FHA-HERO

The California Association FHA-HERO is a student organization for home economics career and technology students in junior and senior high schools, both public and private. The state organization is also affiliated at the national level with Family, Career, Community Leaders of America; formerly known as Future Homemakers of America, Inc. The goal of FHA-HERO is to help youth assume their roles in society through home economics careers and technology education in the areas of personal growth, family life, career preparation, and community involvement. 

The Petaluma Junior High School Chapter of FHA-HERO is an organization open to all students: not just the students enrolled in Independent Living classes. Some of the students who are active in our organization have never been in Independent Living, but have heard of the organization through students who have taken the class. It meets on Thursdays during lunch. FHA-HERO has baked cookies for COTS, filled food packages for Christmas Cheer, made drawstring bags filled with donated personal care products for COTS for community service activities. Students attend after-school field trips to Mrs. Grossmans's sticker factory, Scandia, and the bowling alley.

Each year, students in FHA can also compete in Competitive Recognition Events. Much like Odyssey of the Mind or History Day, students plan, prepare, and compete with a long-term project of their own design related to topics studied in Independent Living. Some areas of competition for the junior high school level are: nutrition education, applied technology, interior design, parliamentary procedure, salad preparation, child development, menu planning and table display, or job application and interview. Last year seven students participated in the regional competition. Six of the seven qualified for the state competition. Of the three who traveled to Fresno last year with their advisor, all three placed in the top ten of their divisions: two in interior design , and one in menu planning and table display. One student received the second place trophy in the state of California in Interior Design.

Charlene Nugent acts as advisor to the Petaluma Junior High School Chapter of the FHA-HERO organization.  If you have any questions regarding this organization, or would like to have our students assist with a community service project, please call 778.4724, or email us at hectatojhs@aol.com