NEW OFFICERS!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2010-11 CHAPTER OFFICERS!

PRESIDENT: Carlie Bender
VICE PRESIDENT: Jacey Dehogues
SECRETARY: Rachel Schrock
TREASURER: Jess Miller
HISTORIAN: Kara Slaubaugh
REPORTER: Jessica Hill
FUNDRAISER: Quinlan Schrock
DISTRICT OFFICER: Shawna Borntrager

CINCO DE MAYO

FCCLA sponsored a school picnic on Friday, May 7th. Due to rainy weather, the picnic was moved to the gym, but everyone's spirits were in the right place. CINCO DE MAYO was celebrated, complete with Mexican music in the background and pinatas hanging from the basketball hoops. Sherry and Pam prepared an authentic Mexican meal of Gordita (tortilla with beef, rice, beans, and special sauce), Sandia (watermelon), Ensalada (Mexican salad), Eskimo con Crujientes (ice cream with crumbles) and Leche (milk). The beans and sauce were direct from Nicaragua thanks to Sherry's trip there. Muchas gracias, Sherry and Pam--that was the "Sack Lunch of the Year!!"

Each class had their own pinata to "swing a stick at" thanks to Jill's Spanish classes. Students took their places in circles and cheerfully taunted their classmates as they swung and missed.

Thanks to the teachers for volunteering to scoop ice cream and supervise the pinatas. Thanks to the students who helped clean up the gym.

It was a great time!

STATE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Ten members from the Iowa Mennonite FCCLA chapter and Kathryn Ney attended the 2010 State Leadership Conference on March 22-23 at the Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines. Nearly 700 students and teachers attended.

This year's theme was "FCCLA. . .On A Mission" Through presentations and hands-on sessions, participants examined and discussed several critical issues, including violence prevention, financial literacy, career exploration, community service projects, world hunger awareness, and the changing roles of men and women in today's society.

Two members from IMS competed in STAR events. Danny Peterson received a silver medal in the Illustrated Talk event for his presentation, "Touched y Adoption." Jessica Hill received a gold medal in the Recycle and Redesign event for her project, "Jessica's Redesign, One Fabric at a Time." Jessica was awarded "State Champion" for receiving the highest score in her event. She now advances to the national competition in Chicago, Illinois, July 4-8, 2010.

Carlie Bender was one of eight state officers who were responsible for leading the conference. She also co-led an interest session called, "Determining Your Personal Goals" and presided over a Regional Meeting. Carlie's parents, Ken and Brenda Bender, were recognized with the other parents of state officers and were in attendance when Carlie gave her final speech. The State Leadership Conference wraps up Carlie's year-long appointment as the 2009-10 FCCLA Vice President of Parliamentary Law.

HOPE LODGE

On Saturday, February 20th, twelve students, Kathryn Ney, FCCLA adviser, and Rubye Ney traveled to Iowa City for a morning of fun and community work. Two of the students were visiting from Poland. The group first shared breakfast at IHOP in Coralville, then traveled to Hope Lodge, a free residence facility for cancer patients receiving treatment at one of the three Iowa City hospitals. The group received a tour of the facility before the work began. The patients must live outside of a 40-mile radius and usually stay six to eight weeks at the residence along with one caregiver. Volunteers provide much of the help needed to manage the facility, so IMS's FCCLA volunteered their services to clean. The students divided into small groups to tackle the vacuuming, dusting and sanitizing jobs necessary to maintain a healthy environment for the patients. Students included Jacey Dehogues, Rachel Schrock, Mallory Martens, Quinlan Schrock, Jess Miller, Anya Slabaugh, Britni Piegors, Amel Miraoui, Konrad Wolkowski, Linnea Slabaugh, Megan Martens and Anndra Ropp.

FCCLA WEEK

"Celebrating Families" was the theme chosen for FCCLA Week. On Monday students enjoyed playing "Family Jeopardy" in chapel. Wednesday's small group discussions focused on families. Thursday's chapel told us something about relationships between family members as a game was played between parents and children, siblings and cousins. Thursday was also "Wear Red" day and the school was ablaze as most students and faculty participated. Strawberry floats were available for sale at noon in the foyer that day. Friday was "Grandparent's Day" and students were encouraged to invite their grandparents to chapel. FCCLA members led chapel in singing "Longing for Light," IMS's theme song, that speaks of human need and service. Sean Prihoda, Tamari Tsverikmazashvili, Kara Ropp and Kerri Hostetler spoke in chapel about their grandparent's influence in their lives. Following chapel, FCCLA members provided muffins and coffee in the lobby for grandparents, students and faculty. All week the foyer bulletin board displayed photos and captions of "IMS FCCLA In Action" over the past year. Anndra Ropp, FCCLA President, used the bulletin board to explain FCCLA's purpose and involvement to a group of prospective students who were visiting February 15th.

SOUPER BOWL

On February 4th five IMS students and Kathryn Ney, FCCLA adviser, served dinner to guests at the Domestic Violence Intervention Program's "Souper Bowl." DVIP provides support services to victims of domestic abuse in Johnson, Iowa, Cedar and Washington Counties. Their mission is to end domestic violence through support, advocacy, shelter and education. In one year DVIP will answer approximately 18,000 crisis/phone calls and provide more than 8000 nights of safe shelter to approximately 400 women and children. Musical performances for the event were provided by Kelly Carrell, Laurie Haag, Mary Pat Reasoner and Dave Zolo. Area restaurants and artisans donated soup, bread and bowls. Pictured are Kathryn Ney, Anndra Ropp, Megan Martens, Hannah Yoder, Meridyth Bates and Kara Schlabaugh.

FCCLA WEEK!

FCCLA chapters across the nation will be celebrating FCCLA Week February 8-12, 2010. IMS chapter members are busy preparing for the week as "Celebrating Families" will be the chapel theme.

MONDAY: Jeopardy! with "family" categories in chapel

TUESDAY: Wear RED Day! Ditch the Dress Code for $1. Proceeds go to Haiti. Strawberry floats will be served over the noon hour for $1 OR $.50 for those wearing red shirts.

WEDNESDAY: Small group focus will be "families."

THURSDAY: Family Relations game in chapel

FRIDAY: Grandparent's Chapel. We invite all grandparents of IMS students to attend chapel from 9:44-10:14. Muffins and coffee will be served. An offering will be collected for the Children's Miracle Network.

FCCLA SERVICE

FCCLA has two upcoming service opportunities.

1) On February 4 students have been asked to serve a soup supper at the Domestic Violence Intervention Program's "Souper Bowl," a fundraiser to provide assistance to victims of domestic abuse in local counties.

2) On February 20 members will be cleaning Hope Lodge in Iowa City, a residence for cancer patients as they undergo treatment.

DISTRICT X STAR EVENTS

District X STAR events took place on January 28, 2010 at Cedar Rapids Prairie. STAR stands for "Students Taking Action With Recognition" and is the competitive component of FCCLA. Iowa Mennonite was represented by two participants, Jessica Hill and Danny Peterson.

Jessica received a gold rating for her Recycle and Redesign project. She purchased a dress at Goodwill and cut off the lower half, attached a waist band using fabric scraps, and showcased her grandmother's unique antique buttons. She transformed items that might otherwise be discarded into a fashionable skirt. Jessica is a junior at IMS and the daughter of Tim and Tina Hill of Washington.


Danny received a silver rating for his Illustrated Talk, "Touched By Adoption." Danny's presentation informed his audience about adoption and expressed his desire for all children to be part of a loving family. Danny is a senior and the son of Gerald and Ruth Peterson.


Both participants advance to state at the State Leadership Conference which will be held March 22nd and 23rd in Des Moines.


Other students who attended were Carlie Bender, Megan Martens and Anndra Ropp. Kathryn Ney attended as adviser.

SMOOTHIES FOR HAITI

On the morning of January 22nd FCCLA advertised on IMS's website that all proceeds from the strawberry smoothie sales at the basketball games that evening would be donated to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) for relief in Haiti. Even though the advertisement lasted only one day, the response that night was great. The blenders were smoking as FCCLA members sold SEVENTY-ONE smoothies, a chapter record, raising $302 for the people of Haiti! Thanks, everyone!