What A Year!

Robert Harris

Family & Consumer Harris Teacher

Hand Middle School

Contact: robert.harris2@richlandone.org

Follow us on Instagram @hand_facs.

Year One. Where do I start? How do I keep up? Will I make it? All of these questions seemed to cloud my mind as I began my first year as an educator. I was anxious to see what teaching was all about, but more so, what type of impact I would have on my students.

During my internship, I was introduced to Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). FCCLA is a national Career and Technical Student Organization that provides personal growth, leadership development, and career preparation opportunities for students in Family and Consumer Sciences education. While at my internship, I was given the opportunity to work with some of the students in the FCCLA chapter. It was such a rewarding experience; so much that when I got my own classroom, I knew that becoming an adviser would be essential to my FACS program and the overall development of my students. Through the tremendous support of my principal at the time, Mrs. Marisa Vickers, I completed the necessary paperwork to start the chapter at Hand Middle School. We became the first middle level FCCLA chapter in Richland County School District One and one of three in the state.

Immediately, after submitting the charter paperwork for FCCLA, we began to work. Although we were small in numbers (12 charter members) for our inaugural year, we accomplished a lot. Throughout the year, we raised funds through our Krispy Kreme fundraiser, Carolina/Clemson paraphernalia, donated socks to the Oliver Gospel Mission through our "Sock"tober event and donated coats, jackets, gloves, and hats to Goodwill through our Warm Up Drive. Additionally, we participated in the SC FCCLA State Fall Leadership Rally at the SCEA in November in Columbia where members learned more about FCCLA, developed the state's program of work and represented their school. Hand Middle School won the award for the "Best Chant" out of schools attending. 

There was no stopping us! In March, we attended the SC FCCLA State Leadership Conference in Charleston, SC. Six of our members traveled to the state conference where all of them placed (Gold, Silver and Bronze medals) and one became a state officer, holding the position of SC FCCLA Vice President of Middle School Programs. But it wasn't over yet. We traveled to Washington, DC with our gold winners and state officer to attend the National FCCLA Leadership Conference in July. Our winners placed SECOND on the national level, which was an amazing accomplishment for those students and Hand Middle School.

What a year! I am extremely grateful for the support from the students, parents, faculty and staff to make our inaugural year one to remember. We are in our second year and well on our way to another year of success!!