WASHINGTON, D.C. — Bryant High School FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) members attended the National Leadership Meeting in Washington on July 3-10.
“After four plane flights, conquering the metro, participating in leadership courses, walking for miles and miles, going to national meetings, and putting on several fundraisers to sponsor the trip, we can say that BHS FCCLA conquered Washington,” stated sponsor Heather Hall.
National STAR Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition) took place at NLC where Bryant’s Jenna Freeman participated in Teach and Train. This past school year, she interviewed three special education students to find out how they spent their day at Bryant High School. She then put together a lesson plan to teach the FCCLA officers how to better communicate with special needs students.
Freeman spent time in the special education classroom when she did observations for Orientation to Teaching. At Nationals, she placed seventh in the Nation, according to Hall.
“She represented Bryant High School and our state with integrity and heart for the Special Needs community,” she added. “Jenna is battling for all special needs amazing young people, present and future, to have the ability to be involved and welcomed into more school activities and functions. Most times, these children are left by the wayside because they are not seen as ‘normal’. This is hardly the case. She sees these kids just as they are, wonderful, amazing, talented people who deserve the right to be as involved in all aspects of school and social areas as everyone else.”
Freeman has been contacted by the Arkansas Rehabilitation Association and Tim Tebow Foundation for future scholarships and support, Hall said
Miranda Mayfield and Anna Owens, as well as Freeman, attended the Leadership Academy at the Washington E. Walter Convention Center. They participated in the following courses: Effective Communication & Networking, Public Speaking, Group Dynamics & Collaboration, Making Differences Count, and The Responsibilities of Leaders. The three girls attained Leadership Academy awards and certificates upon completion.
When not in classes or competing, BHS FCCLA toured D.C.
“We visited the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, World War II Memorial, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Ford’s Theatre, and the other famous historical sites in D.C,” Hall noted. “The 4th of July was spent sitting on the Federal Reserve’s lawn watching fireworks and celebrating our freedom.
“The most interesting tour we went on was the personally guided tour of the National Capital by Senator John Boozman’s office,” she continued. “The House of Representatives met and we were allowed to sit in the gallery as well as travel underground where congressmen use a private subway. To end our week, we attended the NLC Inaugural Gala where we ate dinner and then danced the night away before catching a taxi to take to the Lincoln Memorial for fun pictures.
“You can teach students the importance of government and history, but to be able to see it first hand is knowledge that you can’t find in a textbook,” Hall said. “Bryant High School FCCLA came and conquered Washington, D.C. Look for us next year when we will hopefully qualify to go to Nationals in San Diego, Calif.”
Sherri
Congratulations Ms. Hall!