future

Andrew Rasmussen Vice-President of Development, SD

What does being an FCCLA member mean to you?

Being an FCCLA member means being an advocate for issues facing teens today. A few of these issues include safe driving, career preparation, and building positive family relations. Each member in FCCLA is able to come together to be part of a big family that shares the same passion. As an organization, we are able to unite and make a difference in our world today.

What essential life skills have you gained from your experience with FCCLA? Some life skills I have gained from my experience with FCCLA include having the ability to develop my ideas and improve my communication, both with peers and adults. I have also gained the ability to recognize and grow my passion for addressing issues facing teens today.

What advice would you give a new FCCLA member to ensure that they get the most out of FCCLA? I would recommend that new members stay involved and utilize the Unlimited Possibilities FCCLA has to offer. Identify those things that you are passionate about and chances are will find a connection to that passion in FCCLA.

What are the Unlimited Possibilities that you foresee in your future?

The Unlimited Possibilities that I foresee in my future consist of continuing my education to study political science, government, and international affairs. I plan to use the skills I have gained through FCCLA to advocate for issues that I am passionate about.

Being an FCCLA member means being an advocate for issues facing teens today.

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Power!

Partner

In the SPOTLIGHT now:

FCCLA partners with a wide variety of organizations, associations, universities, and corporations that share similar core values.

These partnerships provide resources, guidance, and support and assist FCCLA to continue traditions of providing personal growth and leadership opportunities to youth.

Check out our partner in the spotlight now!

FCCLA partners with Chef Works, a world-renowned manufacturer of apparel and accessories for the culinary and hospitality industries, to provide high quality, long-lasting branded culinary apparel for FCCLA members and advisers at a discounted price. Since the 1960s, Chef Works has been an industry leader in the design, development, and management of uniform and culinary apparel programs across the globe.

Chef Works products include: • Chef Coats • Pants • Aprons • Shirts • Headwear • Shoes • Knives

Benefits of ordering from Chef Works for your culinary apparel include: • Easy ordering options with 24/7/365 online ordering access; • The ability to customize student kits to make distribution smooth and easy; • A quick turnaround (usually within 24-48 hours for non-embroidered items and 5-7 business days for embroidered items); • Quality uniforms at affordable pricing; and • A large warehouse with huge inventory.

To make an order or to learn more about the branded apparel, please visit the FCCLA Store and click on “Chef Works Culinary Apparel” on the left side.

Get culinary apparel for this year’s STAR Events competitions today!

March/April 2017 www.fcclainc.org Teen Times 17

2017 FCCLA National Meetings & Events National Leadership Conference July 2-6, 2017 Music City Center | Downton Nashville, TN National Leadership Conference (NLC) is the largest of FCCLA’s annual meetings.

NLC provides opportunities for students and advisers to come together for fun and to listen to inspiring speakers, as well as to expand leadership skills, sharpen talents, and explore career pathways. In addition to advanced training opportunities, attendees will also learn from key partners by participating in hands on activities and workshops. The theme of this year’s conference encourages you to discover the Unlimited Possibilities within your reach as you explore career opportunities, develop leadership skills, and grow personally while making a difference in your family and community.

Capitol Leadership November 8-10, 2017 | Washington, D.C.

CAPITOL

LEADERSHIP

Join fellow FCCLA student leaders and advisers on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to participate in FCCLA’s Capitol Leadership meeting. During Capitol Leadership, students will receive training focused on networking, professionalism, strategic planning, and advocacy around key teen-centered current issues.

Students will advocate for Family and Consumer Sciences education by showing policymakers how their support for education impacts teens in preparing to be college- and career-ready. Attendees will also participate in strategic events that highlight youth concerns and raise community awareness.

National Cluster Meetings November 10-12, 2017 Washington, D.C.

November 17-19, 2017 Oklahoma City, OK

This fall, FCCLA members from across the country will gather in Washington, D.C., and Oklahoma City, OK, to network with fellow members, explore college and career opportunities, attend FCCLA program workshops and leadership sessions, and participate in Competitive Events. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to be !nspired by your FCCLA family. If you attend the National Cluster Meeting in Washington, DC, consider arriving a couple of days early and attend Capitol Leadership, too!

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What members who attended the 2016 National Cluster Meetings are saying…

“The number one reason I like to attend the National Cluster Meeting is learning to become a better leader and meeting friends that I’ll have for a lifetime!” ~ Jacob, Chapter Officer from Taylor, AR

“At National Cluster Meetings, I get to meet so many new people who want to improve their leadership skills, just like me!” ~ Meredith, Chapter Officer from East Central High School, IN

“I like attending the National Cluster Meeting because the keynote speakers are really inspirational and they motivate me to also do great things in life.” ~ Kassandra, Chapter Member from Lafayette, CO

“The number one reason I like to attend the National Cluster Meeting is seeing and connecting with the different chapters from all across the US, and the amazing guest speakers that national conferences always get.” ~ Kaleigh, Chapter Officer from Rocky Mountain High School FCCLA, CO

“The number one reason I like to attend the National Cluster Meeting is it’s a great experience for new people interested in a leadership position and is very fun.” ~ Regan, Chapter Officer from Southeast Middle School, NC

Top Ten Reasons

...to Attend the 2017 National Leadership Conference 10. Get Connected! Download the FCCLA 365 app and get connected with all the conference details.

9. Rock the Red! Visit the FCCLA Store and pick up your official FCCLA attire.

8. Mission Mayhem! Meet other student leaders during this high-energy, fast-paced networking session.

7. Glam UP! Wear your finest gear and close out NLC at the FCCLA Gala.

6. Unite in Red! Walk or run for a good cause at the FCCLA Run4Red 5K. 5. Inspiration! Opening keynote speaker and visionary Byron Garrett will inspire you to work toward excellence and success.

4. Go for Gold! Challenge yourself and compete in a STAR Event.

3. Trading Pins! Exchange your state pins with students from different states to see how many you can collect.

2. FCCLA Concert! Headline Band performing at an exclusive concert only open to 2017 FCCLA NLC attendees.

1. Unlimited Possibilities await you!

March/April 2017 www.fcclainc.org Teen Times 19

FCCLA Faces

What Unlimited Possibilities have you discovered with FCCLA national programs?

“The Unlimited Possibilities that I have discovered with the FCCLA national programs are the abilities to be able to give back to the community, to network with advisers from other states, and to be a major influence on my FCCLA members to be leaders and active participants in our school and community.”

“The Unlimited Possibilities that I have discovered with FCCLA national programs are being able to work with other students to make things better for our school and community, strengthening myself as a leader, and discovering how to be an active participant in my school and community.”

Trina Caldwell Crestwood High FCCLA Adviser, SC

Dejah Sanders South Carolina First Vice-President

“Most of the possibilities I have discovered stemmed from involvement in Power of One, Student Body, and Career Connection. Through STAR Events and Career Connection, I have found my true calling as a speech therapist. I am ready to take the knowledge I have gained and face the future with warm courage and high hope.”

“The Planning Process has taught me how to make decisions in all areas of my life. No goal seems impossible with this successful decision-making tool that will guide me every step of the way.”

Hanna Davis Monroe County High School FCCLA, KY “I discovered Unlimited Possibilities when I started combining two FCCLA programs, Power of One and STOP the Violence. I realized that my martial arts training could help me make a difference in the lives of others, and I developed a self-defense program at my school to build on and grow from year to year.”

Jessica Stinson Hannibal FCCLA, MO “I have competed in STAR Events (National Programs in Action), have completed Power of One, and have implemented many of the national programs in my community. I have also promoted the FCCLA program Families First by publicizing #FCCLAatTheTable in my chapter.”

Michaela Amari Strasburg High School, VA

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Patten Hulette Jessamine County (JCTC) FCCLA, KY “FCCLA has given me many opportunities to help the people in my community who are in need with our food drives. I also serve professionally by catering for our board of education meetings. I have learned that it’s more important to give to others than to receive.”

Taylor Emberton Monroe County High School FCCLA, KY “Through Leadership Service in Action, I have been able to participate in many community service projects and even founded two projects of my own! I was able to found a Breast Cancer Awareness Breakfast for the teachers at my school, as well as create a t-shirt fundraiser for a classmate with Leukemia. I’m so thankful that FCCLA has opened many doors for my future through national programs!”

Lauren Cole, VP Public Relations, OK

Dawn Wilson China Spring FCCLA Adviser, Texas

What Family and Consumer Sciences classes do you teach?

I teach Human Growth and Development, Family and Community Services, Culinary Arts, Advanced Culinary Arts, and Career Preparation.

As a Family and Consumer Sciences instructor, what do you do to promote and further the profession?

I feel one of the first ways to promote the profession is through active involvement in FCCLA. I also include FACS careers during career exploration units and when I am helping students plan for postsecondary education.

[

Class Acts profiles FCCLA advisers and what these individuals are doing to help FCCLA succeed as well as advance the field of Family and Consumer Sciences.

What professional development or resources do you utilize to stay current in the subject matter that you teach?

I attend the Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Association of Texas professional development conferences and the Texas career education conferences. Networking with other educators is a tremendous resource. I also spend time reading and researching independently.

How do you incorporate or integrate FCCLA in your Family and Consumer Sciences classroom?

All students are encouraged to affiliate as an FCCLA member. We begin the year with the importance of being college-and career-ready. This includes being actively involved in organizations and serving your community. Having a co-curricular chapter structure easily incorporates FCCLA into the classroom. Many of our service-learning projects are planned and managed by classes.

] March/April 2017 www.fcclainc.org Teen Times 21

Spotlight on ...

Image by Freepik

The FCCLA Families First national peer education program helps youth gain a better understanding of how families work and learn skills to become strong family members.

Its goals are to help youth become strong family members and leaders for today and tomorrow and to strengthen the family as the basic unit of society.

To help members focus their projects, Families First offers five units. Members may complete projects in one or several units. There is no particular order to the units, but Families Today might be a good place to start, as it covers topics that provide a general overview of families and related issues.

• Families Today — Understand and celebrate families.

• You-Me-Us — Strengthen family relationships.

• Meet the Challenge — Overcome obstacles together.

• Balancing Family and Career — Manage multiple responsibilities.

• Parent Practice — Learn to nurture children.

CITY OF FAIRFAX FCCLA HOSTS FAMILIES FIRST DINNER According to Laura Stravach, 10th grade past-president, “We learned why it was important to sit down as a family and have dinner. There were some conversation icebreakers at the tables and my family uses our own icebreakers now at dinner. Families First helped me become closer with my family.”

Current president Sami Saghir had this to say, “I got to greet my fellow chapter members and their families. I was honored as president to talk about my experiences with FCCLA and how I’m becoming a better leader in my community”.

“Throughout the dinner, I saw chapter members having a great time with their families without their phones. It made me feel good because we reached our goal for this dinner. At home, we continue our “without electronic devises and interruptions” focus at mealtime,” shared Miranda Cespedes, Vice President.

Seventh grader Rachel Chung said, “The FCCLA Families First Night has helped my family think about not using devises while we are eating dinner, so it wasn’t just a one-time event.”

“Ever since the Families First Dinner, my family has had more dinners together.

We also have time during the day when we turn off our electronics and play family games”, added Shelby Mysel another 7th grade student.

On Monday, November 28th, the City of Fairfax FCCLA hosted a Families First Dinner with 86 guests in their school cafeteria.

The goals of the dinner were to encourage family time together without electronic devises, enjoy a simple meal, and to share the benefits of the social, emotional, and mental well-being of all family members. The evening was made possible by a grant awarded to the FCCLA from the Virginia FCCLA Leadership Foundation.

Invitations in English and Spanish were hand delivered to every family of current and potential FCCLA members at Lanier Middle School and Fairfax High School.

As guests arrived for dinner, their electronic devises were collected, secured in brown paper bags with their name, and placed in a large

22 Teen Times www.fcclainc.org March/April 2017

laundry basket to be used later for a door prize drawing. Guests were seated at tables decorated with FCCLA red and white balloons, bowls of fresh made popcorn, conversation starter strips in English and Spanish and red cups with markers to play games and to draw on the paper tablecloths. At the end of the dinner, every family received a BOGO certificate from the Fairfax Corner Chipotle. The event was a huge success with the principal and assistant principal in attendance.

National Outreach Program

Complete the Lead2Feed lessons and enter your Challenge project to win!* DEADLINE: April 7, 2017 *All entries must be submitted by a teacher/adviser.

50

winning teams!

Earn up to $20,000 for your charity + up to $10,000 in technology for your school.

Lead2Feed Challenge projects may qualify for FCCLA STAR Event competitions.

REgIstER toDAy FoR LEssoNs AND REsouRCEs!

Lead2Feed.org

March/April 2017 www.fcclainc.org Teen Times 23

The 2016-2017 NEC loves to draw inspiration from quotes by famous leaders and philosophers. They use these quotes to guide themselves towards success and to motivate others to do the same. The NEC came up with their own personal quotes that members can use as inspiration to push themselves towards Unlimited Possibilities!

Inspirational Quotes from the NEC “Don’t let one road block stop you from success. Take another path, and don’t stop until you reach your goal.”

– Kayla Gullickson “Your every action has the power to make someone’s life a little brighter.” – Shyamala Subramanian “Even the best leaders had to find the starting line.”

– Shelby Lake “Find your passion and then remain true to it and yourself.

Life will fall into place once you do.” – Brittany Hastings “Success is constructed from failure.” – Dedan McFadden “Underestimating your abilities is the biggest threat to your future.” – Victoria Connor “Just because you’ve failed doesn’t make you a failure.

Get up, get out, and reach your dreams one day at a time.”

– Lauren Cole “Potential isn’t something that can be defined by candles on a birthday cake. In fact, potential is not something that can be defined by anything. Potential sneaks up on you. It shows itself when you are doing what you love.”

– Rylie Seaver

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“In the world we live in, it’s not about who you know, but who knows you.” – Uriel Martinez “Believing you can do it is the first step to achieving whatever it is you want to achieve.” – Carter Bracht Favorite Quotes from the NEC “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill “Work for a cause, not applause. Live life to express, not impress. Don’t strive to make your presence noticed.

Just make your absence felt.” – Unknown “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose the shore.” – Andre Gide “To add value to others, one must first value others.”

– John F. Kennedy “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

– John F. Kennedy “The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. It is the one who gets the people to do the greatest things.” – Ronald Reagan

FCCLA Teen RSA Initiative

Were you one of the 138 chapters that hosted a Teen Road Safety Assessment (RSA) during the 2016-2017 school year? It has been great to see all the participation from chapters across the country. This youth-led effort engaged local State Farm® agents, law enforcement, and others in the community as our members looked at the safety of an intersection around their school.

Important Information • Stay tuned for the announcement of the state winners at FCCLA’s 2017 National Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN! These awards are based on participation by state (the 2 states with the highest participation by membership win $2,500).

• 5 chapters will be winners of $1,000 just for participating and submitting their results!

• In September, be on the lookout for the release of the information you collected! FCCLA will combine all the data collected about school intersections and release it to the public.

If you have any questions about this initiative, visit www.fcclainc.org/programs and click on “Teen RSA”, or contact FCCLA Programs Manager Karen Montagne, kmontagne@fcclainc.org.

March/April 2017 www.fcclainc.org Teen Times 25

FCCLA...In Action Check out the FCCLA action happening all across the nation!

Want to be featured in FCCLA In Action?

Email your story to communications@fcclainc.org for consideration, and include photos of your event.

Rolla High School FCCLA Since 2002, Rolla High School FCCLA, MO, has participated in “Trick for Food” to collect canned goods to send to the local food pantries. This year, they decided to team up with the thespian club in order to cover a larger area. On Halloween night, the two clubs went around their community for donations.

Upon their return, they gave prizes out for the best dressed and started a competition between school advisories. Whoever collected the most cans would get a treat from FCCLA. The advisory groups brought in approximately 100 cans, and the “Trick for Food” event collected an additional 200 cans.

Dawson County FCCLA FCCLA members and an ECE class from Dawson County High School, GA, participated in CPR, first aid, and fire safety training. The Dawson County Fire Department sent their assistant fire chief to train the class. The students were able to demonstrate chest compressions for the new method of CPR. They learned how to dress wounds in an attempt to stop bleeding until emergency services could arrive to help. They also had the opportunity to operate a fire extinguisher using the PASS method (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep). Many of the students have already begun a career in the childcare field, so the event enhanced their knowledge on the job.

River View FCCLA River View FCCLA in Washington coordinated a thank-you breakfast for their local sheriffs and police officers. With about 15 officers in attendance, the breakfast was a great success. Members Angie Zuniga, Nesha Wesson, Diana Capatillo, and Aurelia Rodriguez worked very hard to make a healthy breakfast, which included buckwheat pancakes and hot spiced apples, turkey sausage, eggs, coffee, and juice. River View looks forward to working more closely with their officers and showing others how important it is to support and thank them for their hard work and dedication to our safety.

Giles High School FCCLA FCCLA members at Giles High School, VA, supported their cross country team by providing a nutritious pre-race snack. The snack included a ham, egg, and cheese sandwich; a bag of pretzels; a banana; and a bottle of water. Leading up to the event, the students learned about proper nutrition for runners and conducted research to find out why certain foods are better for runners than others. Students wrote a letter to the team’s parents, including information on what to serve the evening before a race and the importance of enough sleep and hydration. Leading up to their event, morning announcements included information for the entire student body about how important a healthy breakfast is for “game day”.

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Bellevue FCCLA In an effort to recognize local first responders, Bellevue High School FCCLA, OH, and FACS students teamed up to honor their local heroes. All students in the FACS Global Foods class took part in making an array of snacks for their fire and police station along with the North Central EMS. FACS students made caramel popcorn, snack mix, brownies, cookies, and even dog treats for the police dog, Lasso! Members of FCCLA then packaged and delivered the snacks along with written thank-you notes to each station.

Weslaco HS FCCLA Weslaco High School FCCLA, TX, took a leadership role in adopting a park for the City of Weslaco. Each month, FCCLA members led WHS students in cleaning, painting, and picking up trash in Gibson Park. WHS FCCLA members created an indoor walking path at Weslaco High, encouraging students and staff to take charge of their health and start walking. Weslaco High FCCLA members are committed to empowering students to take charge of making healthy choices by encouraging their peers to get moving.

Timberland FCCLA Timberland High School’s FCCLA chapter ran a fundraiser for Five Acres Animal Shelter, located in St. Charles, MO. Throughout the week, students promoted the fundraiser to the school by hanging posters, speaking during lunches, having slides on the projector at lunch, and making announcements at the end of the day. Everyone who donated was given a piece of paper called a “puppy pass”. If students brought their puppy pass to lunch with them on Friday, they were able to play with the two dogs Five Acres Animal Shelter brought to support the fundraiser. By the end of the week, Timberland raised $215 and over 300 dog items for Five Acres.

Mountain View HS Mountain View High School FCCLA, GA, has been working hard to give back to their community. This year, they prepared for and participated in Trunk-orTreat, Cansgiving, and Operation Christmas Child and have volunteered at the cluster elementary school’s fall festival and dance. Through their community service efforts, the chapter was able to donate over 100 boxes to Operation Christmas Child and 300 canned food items to their local food pantry.

Keytesville Jr. and Sr. High FCCLA The members of the Keytesville Jr. and Sr. High FCCLA Chapters, MO, spread cheer throughout their community during the holiday season. Members visited Rainbow Gardens, a Keytesville housing community, to sing carols and to hand out treat bags to senior citizens. The chapters also participated in adopting a family for Christmas. Members put their budget skills to use and purchased items that the family needed.

March/April 2017 www.fcclainc.org Teen Times 27

28 Teen Times www.fcclainc.org March/April 2017 From left to right: removed nametag from lapel of girl on left, changed top to white under jacket of second girl on left, made symbols on lanyard red in back row, added FCCLA logotype on receipt in front row, removed glasses on boy in middle row, added necklace to girl on right.

Can you find the six differences between the two images below?

Spot the Changes

NASHVILLE, TN

JULY 2-6, 2017

The 2017 FCCLA National Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN is bringing together more than 8,000 student leaders and advisers to hear inspiring speakers, expand leadership skills, and explore career pathways.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Unlimited Possibilities” and attendees will discover the possibilities within their reach while making a difference in their family and community.

For more information visit www.fcclainc.org or email meetings@fcclainc.org.

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