“We have to learn how to be self-sufficient.”
This is the sentiment that Thomas Hunter Middle School teacher Michelle Williams expressed, especially with the suddenness of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect it had on children.
Williams is bringing the Family and Consumer Sciences class to THMS as an elective for students to learn practical skills like preparing and cooking a meal, sewing, creating a budget and much more.
“All children need to know basic skills to survive,” she said.
According to the Virginia Department of Education, this program facilitates “student progress toward a set of unifying goals in the areas of academic achievement, cultural and environmental issues, health and safety, individual and family relations, leadership and workplace ethics, and application of technology.”
Through this course, Williams will also introduce students to a variety of career paths and show them different educational routes they can take, such as bachelor’s degrees, trade schools, and certificate programs. “It all depends on their interests,” she said.
A lot of work has gone into getting this program off the ground. Williams and a group of teenage and adult volunteers worked to get the classroom ready by sanding cabinets, repainting walls, and moving heavy tables and chairs into place. Williams has also received lots of community donations for the class, such as fabric, pots and pans, small appliances, ironing boards and much more.
“What I have been given is staggering,” said Williams.
FCS has been a popular choice among students. Forty-nine seventh and eighth graders have already signed up for the course. Williams will be teaching three classes of FCS for those 49 students and one class of FCS for sixth graders. Before FCS, she taught math and will continue to teach one class of sixth grade math this school year.
“I want this class to be fun,” said Williams. “I want it to be informative.”
All students enrolled in the FCS class will be part of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America organization, which allows them to compete in competitions and win prizes.
There are still a lot more items that the FCS class needs. Sewing machines are at the top of that list for Williams.
Other equipment needed includes small appliances, assorted culinary hand tools, baskets for serving food, booster water heater on dishwasher, punch bowl with ladle, vegetable and pastry brushes, canister sets, carpet or rugs, chef coats, color wheel, cushion stuffer, cutlery sets, demonstration table with mirror, dinnerware place settings, dish pan with drainer and mat, dry storage containers, embroidery machine software, computerized or programmable embroidery sewing machine, commercial exhaust hood/fan, felt/flannel board, fiber sample set, folding tables, food chopper, food processor, freezer, garbage disposal, assorted glassware, stainless grater, housekeeping cart with hooks for trash bags, ice makers (in freezer), induction cookware, programmable infant simulator, locks, manikins (for CPR training), standing mixer, pitchers, plunger, serger, sewing machine cabinet, strainers, table linen sets, dining tables, thermometers, tote trays and wardrobes.
Williams also has an Amazon Wishlist that can be viewed at www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/373V91XIBB4IS?ref_=wl_share.
“It’s been such a labor of love,” she said about all of the hard work that has gone into making the class a reality.