The Woodhaven DECA Chapter is currently in the process of getting ready for its annual DECA districts that take place Friday, January 10, at Eastern Michigan University. This is only a little over a month away, and Woodhaven High School has a lot to do to prepare for this competition. DECA is a club at Woodhaven High School that prepares students to become successful leaders and entrepreneurs in the marketing field. DECA is run by teachers Mr. Taylor and Mrs. Meyer.
These few months before districts are very important because many new marketing students are going to districts. It is their first year being involved with DECA, so they have a lot of skills to learn. DECA advisor Mr. Taylor says, “To prepare students for their role plays we use DECA role plays as a learning experience in the classroom. We also will offer an after-school practice session in which we will have business professionals and Woodhaven former DECA members will come to listen to the students and provide feedback.”. Mr. Taylor currently runs a Marketing 1 class, Personal Finance class, Advanced Marketing class, and an Accounting class, so he makes sure role plays are being reviewed and talked about leading up to districts in those classes.
Throughout the school year, DECA students learn so many new concepts and terms in the classrooms. “Districts are important because they provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate all that they’ve learned while coming up with solutions to problems that they may face in their future careers.” Says DECA advisor Mr. Taylor. The few months from the first day of school to districts are very important so all the new DECA members can learn and adapt all of their business/marketing skills and ideas.
All DECA students will do their district testing on December 2nd. These tests will help determine their score and placement for their role plays at districts, they take the test based on the event they will be competing in at districts. Students can sign in to DECA+ to explore all practice tests and materials to prepare for the test.
On the day of districts, students will arrive at WHS early and dressed in their business attire ready to take the bus to Eastern Michigan University. Once students arrive they will start a brief opening session that welcomes everyone, then they start the individual competitions. 2nd and 3rd year marketing students are given the option to do a TDM roleplay, which stands for a team-decision roleplay. They can work with another classmate in their designated roleplay instead of being on their own.
At the end of the competition ,there is an award ceremony where students find out if they will advance to compete at the state competition in March at the Huntington Center.
