BUSINESS REVIEW LITTLE APPLE
June 2019, Volume 15, Issue 6, www.manhattan.org
A publication of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce
Classroom to Career initiative builds fanbase throughout USD 383 and community
A second generation of elementary students have funneled through the Classroom to Career partnership with USD 383 fourth-grade classrooms. The program intensifies relationships between Manhattan Area Chamber members with local schools and enhances the learning environment. Here are examples from a Chamber member (Cherlyn White-Conklin, Bank of the Flint Hills), teacher (Molly Emert, Bluemont Elementary) and a direct beneficiary of the partnership (Meadowlark senior living) with Northview Elementary fourth graders under teach Austin Cisneros. The 2019-2020 school year will mark Year 3 for Classroom to Career initiative. Members take 3 to 5 classrooms sessions to advance the narrative of choice as instructional basis to students. Bank of the Flint Hills, Cherlyn White-Conklin Partner: Amanda Arnold Elementary Bank of the Flint Hills spent the school year at Amanda Arnold, paired with teacher Todd Spreer. Cherlyn WhiteConklin set select objectives for the 2018-19 school year: Student interaction coupled with fundamentals of saving money and macro-level economics. Her coments:
Molly Emert, Woodrow Wilson Elementary Partner: Kansas State University Foundation Molly Emert has spent 10 school years within USD 383, first at Bluemont Elementary followed by Woodrow Wilson, where she has educated for the last seven years. In Emert’s estimation, the partnership is so beneficial, as her classroom visited KSU Foundation during a May field trip.
“Our time is spent going over different aspects of money, e.g., how to count and make change. It’s a skill that is still needed, although a lot of technology can do it for you. It is important for students to understand the process so they can do it without the aid of technology.”
Emert had this to say: “Classroom to Career has been very impactful on my classroom this year. My students have met so many adults from KSU Foundation and this truly has built community among the students and adults.”
“We’ve gone over ‘Save, Spend, Share,’ a take on budgeting. We’ve played games with different scenarios on budgeting. One group got a raise, and what will they do with the money. The other group had a car that died and needed a new one; how will that work? We did this in simplified terms, of course, but the premise was you save, spend and share your money.”
“My students feel that they have people around the community watching out for them. My students could not wait to ‘go to their school' and see what they do, where they work, et cetera.”
“I hope we’ve made a connection with students on the importance of having a good relationship with a local bank, because local banks make a difference.” White-Conklin left feeling positive gains and in wonderment of teachers’ ability to pre-plan strategies toward classroom’s learning lessons.
Needless to say, Classrooms to Career has earned a stalwart fan in Emert and her classroom.
Austin Cisneros, Northview Elementary Partner: BHS Construction (Carrie Alt, Project Administrator) Fourth-graders at Northview received lessons in Construction 101 from Carrie Alt with BHS Construction building birdhouses. Meadowlark volunteer coordinator Jana Armfield conveyed residents’ delight with the students’ conscientious efforts to aid seniors. “We made a trip to Northview and residents were thrilled to receive the birdhouses and meet the students! Currently, a few of the birdhouses are being utilized in our special care households, on patio areas for memory care residents, and their families and friends to enjoy. Others are being utilized in residents’ rooms as beautiful displays/works of art!” “Mr. Cisneros said the students came up with the idea to donate the birdhouses themselves. He said they tried to think who could benefit from them, and they thought of Meadowlark residents.We were honored they thought of us. The students did a wonderful job- the birdhouses are so well constructed and beautiful to look at. “Thanks to everyone who helped make this special get-together possible!”