(Pictured: Muse Elementary fourth graders worked together to build a bench!)
This year, Muse Elementary fourth graders participated in a program called JA BizTown. In school, students learned about financial literacy and workforce readiness by applying and interviewing for a job, earning a paycheck and managing a checking account.
BizTown is a community of 21 local storefronts, where the kids took on a job for the day. Each business has a CEO, CFO, and other skilled workers for specific jobs. Businesses either provided a product or a service. Students performed tasks throughout the simulation and got paid twice. Then, they were encouraged to shop at specific times and had to utilize their earnings from the day after their banking was complete.
The work that happened in a few short hours was amazing! Loans were made and repaid, insurance was sold, a bench was built, and security systems were installed. A DJ kept it fun and advertisements were plenty! City Hall kept BizTown safe by making sure all laws were being followed. The mayor of Canonsburg even spent the day with the student mayor helping out! Canon-McMillan High School entrepreneurship students also were there to support the elementary students throughout their day. Students took their jobs very seriously, and even dressed the part!