Brittney Dickerson
FBLA
There are several organizations in the McClave School to get students involved in specific areas of education such as business, agriculture and consumer sciences. The school’s FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) chapter has already started working this year to raise money and to encourage new members to join the chapter. Their first activity of the year was a recruitment dinner held at the McClave Park; students gathered for a night of food, fun, and information about what being in FBLA really means. The members feasted on hamburgers and hot dogs, and then enjoyed the rest of the night with various games and activities. The chapter held a meeting on October 12 to discuss future recruitment activities.
Fundraisers are big deals this time of the year with classes and organizations both trying to raise money for their yearly conferences and celebrations. Our FBLA chapter held a car wash in Lamar on Saturday, October 3 to raise money for the National Fall Leadership Conference, which will be held in Denver this year. This conference is to gain confidence and leadership skills in the field of business and over 5,000 kids will attend this year. The car wash was very successful, bringing in $351.25 to put into the chapter’s account.
This organization, as with most, gives their students the opportunity to show the skills they learn through FBLA by participating in a variety of contests known as the Business Achievement Awards. Some of the contests that students are currently preparing for are: The Future Award, The Business Award, The Leader Award, and The America Award. To obtain the last three awards, a chapter member must first achieve the Future Award by showing their ability in basic business skills as well as community service and FBLA involvement. The District contests will be held in February this year and until then the chapter will continue to prepare for their competitions and work to improve the McClave FBLA chapter.
Sarah Jacoby
FCCLA
The McClave FCCLA Chapter has a great game plan for this year! We started the year off with a traveling bake sale and a Fajita Dinner. Thank you to everyone that supported us! We also had a fun night at the Lamar Skating Rink!
Colby Canfield and Anna Kuhns attended the State Take Aim Conference in Vail on October 4 and 5. Then October 7, eighteen members attended the Arkansas Valley District Conference in Lamar. Many workshops that contained a variety of helpful information such as: how to set up your own workshop, controlling money without letting it control you, personal leadership skills, making healthy choices in the game of life, and much more.
Some events coming up for the chapter during the month of October include:
Oct 9 – Traveling Bake Sale in Lamar, Oct 15 – working the volleyball concessions, Oct 24 – serve at the Elks Lodge Dinner, Oct 28 – Treat Street, and Oct 29 – Costume and Pumpkin Carving Contests.
On October 26, members will help with the Community Blood Drive. This takes place in the red gymnasium at MHS from 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Please come donate and help save a life! Thank you for supporting the McClave FCCLA Chapter.
Sydney Curley
FFA
With the new school year off and running, the familiar blue and gold corduroy jackets of the FFA once again fill the halls at McClave High School. An action packed program of events is already underway with a new instructor, Ashley Hudson, at the helm. Hudson, a student teacher at the school last spring, is excited to be in the newly completed Ag shop and looking forward to a successful year with thirty FFA members. The new freshmen in the McClave FFA program have already attended two conferences, Becoming Involved as a Greenhand or BIG, and Made For Excellence or MFE. The 2009-2010 Colorado FFA officer team conducted the BIG Conference on September 17, at Lamar Community College. The conference is designed to help new members get excited about the organization and meet other members. The new members attended various workshops where they learned more about the goals and structure of the National FFA. One workshop they participated in was “Face Your Fears.” Students learned why it is important to face their fears and how to face them, while the state officers encouraged them to step out of their comfort zone through FFA. MFE was a two-day conference held in Colorado Springs. The overall outcome of this conference was personal growth. These students learned that personal growth occurs through building student confidence. Students build confidence as they define how to live a life of excellence by building a foundation of talents, skills and the will power to persevere.
On September 29, the McClave FFA held their annual Chili Supper. The chili supper is a time-honored tradition here at McClave, where the members of the FFA serve chili and cinnamon rolls. Community members and businesses from McClave and the surrounding areas come for the chili and stay for the Rent-A-Hand Auction, which takes place after supper is served. The FFA members are auctioned off to work for eight hours. This is the only fundraiser for the chapter and the money raised helps to offset travel expenses for the various conferences chapter members attend throughout the year. The Creed Speaking Contest consisted of nine students from the freshman class. Each student recited the FFA Creed and answered a series of agricultural questions. Sara Turner captured first and Camie Idler came in second place. On October 7, both members traveled to the district contest in Hugo, CO, for the chance to compete at the state level. Although neither will advance, Idler placed second and Turner finished third at districts.
The National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, takes place from October 21 through 23. Five members from the McClave chapter are attending this event and Snowy Grover will compete in the National Creed Speaking contest. Grover is the current Colorado state champion in this event. All members are excited for this event and want to wish Grover good luck in her competition.
Alisha Pettitt
Mini-Cheer
In other news, the McClave High School and Junior High cheerleaders hosted their annual mini-cheer camp for children from preschool through sixth grade on October 2. Thirty-six girls attended the camp. They had a blast jumping and learning moves. The girls learned a simple cheer and dance. They will perform a dance to the song “Oh Mickey”, by Tony Basil. Lea Austin from All the Right Moves Dance Studio, helped teach dance moves to the girls. The mini cheerleaders’ performance happens during halftime of the McClave Homecoming football game on October 16. They would like to thank everyone for all the support they have been given. Come and watch the fun!
