Latest news with #CareerandCommunityLeadersofAmerica
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Crestline students shine with creative projects, heading to state competition
Thirteen students in Crestline High School's Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) organization are gearing up for state competition in Columbus on April 24. The students qualified in all five events following regional competition in March where students earned gold, silver and bronze medals, according to an announcement. Sophomore Addy Giesige and Freshman Izzy Sefcek received gold medals for their Level 2 Interior Design project, which featured an Airbnb inspired by "The Lion King." Sophomores Bridget Belcik and Jaelyn Tesso earned silver medals for their Professional Presentation project on grief. They presented to elementary classes and the FCS Advisory Committee, sharing their insights on the topic. In another silver medal-winning project, sophomores Kylie Kelly, Jayden Lozier and Haylee Seymour aimed to make reading enjoyable for first graders. They collaborated with teacher Angie Mohn to engage students through reading activities, crafts and snacks, hoping to boost reading scores. Sophomores Alyssa Cottrell, Nevaeh Hill and Sia Tsappa received bronze medals for their National Programs in Action - Families First project. They organized crock pot cooking sessions for sixth graders and their parents, teaching the importance of family meals and cooking together. Eighth graders Calvin Iacobucci, Marcus Wilson and Bentley Woogerd also earned bronze medals for their distracted driving awareness project. They secured a $1,250 stipend and invited the Ohio Highway Patrol to present on the dangers of distracted driving, along with a coloring contest for elementary students. All projects will be refined before the state competition. The top two projects in each category will advance to the national competition in Orlando, FL, from July 5-10. This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Crestline students advance to FCCLA State competition
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
North Polk Middle School teacher awarded Golden Apple
WHO 13 NEWS – The Family Consumer Science teacher at North Polk Middle School is expanding her lesson plan. Not only inspiring students to learn how to live better, but how to lead and give back to their community. Nikki Kallal's effort to turn classroom learners into community leaders is what earned her the Golden Apple. Mrs. Kallal's classroom is filled with different gadgets to cut, sew, and bake. 'I mean kids will come in here and I thought they knew what FCS was, but they'll say, 'there's an oven?' And I'll say 'yeah, there's five,'' Mrs. Kallal said. ''Do we get to cook?' 'Yeah!' And then they'll always ask, 'do we get to eat?' I say 'no, I'm going to eat all of your food. And I'm like no, yeah you make what you eat. That's part of it.' And they're so excited, that's the best part.' Students love the hands-on learning, and Mrs. Kallal loves how everyone can take part. The 'Adaptive Life Skills' class she started allows students of all abilities to participate and feel included. 'That is just something so important. And part of it is because I have a son now with special needs,' Mrs. Kallal said. 'The kids are so special. And not just kids with special needs, but kids that have different interests, and kids that have different hobbies, and want to belong in different ways. That's really important.' NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE TEACHER FOR THE GOLDEN APPLE AWARD! Mrs. Kallal works with students during class, before, and after school. 'So most times at the end of the day is when our clubs meet and she always has kids in and out, in and out working on different projects and things,' Emily Young, an instructional coach at North Polk Middle School, said. She advises the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter at North Polk Middle School. It's a student organization that helps grow future leaders by focusing on community outreach. 'We're raising money to make care packages for nurses, ER nurses in Des Moines,' Annaliese Kamps said. 'Last year, I worked with Annaliese and another friend who we raised almost $700 for Make-A-Wish Iowa,' eighth-grade student Elie Crawford said. Mrs. Kallal helps students with projects that help others. 'She's always positive and she's always ready to take an idea and go with it,' Crawford said. 'Like she helps us get a reachable goal and she's always ready to just 'let's try it.'' 'She's just done so much for the community,' Kamps said. 'She's always willing to do stuff for people.' And that's a big reason why Kamps organized other students and teachers to nominate Mrs. Kallal for the Golden Apple. 'I feel like I'm in a dream, honestly,' Kallal said when she accepted the award. 'I appreciate it. I love every day at school, every day with my kids. It's the best. Kids always say, 'do you like what you do?' Or like practicum teachers. And I love what I do, every single day. Every single day is different. My husband the other day said, 'don't you do the same thing every day?' I said no. I said, 'every single minute is something different.' And I love that part of it. So, thank you. I can't believe it. Honestly.' Check out previous winners of the Golden Apple Award Those who work with Mrs. Kallal can believe it and say she deserves the recognition. 'She gives her own time for the kids,' Jon Richards, the principal at North Polk Middle School, said. 'And I think that's the beauty of what you want out of an educator is going above and beyond. And that's where kids just really love coming to school and getting educated and you know being with a teacher that's always positive.' 'She really cares about not just developing them as students,' Young said, 'but as people that are just going to go out there in the world and make a good, positive impact.' A positive impact that's taught and modeled in middle school. Life lessons that will serve students long after they leave. Mrs. Kallal has been at North Polk School District for the past six years, and teaching for more than two decades. Watch the full interview with Mrs. Kallal below. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
