Kaylan Christensen's Sterling Scholar Blog

Leadership

FCCLA President and FCCLA Officer of STAR Events at Bingham High School

Here is a picture of Bingham's officers in 2017-2018.

We had so much fun planning Sweethearts

As an officer, I helped fill water cups at the dance.

After partying all night, some of the other officers and I helped take down decorations and clean up the dance.

As the FCCLA president, I try my best to address the needs of my chapter and to make sure that everyone's voice is heard.

Youth City Council

Getting sworn in as the Youth Mayor

This picture is from a leadership conference I got to attend at the Capital.

Here is me with Mayor Ramsey and other members of South Jordan's City Council.

Here is me presenting a report to the City Council on behalf of Youth City Council.

Here is a letter of recommendation from the mayor of South Jordan whom I worked with as the South Jordan Youth City Council Mayor:

Girls Scout Troop 430
Girl Scouts of Utah Oquirrh Community Delegate
Captain of Elite Performing Team at C&C Ballet Academy

Student teacher at C&C Ballet Academy

About Me

Hi, I'm Kaylan Christensen from Bingham High School. I was so excited to hear that I got this year's FACS Sterling Scholar at my school. I love FACS and the amazing skills it teaches students. I have 11 siblings in my family, and even though they're a little wild at times, I love them to pieces. I love working with kids and have worked in Bingham's Mini Miner Preschool for the past two years. I am also involved in FCCLA, Cupcake Club, NHS, South Jordan Youth City Council, and Girl Scouts. I also have a love for dancing, photography and film, reading, writing, and cooking and baking. I am currently working on completing my associate's degree in General Education before I graduate High School. I plan on obtaining my Bachelor's Degree in Dietetics and becoming a certified dietatin specializing in pediatric nutrition.

FACS

Star Events

STAR Event 2017 Nutrition and Wellness
As a sophomore, I chose to compete in the Nutrition and Wellness category for my STAR Event. I chose this event because I had some concerns about the unhealthy eating habits of my family. The first thing I did was track what my family ate for two weeks, so that I could see what needed to change. I then used my finding to create four weeks of healthy meal and wellness plans. I then helped my family implement these plans into their lives to help them form healthier habits. This STAR Event helped me realize my love for nutrition and helped me choose my future career as a certified dilatation.

Here are some of the documents from my Nutrition and Wellness STAR Event Portfolio:
Planning Process
Fit Family Fun
Nutrition and Wellness Concerns
SMART Nutrition and Wellness Goals
Meal Plans
Wellness Plan

Awards:
My Nutrition and Wellness STAR Event received a silver at region. At state I got 2nd place with a silver award, which qualified me for nationals. I attended nationals in Nashville, Tennessee and received a gold award.

As a sophomore, I competed in the Nutrition and Wellness category.

Here is the visual aid I used to compete my star event at region, state, and nationals.

Nationals: Nashville, Tennessee

The 2017 National Leadership Conference was so much fun!

I had so much fun touring Nashville!

Kaylee and I had a blast representing Bingham High School and Utah in the STAR Events competion.

I loved vising the Grand Ole Opry!

Nashville will forever hold a place in my heart!

STAR Event 2018 Early Childhood Education

My junior year I competed in the Early Childhood Education category. For this event, I used the skills I had gained from working in the Mini Miner Preschool to plan a lesson for four and five year old children. The theme was "Science is Out of this World!" I planned a variety of activities based on the theme including language, reading, math, science, art, music, and movement activities. I created a box full of items that I would need for each of my activities as well as a portfolio that displayed my expertise and experience in early childhood education. At each level of the completion I added my activities to meet the needs of students with varying abilities. For example, at Nationals I adapted my technology activity so that it would accommodate a child with dyslexia. This STAR Event helped me grow as a teacher and led me to take preschool the following year so that I could continue helping kids with a variety of abilities learn and grow.

Here are some of the documents from my Early Childhood Education STAR Event Portfolio:
Planning Process
Developmental Ages and Stages
Understanding DAP
My Personal Teaching Philosophy
Example from my lesson, "Science is Out of this World!"
Math Activity: The Amazing Space Race!

Awards:
My STAR Event received a gold at region. At state I got a gold and second place overall, so I once again qualified for nationals. At nationals in Atlanta, Georgia I received a silver award.

Because of my I love for kids, as a junior, I decided to compete in Early Childhood Education.

My friend Alyssa and I both got gold at region and state!

Nationals: Atlanta, Georgia

Wohoo, nationals part two!

Touring Atlanta was so much fun!

Here is me in front of the conference center after competing my STAR Event.

Just me and my two besties!

The food was awsome, but spending time with my FCCLA freinds was even more awesome!

Proud owners of National medals.

I'm so glad FCCLA gave me the opportunity to visit the Peach State!

STAR Event 2019 Early Childhood Education

For the 2019 STAR Event competition, I will be competing in the Early Childhood Education category. I am so excited for another opportunity to share my love for FACS and FCCLA with others.

Certificates of Achievement

CTE Influencer's Award

FCCLA
I joined FCCLA at Bingham as a sophomore (my district doesn't offer it in middle school), and absolutely loved it. I had so much fun going to school and regional activities, competing in STAR Events, and giving service. I'm grateful for my time in FCCLA and how it has prepared me for the future.

As a Chapter, Bingham FCCLA made and donated a tree to Festival of Trees.

I have loved being a part of FCCLA for the last three years!

Preschool
In middle school I made it a goal to teach in the preschool, and I am so grateful that Bigham's Mini Miner's Preschool made that dream a reality for me. As a sophmore I took Child Development. As a junior I took Early Childhood Education as well as Preschool. I loved spending half of every other day with the kids. This year, as a senior, I am working in the preschool for a second time.

2017-2018
Lesson Plan Examples:
Forest Animals
Community Helpers
Water and Ice

2018-2019

Cupcake Club
"We have a Cupcake club! Wow that sounds like fun!" -Various Bingham students

I often experiment with different recipes before making them at meetings. This is me testing out a hot chocolate cupcake recipe. It was delicious!

Community Service/Citizenship

Reflections

Ever since kindergarten I have been competing in Reflections, and most years I have competed in every category including dance choreography, theater (obsolete), film video, music compostion, photography, visual art, 3D art, and literature. As a sophmore I created a film video featuring my sister and brother-in-law. It tells the story of an immigrant worker striving to make it back to his love. This entry made it all the way to the state competion. Another one of my favorite entries was my literature entry that I wrote my senior year. It was about an older lady's bucket list and how she learned to step outside of herself and notice the love all around her. This entry ended up winning an award of excellence (1st place) at state and went on to the national competion where it recieved an award of merit. This year, my photography has advanced to state, and I am hopefully that it will make it all the way to nationals.
Here are the entries I talked about. Unfortunately my photography entry can not be shared because it is currently an active entry in the competion.
Film Video 2016-2017
Literature 2017-2018

Young Womens

NJHS and NHS

South Pointe Ballet Company

I have been a performer with the South Pointe Ballet Company for eight years. I performed in various ballets including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Giselle, Les Sylphides, Four Sea Interludes, and various performances of the Nutcracker. Most recently I performed in the Nutcracker as the Snow Queen and in the Chinese variation. I loved sharing my love of dance and music with those in my community!

Getting ready for the big performance

South Pointe helped me meet lots of cool people.

My siblings and I had a fun time performing in the Nutcracker!

I loved partnering!

I'm the one on the left

Swan Lake was my first ballet

Les Sylphides

In Cinderella I was a court jester

Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation

Salt Lake Community College Field Experience and Service Learning at local schools

I am a New Century Candidate. That means that I am on track to graduate with my Associates Degree in General Education from Salt Lake Community College in Spring of 2019.
Here is a link to my SLCC Eportfolio:

SLCC Eportfolio

Last summer I took some of the education classes offered at SLCC including EDU-1010: Introduction to Teaching, EDU-1400: Study of Disabilities, and EDU-2010: Introduction to Special Education. Over the course of these three classes, I completed 45 hours of observation and field work at Jordan Ridge Elementary and River's Edge. River's Edge is a school for kids that have social and behavioral disorders, often which correspond to a mental disability. Observing and serving teachers in the workforce gave me a greater understanding of the role of a teacher in student learning and the different techniques teachers use to teach and manage their classroom.
Here are some of the major assignments that I completed for my courses in education:
SLCC UEN Lesson Plan
Teaching Demonstration Video
Classroom Scenario Write-up