Fifth graders try on career roles for a day
Fifth graders try on career roles for a day
The entire fifth grade from Singing Hills Elementary traveled to Belmar last week to spend the day at Young AmeriTowne, an educational facility where students all fill various career roles and do business like a thriving town does every day. Each of the "young professionals" chose and explored their job role in the weeks leading up to the trip, and when they got there, they all knew what to do as medical workers, auto technicians, bankers, police, judges, town leaders, journalists, shopkeepers and more.
Through the event, they experienced a regular work day, complete with duty schedules, lunch breaks, supervisory work, deadlines and numerous transactions. Each business' goal was to sell out of its product. Meanwhile, some townspeople got fined and had to go to court to pay a ticket.
In the weeks leading up to the event, each of the fifth grade's three teachers led lessons on career exploration and personal finance.
Previous years' visits to Young AmeriTowne were funded through a career education grant, which expired last school year. But the educational opportunity was seen by teachers as too valuable to let it go, so they sought other funding. This year, teacher Dominique Hellmund's husband and his friend covered the cost. Next year, the teachers will seek other grant opportunities.
Ms. Hellmund said the Young AmeriTowne staff members reported that the Singing Hills fifth graders were one of the few groups to sell all their items from their stores and pay back their bank loan. The Young AmeriTowne staff also said the Singing Hills group that attended last week was the best group they have ever had visit!
Stefan Fuller, left, and Chris Gregory, right, are software coders for Beeline and Merrick Medical, respectively. Ms. Hellmund, center, said they saw the value in the trip and wanted to make sure the students got to experience it, so they paid the fees for all SHE fifth graders.