L.O. Kimberly welcomed the JROTC students from Therrell High School as students at Kimberly participated in JA Day. JA Day is a day designed for Junior Achievement members to support the community by volunteering to deliver the JA curriculum and share experiences with students. The focus of the Junior Achievement organization is to educate all students about entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy. These concepts are taught by providing hands-on programs. According to the Junior Achievement of Georgia’s website, JA programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action, and they learned the value of contributing to their communities.
During JA Day at L.O.K, each grade level experienced a different lesson to inspire and prepare them for their own economic success. Kindergarten students participated in activities and heard stories to develop personal economic concepts. The first graders learned about the roles families have in the local economy, and second grade students examined responsibilities and economic opportunities in a community.
When asked about the day with the JA volunteers, first grader Kelmonte W. said, “It was fun because they let us read.”
Ann L., also a first grader, commented, “We got to decorate our own map of places where community helpers work.”
The third grade students discussed local business and career opportunities, fourth grade students focused on state and regional economies, and fifth grade focused on business operations, job skills and economics on a national level.
“We learned about owning our own businesses,” explained Sa’Devion B., a third grader at Kimberly. “I want to own my own bowling alley near where I live so kids and adults can have fun together in their own neighborhood.”
The experiences shared by the volunteers from Therrell High School were valuable experiences for our students at Kimberly. The high school students enjoyed lunch with each class, and during this time, the elementary students were able to ask questions about high school and life beyond elementary school. Kimberly’s counselor, Mrs. Harkless-Brown, helped to organize the event. She was pleased with the “extra knowledge” gained by all of the students, and she looks forward to providing this program for students each year.
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