On Tuesday, May 2nd, the 6th-grade class will be going to JA BizTown, a unique experiential education program operated by Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest. This on-site visit is one of the curriculum's concluding activities, encompassing important elements of community and economy, work readiness, financial literacy, and business management. 

While visiting JA BizTown, each student will become a Town Citizen and assume a job in one of the Town businesses. Students will experience economics first-hand by producing and/or selling products, receiving a paycheck, working as a business team member, repaying a business loan, shopping, and managing a personal bank account. 

 To ensure a successful visit, we need at least 18 adult volunteers (one for each business but two for each business would be ideal, so 36 volunteers) to accompany us to JA BizTown and help facilitate the simulation activities. The volunteer's role will be to guide the students as they operate their businesses. Volunteers who offer to assist during the on-site visit must participate in an online training session to prepare for their work with the students. This training provides volunteers with the opportunity to understand the in-class curriculum as well as the on-site schedule and procedures. They will gain an understanding of their role in assisting the students. JA BizTown suggests parents not be placed with their children, although there will be time during lunch and shopping breaks for parents to connect with their children.

Volunteers will be required to complete an online orientation session one week prior to our visit to JA Finance Park.  The online training session can be found at www.jaum.org.  Volunteers will also be required to arrive one hour before the students, on the morning of our simulation to receive instructions from the JA Finance Park staff. JA Finance Park is located at 1745 University Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104. Volunteers will need to drive or ride with other volunteers to attend the required training before the students arrive.

ECSD does require all volunteers to do a background check. Buena Farrell will be reaching out to you with that information.