New Prague fifth-graders showcase JA BizTown lessons in school board spotlight
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Summary
Falcon Ridge principal Dave Gies and four fifth-graders described a JA BizTown trip to Saint Paul that taught nearly 100 students real-world financial and workplace skills, including banking, budgeting, job applications and public speaking.
At Monday’s New Prague Area Schools board meeting, Falcon Ridge Elementary Principal Dave Gies and a quartet of fifth-graders presented a “Spotlight on Success” about their recent JA BizTown field trip to Saint Paul.
Gies said the district brought 99 fifth-graders to the one‑day program and praised the students and teachers for their preparation: “All of these folks along with our fifth graders had to apply for jobs, and they had to figure out who was gonna be the mayor,” he said, noting the trip’s curricular lead‑in. “It’s kind of become a staple of our fifth grade students being able to attend.”
Students described hands‑on experiences that reinforced financial literacy and workplace skills. Amelia said participants used debit cards and opened checking and savings accounts. Maddie said the class practiced 45 minutes a day for weeks, completed job applications and had CEOs and CFOs interview and hire peers. Afton, who served as the day’s mayor, described giving speeches and choosing a “citizen of the day,” while Logan emphasized applying academic skills to real‑world tasks such as using money trackers and calculating payroll and taxes.
Board members praised the students’ behavior and the teachers’ preparation. The chair noted the district tradition of taking a photo after the spotlight, and students accepted a small token before the board moved on to other business.
The presentation highlighted the district’s emphasis on experiential learning and financial literacy for elementary students; board members said the program reflects well on New Prague’s elementary curriculum and community partnerships.