Advisor Update February 2019
SkillsUSA Michigan
This newsletter contains the Advisor Update and the SkillsUSA Flash!
2019 State Conference Info Packet and Forms Available This Month!
The 2019 State Conference Info Packet and Forms will be available in February on our web site at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/.
Please be sure to download the forms you need for the State Conference, including the conference information packet and hotel registration form. Also, be sure to review the State Contest Information and Updates below for important contest info!
IMPORTANT - There is a new State Conference registration system this year. You must register all participants for the State Conference at http://www.skillsusa-register.org/. Please follow the instructions posted here: http://miskillsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/conferenceregistrationprocess.pdf.
2019 National Anthem Audition Winner
Congratulations to Faith Fizer from Breithaupt Career and Technical Center. She was selected to sing the National Anthem at the Friday Opening Session and she will be recognized at the State Conference. Her advisor is Maria Sullivan.
Chapter Excellence Program Incentive
The Chapter Excellence Program (CEP) recognizes your chapter's achievement as it relates to the integration of the SkillsUSA Framework in chapter program of work activities. As a chapter’s yearly action plan, the program of work is at the heart of student learning and employability development. More information is available on the SkillsUSA web site at https://www.skillsusa.org/programs/chapter-excellence-program/
Start your CEP application today at http://www.skillsusa-register.org, it is due February 15, 2019. It is easy to do and if successful, you and your chapter will be recognized for your achievement at the State Leadership and Skills Conference on April 5-7, 2019. Bonus - for each CEP level achieved, the chapter will receive five entries into the incentive drawing for a SkillsUSA blazer, a $99 value.
NEW - State Contest Team Penalty
Starting in 2019 for any team state contests, there will be an automatic 10% penalty for teams competing with less than the required number of team members. This applies to any state contests with a team of 2 or more members.
Save the State Contest Date!
Below is the list of state contests that are NOT on April 5-7, 2019 in Grand Rapids. Any students competing in one of the state contests below MUST register for the State Conference by March 1, 2019 or they will NOT be able to compete!
- March 2018 - HS and CPS Digital Cinema Production, online
- March 8, 2019 - HS and CPS Graphic Communications, Saline High School - Saline
- March 22, 2019 - CPS Culinary Arts, Commercial Baking and Restaurant Service, Culinary Institute of Michigan - Port Huron
- Date Change: March 15-16, 2019 - HS and CPS Aviation Maintenance, WMU - Battle Creek
- March 29, 2019 - CPS Welding, WCC - Ann Arbor
- March 29, 2019 - HS and CPS Welding Fabrication, WCC - Ann Arbor
Advisor Code of Ethics
Don’t forget that an Advisor Code of Ethics needs to be on file at the state for all advisors. If you do not have an Advisor Code of Ethics on file, you can download the form at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/.
2019 Regional Qualifiers Numbers Chart
The 2019 Regional Qualifiers Numbers Chart is now available on our web site at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/.
Regional Competitions Reminder
All regional contests must be completed by March 1. Regional information will be posted on the web site at http://miskillsusa.org/conferences/regionalcontests/ as it become available. Please be sure that you are in the loop! Contact your regional representatives for information regarding your region’s competitions.
2018-2019 Competition Theme
The SkillsUSA competition theme for the 2018-2019 is: SkillsUSA: Champions at Work, Career-Ready Starts Here. The topic is to be addressed by contestants in the Chapter Display, Prepared Speech and Promotional Bulletin Board competitions. More information is available at http://skillsusa.org/competitions/skillsusa-championships/theme/.
Regional School Cancellation Policy
In the past, there have been school cancellations on the day of a regional contest, therefore the Advisor Council has approved the Regional School Cancellation Policy at their meeting on December 13, 2011. be aware that all regional contests should plan two contest dates: the original contest date and a makeup date. The policy is posted on our web site at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/.
Online Regional Direct to State Form due February 15
All Direct to State contestants MUST be submitted via an online form by February 15, 2019. The online form is available at at https://goo.gl/forms/duxuI3BLn8lWuRAJ2. This is a major change from the past in both format and due date. FYI - The old Direct to States form WILL NOT be accepted! This form MUST be filled out for both HS and CPS divisions. I cannot stress the importance of this form.
- Failure to submit this form will result in your student NOT being allowed to compete at the State Conference!
Regional Contestant Ranking Sheet
The Regional Contestant Ranking Sheet is REQUIRED for all regional contests so that we know what contestants have qualified for States. An accurate contestant count is necessary for contest supply orders, contest site set-up, conference registration, etc. This form MUST be filled out for all regional contests and for both HS and CPS divisions. The form is on the web site at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/ and are Excel compatible.
- The Regional Contestant Ranking Sheet must be signed by the contest coordinator and emailed or faxed to your regional representative no later than 2 days after your contest.
- Failure to submit this form to your regional representative will result in those students NOT being allowed to compete at the State Conference!
- If we receive a State Conference registration for a contestant NOT on the Regional Contestant Ranking Sheet, he/she will NOT be allowed to compete!
- NO EXCEPTIONS!
2019 Official Voting Delegates Chart
The 2019 Official Voting Delegate Chart will be posted this month on our web site at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/. The official voting delegates represent your school at the Annual Delegate Business Meeting on Saturday afternoon at the State Conference and vote on state issues and for the new state officers. Each school is allowed x number of official voting delegates based on your SkillsUSA membership as of January 15, 2019.
Intent to Compete on Web Site
The 2019 Intent to Compete Grid is now posted on our web site at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/.
SkillsUSA Michigan’s Advisor of the Year
We are looking for a few good advisors! Honor that special advisor that has gone above and beyond the call of duty by nominating them for SkillsUSA Michigan’s Advisor of the Year. The Advisor of the Year form is due February 15, 2019. The nomination form is available on our web site at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/.
Advisor State Conference Checksheet
An Advisor State Conference Checksheet is available on our web site at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/. This checksheet is a great tool with tips to help you keep on track and organized for the State Conference.
State Officer Candidate Application
Being a state officer is one of the highest honors a student can achieve in SkillsUSA Michigan. It can also be one of the most rewarding experiences for a student. If you have a student who wants to run for a 2019-2020 state office, please have them complete and submit the State Officer Application by March 8, 2019. The State Officer Application is available on our web site at http://miskillsusa.org/advisors/forms/.
SkillsUSA Flash
SkillsUSA Week Has Arrived!
Enjoy celebrating SkillsUSA Week Feb. 3-9 and share your chapter pictures and stories with the entire nation!
Share Your SkillsUSA Week pictures:
Now is the chance to showcase your students and the great work you are doing in your state. As you conduct SkillsUSA Week activities, please be sure to take pictures and share them with the national headquarters. Your photos may be featured in a Flickr gallery on SkillsUSA’s home page. Send your best photos to cmoore@skillsusa.org. Please be sure to identify everyone in the picture for the caption.
Share Your SkillsUSA Week news:
Share your news and stories with Tom Hall at SkillsUSA, 14001 SkillsUSA Way, Leesburg, VA 20176 or email thall@skillsusa.org
For a complete calendar of events, and resources including a sample proclamation, go to: www.skillsusa.org/events-training/skillsusa-week
Special thank you to Channellock as the lead sponsor of SkillsUSA Week and to Toyota for its additional support of this program.
New Issue of SkillsUSA Champions Magazine Focuses on Championships
A new issue devoted to SkillsUSA champions has mailed in hard copy to chapter advisors and professional members. Using their electronic devices, student members can access the issue in responsive digital format at this link: https://read.nxtbook.com/mercury/skillsusa/champions_winter_2019/winter_2019_cover.html
A lesson plan for the Winter issue can be downloaded from the SkillsUSA home page or directly at: https://www.skillsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Lesson-Plan-Winter-2019.pdf
The lesson plan includes guided-reading questions and activities to help students apply the articles to their SkillsUSA experience. Have students check out the story below, “Career-Ready Starts Here,” included in this issue of the magazine.
“Career-Ready Starts Here”
Content Discussion Questions
- What are your strengths?
- How do you use your strengths to help others at home? In school? In SkillsUSA? In the workplace?
- Describe the best team you have been a part of.
- How do you encourage others at home? In school? In SkillsUSA? In the workplace?
- When have you surprised someone with your skills or performance?
In-Class Activity, 28 minutes
Personal Skills: Self-Motivated, Positively contribute to every project
Materials needed: Paper (one piece per student) and writing utensil (one per student)
Divide students into groups of four. Give these instructions:
- Consider the past four years of your life and identify three shining moments. (Note to instructor: You may choose to have students specifically think of experiences in SkillsUSA or career and technical education.)
- These could be events, activities, accomplishments, collaborations, moments of recognition and more.
- Take six minutes to brainstorm and jot down notes about your three shining moments.
After six minutes, bring students back together. Give these instructions:
- You will take turns sharing your shining moments.
- Each group member will share one moment, then everyone will share a second highlight.
- After everyone has shared, discuss what common themes were heard.
- You have 15 minutes to share and discuss.
After 15 minutes, bring students back together. If time allows, have each student share one shining moment with the class. Facilitate a discussion by asking questions including:
- What common themes did you hear?
- Based on the shining moments shared in your group, what strengths do individuals have?
- How do you use your strengths?
- How do you positively contribute to projects at home? In school? In SkillsUSA? In the workplace?
Extended Learning Opportunity
Workplace Skills: Teamwork, Work collaboratively with my peers, classmates and co-workers
Use “Team Tasks” from SkillsUSA Ignite (Pages 103-104). Facilitate a conversation about combining individual strengths and teamwork.
Attention, Advisors in Building Trades! SkillsUSA Launching National Signing Day
We are excited to announce that May 8 will be SkillsUSA National Signing Day, presented by Klein Tools.
This day will celebrate and publicly acknowledge high school seniors who are committing to careers in the building and construction trades. Whether they are starting an apprenticeship, entering a more focused technical education or entering the field directly, we want to reinforce our support for their decision to help close the skills gap and promote positivity for the trades.
In partnership with Klein Tools, SkillsUSA will host National Signing Day events at approximately 500 schools throughout the country — but we need to hear from you first!
We are looking for Class of 2019 students who are committing to careers or continuing education in:
- Residential Wiring
- Building Trades and Renovations
- HVAC
- Plumbing
If you have graduating high-school seniors who fit these criteria, please use the link below to start the conversation with the National Signing Day team.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR INFORMATION
Participation will be limited to the first 500 eligible programs to express interest.
All submissions must be in by March 1 for consideration — don’t delay!
Face-Lift for February Bundle for Only $27.95
Give your classroom a face-lift for February with the Quotes to Results Poster series and a fun and engaging way to develop career readiness with your students. Save $7 on the February bundle-duo through Feb. 28.
STOCK NO. / BFeb2019 $27.95
- From Quotes to Results 2: SkillsUSA Framework Poster Series (P122) - If you’ve loved the Quotes to Results Poster Series, then you will love the new SkillsUSA Framework version even more. The poster set includes 34 quotes that are related to the 17 essential elements of the framework. Each essential element is highlighted with two quotes complemented by ideas for activities and discussions that help students take meaning from their learning. The accompanying teacher’s guide makes using this resource seamless to the classroom environment. These 11"x17" posters are the ideal way to visually integrate the framework into your classroom.
- Results to Honor 2: SkillsUSA Framework Cards (P124) - Searching for ways to promote and acknowledge SkillsUSA Framework development in your students? The Results to Honor 2: SkillsUSA Framework Cards are a turn-key teaching tool to reinforce the personal, workplace and technical skills that students need to develop to reach career readiness. The set consists of 17 different cards, based on the essential elements of the SkillsUSA Framework. The 2"x3.5" cards complement and reinforce From Quotes to Results 2: SkillsUSA Framework Poster Series. A one-pager on ideas for implementation is included with each set of 136 cards.
Do You Want Your Students To Grow In Their Professionalism, Communication And Leadership Skills?
Consider budgeting for you and your student leaders to attend the Washington Leadership Training Institute (WLTI) held in the nation’s capital Sept. 21-25. This conference offers advanced training for students and advisors that focuses on professionalism, communication and leadership. During the conference, participants will demonstrate the use of these key essential elements while advocating for SkillsUSA and career and technical education. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to tour Washington, visit the SkillsUSA National Leadership Center and watch the changing of the guards along with a wreath ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
Conference registration opens Aug. 1 and is $450 per participant. Visit the following website for additional information: https://www.skillsusa.org/events-training/washington-leadership-training-institute/
Help is Only a Call, Email or Chat Away!
Hotline operators are ready to answer your questions on how to start a new chapter, engage chapter members and strengthen an existing chapter. Operators are on call from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 11 a.m.–7 p.m. (Eastern) Tuesday and Thursday. Call the hotline toll free: 844-875-4557.
Don’t have time to call? Send the operators an email at operators@skillsusa.org or chat with them online at the membership registration site.
State Leadership and Skills Conference
Friday, Apr 5, 2019, 12:00 PM
Grand Rapids, MI, USA
National Leadership and Skills Conference
Monday, Jun 24, 2019, 09:00 AM
Louisville, KY, United States
About Us
Email: info@miskillsusa.org
Website: www.miskillsusa.org
Location: Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, United States
Phone: 734-487-3888
Facebook: www.facebook.com/miskillsusa
Twitter: @miskillsusa