Pictured from last year are students in Terri Matheney’s Peebles elementary Fifth Grade Social Studies class. Seated from left are Frances Rogers, Abbi Smart, Kylie Sims, Kayla Saucedo and Cherokee Runyon. Keeping an eye on things is Austin Greene.
Junior Achievement keeps on rolling
Starting in February, this will be the 16th year for all fifth graders in the Adams County/Ohio Valley school district to receive the benefits of the Junior Achievement (JA) program "Our Nation."
Local business people team with fifth-grade social studies teachers to present the six-part series. Each of the visits from the 'consultant' lasts about 45 minutes. Using a workbook and other materials provided by JA, students learn about the types of businesses, what resources are needed for a business (natural, human and capital) and two production techniques used in manufacturing. Doing mock job interviews, practicing introductions and breaking into groups to create their own businesses make the program very interactive- and active! There are also several "take-home" exercises for the students intended to get family members to interact with the program too.
"While it is a good learning experience and enjoyable for everyone, there are other benefits as well," said Pam Leunisson, a volunteer from Fifth Third Bank. "I love working with the students and getting to know them. They seem genuinely excited about the program and I always feel welcome in the classroom."
Jim Walls, Vice Principal at Peebles, thinks the visits from the business people are a great addition to the curriculum.
"The Junior Achievement program is great at being able to pull together business partners with the teaching of character traits and proficiency outcomes," said Walls.
Adams County/Ohio Valley School District Superintendent Rodney Wallace and JA Coordinator Roy Willman thank these volunteers and teachers who participated in the program last year:
• Peebles: Terri Matheney (teacher) with Pam Leunissen (Fifth Third Bank), Roy Willman and Chad Wilson (First State Bank).
• West Union: Trish Plymesser (teacher) with Jay Prather (Adams County Building and Loan), Jon Linkous (National Bank of Adams County), Dan Wickerham (Adams Brown Recycling) and Mike Pell (First State Bank).
• North Adams: Amanda Myers (teacher) with Nancy Horvath (Merchants National Bank), Angie Sutter (Workforce Connections) and Monica Bowling (Bowling Insurance Group)
This year Rebecca Harrison will be the new fifth grade social studies teacher at North Adams and Bobbie Stewart and Shay Pennington will take over for Trish Plymesser at West Union.
Jay Prather, who worked with her on the JA program for years, said, "I'm going to miss Trish. She was very enthusiastic about JA and a pleasure to work with." The elementary principals and vice principals have been very supportive of the program and Mary Beth Louderback at the OVSD administration continues to be of great assistance too.
Local donors provide 100 percent of the funds to purchase the JA kits. Supporters for the last two years are: Fifth Third Bank, First State Bank, Wal-Mart, Merchants National Bank, National Bank of Adams County and Adams County Building and Loan.
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