March 28, 2007

News Release

TISD Students Start Business

            Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s fifth graders at Rice Elementary are entrepreneurs!  Her students are implementing a project to earn money to benefit all future Rice Rangers.  In just three weeks, students earned  $300.00 to be used to purchase playground equipment for the fifth grade area.

Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s entire class is working cooperatively to create unique, colorful needlepoint book marks.  The book marks are exquisite, as well as, practical and only cost from $1.00 to $3.00 each.

While implementing the project, students are learning important business techniques such as advertising, producing, quality control, and marketing.

“We are learning when you start a business, you must keep at it,” said student Mark McCabe.  “We are learning the customer must be satisfied, and then you get rewards, like money.  This is teaching us how we will have to work later, and to choose a job we like.”

Students are also demonstrating vital IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) attitudes.  Cooperation, commitment, and enthusiasm are building confident and independent children.

“We have had to communicate with each other,” said student Judy Albeige.  “It’s been cool to see how everybody is creative in their own way.  We have had to cooperate and help each other.  This makes us proud, and we have a sense of accomplishment.”

The students take special orders.  They stitch initials, university logos, sports teams, Mother’s Day gifts – just to name a few ideas.  They are even working on other ideas besides book marks, such as small treasure boxes.

“We are having fun and getting to help others as we learn,” said McCabe.

The IB/PYP Rice Ranger students are taking their jobs very seriously and having a good time too. 

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