FCCLA member Devyn Norman collected Valentine's Day cards from Villa Rica High School’s student body and teachers for the J93.3 and Charter Bank “Hearts 4 Kids” project to benefit children in the CASA foster care system, Christian City and Georgia Baptist Children’s homes. Villa Rica High School collected 3,473 Valentine's Day cards, including more than 350 hand-made valentines. Villa Rica High School’s donation brought the grand total for “Hearts 4 Kids” to more than 40,000 Valentine's Day cards collected.

The following members of FCCLA attended the Villa Rica Parks and Recreation Department's Breakfast with Santa:  Megan Battibulli, Kayla Driver, Paige Gamerstfelder, Bree England, Elizabeth Melendez, and Devyn Norman. These students helped Santa give out presents and make holiday crafts.

FCCLA members shopped and wrapped gifts for three Angel Tree children during Chrismas Break. Malorie Moore, Melissa Willis, Brianna Lail, Halie Newsom, Erica Jones, and Kim Gallentine shopped  and wrapped presents for a 10 year old girl and two boys ages 2 and 5.

Several VRHS FCCLA students "Raised the Bar" on their FCCLA experience by attending the 2011 National Cluster Meeting November 18-20, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kim Gallentine, Celest Holt, Devyn Norman, Katera Paul, Delaney Walker, and Amber Webb participated in a weekend of unique opportunities that challenged, informed, and motivated them to explore opportunities available through FCCLA: The Ultimate Leadership Experience.  They learned new ways to help them succeed in their families, careers, and communities.  The weekend meeting was designed to increase youth awareness about such areas as career exploration, family relationships, self-esteem, youth violence prevention, and current issues affecting teens.

VRHS FCCLA members Montysha Guess, Erica Jones, and Laurin Thomas conducted a service learning project promoting the new "MyPlate" and "Fuel up to Play 60" programs. The FCCLA Student Body peer education program helps young people learn to eat right, be fit, and make healthy choices.  The goal was to inform the elementary schools in the Villa Rica cluster area of the importance of daily exercise and healthy eating habits. The group visited four local elementary schools, and had an exhibit at our high school to promote our project. Several of our Villa Rica High School athletes participated in our project. We took photos of students with "fuel up with milk" eye blacks and milk mustaches along with a giant milk bottle. We presented each participant with prize bags which contained a pencil, pedometer, and silicon wrist bands imprinted with “Fuel up With Dairy”. As a part of our activities, we applied for and received a $2800 grant from the National Dairy Council.  The grant funds will be used to buy an X-Box Kinect, Dance Central and other fitness games to implement a weekly exercise activity after school, as well as taste testing activities for our students in conjunction with our cafeteria staff.  VRHS FCCLA was notified on Wednesday, March 7th, that they were the state winner for Student Body and will receive recognition at FCCLA State Leadership Conference March 15th - 17th.

Congratulations to the following Villa Rica High School students for placing top in their events at FCCLA Region STAR Events.  STAR Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition) are competitive events in which members are recognized for proficiency and achievement in chapter and individual projects, leadership skills, and career preparation: Devyn Norman and Melissa Mertens for their Hearts 4 Kids Valentines project; Montysha Guess, Erica Jones, and Laurin Thomas for their Fuel up to Play 60 Milk Mustache project; and Kim Gallentine, Katie Hackney, and Taylor Millians for their Distracted Driving Project.  All three groups will be advancing to state competition on March 16th in Athens.  Shown above are (back row, left to right) Melissa Mertens, Montysha Guess, Erica Jones, Kim Gallentine, Devyn Norman; (front row, left to right) Katie Hackney, Laurin Thomas, Taylor Millians.

  

VRHS FCCLA and FBLA members collaborated to promote "Don't Drive Distracted" to the Villa Rica High School student body. On February 8th, students signed a pledge to not drive distracted and they received pens, silicone bracelets, and air fresheners supplied by "Teens in the Driver Seat", a national program co-sponsored by t-driver.com and the Georgia Department of Transportation .  In March, FCCLA will be giving out shamrocks with the slogan "Don't Rely on Luck - Buckle-up" to all VRHS student drivers, and they will be promoting the Prom Promise in April.  Shown in the picture above on the left are (left to right) Katie Hackney, Taylor Millians, and Kimberly Gallentine; in the picture above on the right are (left to right) Payton Stephens, Jameline Jewell, Annalysa Spears, and Rebekah Burge.

Twenty-seven members of the Villa Rica High School chapter of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) visited the State Capitol February 16, 2012 during National FCCLA Week to celebrate this student organization that helps young men and women become leaders. Representative Dustin Hightower (seen above, front row, center) took time from the House schedule to come and speak with the Villa Rica FCCLA Members. While at the Capitol, FCCLA members completed a scavenger hunt, observed the House and Senate operations, and had a group picture made with the Governor.