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Combining Curriculum and Community at the Holiday Boutique
Amidst
the wonder of pterodactyl kites and geode candle holders, quacking
ducks, whirligigs and all of the wonderful gifts and decorations that
comprise The Red Oaks annual Holiday Boutique, something else is
happening, something less visible, less tangible, but deeply
constructive and valuable.
It’s true – this annual event is much, much more than just another fundraiser. True
to our inch-wide, mile-deep approach to education, it is an opportunity
for 21st Century Life Skills learning for all of our students, and most
particularly, for our Upper Elementary learners (grades 4 – 6) who
assume a special, leadership role. For these
students, who collaborated closely with teachers and parent planners on
the "business" of the Holiday Boutique, the event is better than a
college-level course in Business Management 101!
Our
Upper El “business managers” began by creating a business plan for the
operation and management of a retail store, forming five committees to
oversee and staff key aspects of the Boutique. The committees of
approximately 6 to 10 students each were: Accounting, Marketing,
Merchandising, Shopper Assistance, and Charity. Highlights of their work included:
Accounting
-- Students honed skills in Microsoft Excel and Access to create and
manage a database of all advance student shopper information; they also
manned the computers for checkout at the event.
Marketing -- Students brainstormed, developed and implemented a promotional strategy which included student-designed posters and staged “live” commercials to advertise the event.
Merchandisers
– These students were in charge of gift wrapping, sticker pricing and
creatively restocking items. They also got to wear very "cool" red
aprons and the black Red Oaks adult hats.
Shopper Assistants –
These students had the most stories to tell about helping the young
primary students shop select gifts for the people on their lists. Many
reported that patience and a sense of humor are assets for this job,
and all felt a sense of pride in being able to guide and assist their
younger, fellow students.
Charity
– These students were charged with researching and selecting a
charitable organization to receive part of the proceeds from the
Holiday Boutique. This year the students chose two charities: (1) Free the Children, which is the world's largest network of children helping children through education, and (2) The World Wildlife Fund, a choice inspired by the students’ experience with the Zoo Crew curriculum in the Lower El.
Among
the many, varied skills required for students to carry out this event,
one Upper Elementary Shopper Assistant emphasized one that was critical: "You
need to be really good at mental math!" Math teacher Alexa Lewandowski,
who recently completed professional development training in Singapore
Math, smiled and declared, "All the hard work was worth it!"
The
Red Oaks Holiday Boutique is truly an interdisciplinary, experiential
learning opportunity that also brings together the entire Red Oaks
community around a festive, fundraising event. This year’s event was a success by any measure. But
the yardstick about which we care the most is the one that tells us
about our students, about what they are learning and how they are
developing as human beings. And by that measure, all would agree, it was a resounding success! |
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