FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) is a student run leadership organization that promotes growth and leadership through Family and Consumer Sciences education. All the students enrolled in Polytech’s Early Childhood Education and Teacher Academy programs are members of FCCLA. As part of the organization, every year students compete in the State’s STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) event.
This month on March 26th and 27th, sixteen students will compete in the State’s STAR event to be held at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill, NJ. The STAR Event competitions are based on student’s proficiency and achievement in chapter and individual projects, leadership skills and career preparation. If students are fortunate to win a gold medal, they then qualify for the national competitions to be held in Washington, D.C. this July. Many of our alumni have had this incredible experience. This year’s students are looking forward to the same opportunity by working diligently on their projects and activities.
One STAR project is titled “Recipe Against Hunger” created by Early Childhood Education students; Rebecca Hawkins, Hannah Koontz, and Jessica Krumholt. Their project was inspired this past fall when they volunteered at the NORWESCAP Food Bank in Phillipsburg. Their motto became ‘If you can’t feed 100 people, then just feed one’. Their STAR project consists of a number of fundraising and related events. For example, the three students planned a food drive at the school for the Flemington Food Pantry, taught a lesson on nutrition to the Kinder Magic pre-school children, and will be presenting that lesson to students in the Early Childhood and Nursing Programs. They are also currently participating in an Adopt-a-Family through Zarephath Christian Church. The Adopt-a-Family program is where a family who is in need receives funds that have been raised for the them through the Shop Rite’s Partners in Caring and Walmart’s Community Grant Program. As another part of their STAR project, these three students have volunteered two Saturdays in the church’s food pantry shelving and organizing food that will be donated to Examples of other projects being presented at the State FCCLA STAR Event competitions include the ‘Fire Safety Project’ that consists of a fundraiser activity for the Milford Fire
Department as well as a presentation on fire safety to the 1st grade class at the Holland Township School. A ‘Stress Management for Middle School Students Project’ encompasses a two-day lesson to Kingwood Township School’s fifth grade health classes.
The STAR competitions will also include a Chapter Showcase Display that highlights all of the FCCLA student’s community service and teaching projects, and recognition and Polytech Early Childhood Education and Teaching Academy students are excited about this year’s FCCLA competitions. To follow the student’s progress and fundraising activities, and to see the results of the state competitions follow us on Facebook, Twitter and
In addition to students having the opportunity to participate in the FCCLA competitions, the Early Childhood Education program provides students the opportunity to learn about early childhood education in a clinical setting with 3 to 5 year old preschool children, for an entire school year. The curriculum is based on a professional credential and gives students the ability to earn seminar hours towards the national Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. The Teacher Academy program is exclusive to high school seniors who want to pursue a college degree and career in the field of education. The program is designed to give students hands-on experience throughout the year with internships at participating elementary school districts in the county. Our goal is to ensure that students gain an understanding of the educational world and the occupations available to them. If you would like more information about our Education Programs visit www.hcpolytech.org, email, nguarino@hcpolytech.org or call 908-788-1119, ext. 2015.
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