SkillsUSA Week
February 3-9, 2019
SkillsUSA Week is celebrated the second week of February each year.
SkillsUSA Week gives state associations, advisors and student members the opportunity to promote SkillsUSA programs and activities at the local and state levels.
During SkillsUSA week, members can also help raise awareness of SkillsUSA. This can be accomplished through field trips to local businesses, an open house for parents or industry partners, a visit to local community organizations to make a brief presentation about SkillsUSA, or providing news releases and public service announcements to local media outlets for possible distribution.
Involvement in activities such as these brings positive recognition to SkillsUSA, and to local schools and their students. Also, it underscores the importance of SkillsUSA’s purposes and mission, which is to help prepare America’s high performance workers in public career and technical programs.
SkillsUSA Week Toolkit
Application of SkillsUSA Framework
Click to view full size.
With the help of industry and education professionals, and to help its members become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens, SkillsUSA created the SkillsUSA Framework. SkillsUSA believes every student has the ability to excel when given the opportunity to learn and apply skills to three distinct areas: personal, workplace and technical skills that are grounded in academics. Every activity and program within SkillsUSA is developed to support these three distinct areas — including SkillsUSA Week!
Chapter members have the opportunity through active participation in SkillsUSA Week events to develop and practice several of the essential elements of the framework. Consider the teachable moments that exist surrounding the behaviors of the essential elements below as students prepare and participate in SkillsUSA Week activities including Appreciation Day, Advocacy Day, Member Outreach Day, SkillsUSA Service Day and SkillsUSA Day.
- Personal Skills:
- Professionalism
- Loyal to peers, supervisor and myself
- Adheres to dress codes and other policies
- Aware of the impact of words and actions
- Uses good judgment in the decisions made
- Resolves conflicts peacefully
- Professionalism
- Workplace Skills:
- Teamwork
- Works collaboratively with peers, classmates and co-workers
- Honors the contributions of others
- Flexible and open
- Honors commitments and responsibilities to the team
- Respects and supports team members
- Teamwork
- Technical Skills Grounded in Academics:
- Service Orientation
- Acknowledges customers, and is present with the interaction
- Stays focused and customer-oriented while at work
- Demonstrates respect and courtesy to customers at all times
- Knows and implements company’s service policy
- Handles difficult situations with tack and self-restraint
- Knows when to involve supervisor in a customer service situation
- Service Orientation
SkillsUSA Week Digital Image Pack
Appreciation Day - Monday, Feb. 4
Plan an event that will celebrate and honor the support of advisors, teachers, and administrators.
Here are some ideas for Member Appreciation
Click the image above to download the PDF for Appreciation Day.
Advocacy Day - Tuesday, Feb. 5
Target state and local public relations activities including presentations to legislators, school board members, administrators, and community group leaders.
Click the image above to download
the PDF for Advocacy Day.
Member Outreach Day - Wednesday, Feb. 6
Involve members in the recruitment of middle and elementary school students and plan appreciation activities that honor current members.
Recruitment Activities
Jump into STEM! provides an opportunity for SkillsUSA members to engage elementary- and middle-school students and create an open door to recruitment for high-school career and technical education (CTE) programs. Recruit students into your program with engaging, hands-on learning provided by current SkillsUSA members.
With Jump into STEM! elementary-age and middle-school participants take part in dynamic and interactive experiences facilitated by SkillsUSA members. These members will experience personal growth relative to the SkillsUSA Framework while sharing information on subjects they are passionate about, including SkillsUSA.
All Jump into STEM! materials are detailed and organized to make facilitation simple, yet power-packed with information that will engage participants in meaningful and intentional learning. Implementation is both straightforward and rewarding.
Jump into STEM! is a free member benefit as part of payment of SkillsUSA professional membership dues. Ensure that you provide your current email address when submitting your membership so that you can receive Jump into STEM!
www.skillsusa-register.org/Login.aspx
Honor Current Members
- Check out Pinterest for member appreciate ideas!
- Hand-written cards delivered to members
- Decorate lockers
- Place signs around school celebrating each member
- Decorate a bulletin board with the names of chapter members
- Hold a special member only drawing for gift cards for a specialty coffee shop or a favorite fast food restaurant
- Create a sundae or hot chocolate bar
- Plan a chapter potluck
- Have a pizza party
- Plan a fun activity like bowling, laser tag or karaoke
- Go on a team building outing
SkillsUSA Service Day - Thursday, Feb. 7
Rally around your community by focusing on a day of giving through service projects and fundraisers.
Click the image above to download the PDF for SkillsUSA Service Day.
SkillsUSA Day - Friday, Feb. 8
Celebrate SkillsUSA by wearing your favorite SkillsUSA shirt, planning a celebrations activity and posting the event to social media.
Click the image above to download the PDF for SkillsUSA Day.
SkillsUSA Week Video Contest
David Molden of St. Helens (Ore.) High School is the winner of the Celebrate SkillsUSA Video Contest. His advisor is Joe Mauck.
The St. Helens High chapter has won a visit from SkillsUSA executive director, Tim Lawrence, Kayleen McCabe of “Rescue Rennovation and a SkillsUSA national officer. The visit will take place on Feb. 9.
Check out the winning entry:
Order SkillsUSA Week T-shirt
The SkillsUSA Store has created a SkillsUSA Week T-shirt for $12. Visit http://tinyurl.com/gur6o5r to order your shirt and a whole host of products that are ready for your week of celebration!
Issue a SkillsUSA Week Press Release
Use the template to let your congressional representatives, senators and local media outlets know about SkillsUSA Week and Career and Technical Education Month during the month of February. Personalize and use the parts of the template that work for you. You can send an email to up to five media outlets at a time. After the release is submitted, follow up with media outlets by calling or visiting. To use the SkillsUSA advocacy site, go to: www.cqrcengage.com/skillsusa/, click on the “SkillsUSA Week, Feb. 4-10” heading, and fill in your ZIP code; the rest should be self-explanatory. If you have questions, contact Jane Short at 703-737-0612 or jshort@skillsusa.org.
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.
Report 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.