Manchester High Schoolers Teach Younger Students About Business, Life Skills

(PHOTOS: Top, Manchester High School student Christopher Lietz works with one group of Whiting Elementary School students. Bottom, Nicole Kozokowski and Angela Havier read to another group at the school as part of the Junior Achievement program. Credit: Junior Achievement Representative Celeste Hardrick)

Manchester High School Hero students spent time in the Whiting Elementary School recently, working with a total of 220 students in 14 classes from kindergarten through fifth grade as part of a Junior Achievement program, the district said in a news release.

Junior Achievement is an organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and free enterprise. JA programs focus on seven key content areas: business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics/character, financial literacy, and career development. Junior Achievement programs reach over 4 million students per year, in 124 markets in urban, rural and suburban areas in all 50 states across the U.S. –- a total of 115 million students since the organization began in 1919, according to the organization’s website.

“Your time spent in the classroom as a mentor and role model provided each of the students with invaluable lessons that will continue to inspire them to dream big and reach their full potential -- at no cost to the schools and their families,” Celeste Hardrick, the Junior Achievement representative said. “Thank you for sharing your time and talents to bring JA’s curriculum to life.”

The students said they enjoyed it.

“The best part of this day was working with the kids! It also helped me with leadership, time management, communication and patience,” said Dakota.

“This was my first time and the students were super open and very excited to work with us. I was impressed by the knowledge some students had” Angelique said.

Whiting Elementary School teachers praised the program as well, saying it help the students understand economics, life skills, business and entrepreneurship and the importance of education.

“The boys and girls really enjoyed the program; they were involved in all of the activities,” one teacher said.

Hardrick thanked Manchester High School teacher/advisor Heather Staples and Whiting School Principal Evelyn Swift for their contributions to the success of the program.