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Harmon sixth graders run 'Old School Supply Store' to teach leadership and entrepreneurship
Summary
Harmon sixth-graders operate an on-campus 'Old School Supply Store' open twice weekly where students sell and personalize supplies, run mystery-bag sales and lead workshops; presenters said the program builds leadership, cross-curricular skills and family engagement.
At the Oakwood Board of Education meeting on Jan. 7, Jenna Hill, the district’s curriculum director, introduced a curriculum showcase highlighting Harmon Elementary’s sixth-grade 'Old School Supply Store.' Three members of the Harmon sixth-grade team described how the program operates and what students gain from it.
Presenters — who identified themselves as Scott Gowdy, Sean Fry and others on the sixth-grade team — said the store is open twice a week (lunch and after school), is staffed by sixth graders who apply and receive training, and sells items such as highlighters, erasable gel pens, pencil grippers, personalized notebooks and occasional 'mystery bags.' The team said the store also buys items produced by other students (for example, headbands and crocheted items from Market Day projects) so student makers receive payment even if items do not immediately sell in the store.
The store runs special events such as 'gift for a grown up' craft workshops and makes fundraising and relationship-building a priority. Presenters described a button program (25¢ each) tied to house teams and character-education tokens (called 'Timber tokens') that students can exchange in a 'Timber treasure trove.' The presenters said roughly 35% of sixth graders elected to participate in the program this year and that events have drawn sizeable student participation.
"It takes what, like, five minutes for us to set up this store," one presenter said, describing a flexible system of shelves on casters and a supply closet. Board members praised the initiative as a hands-on leadership and cross-curricular learning opportunity and invited parents and board members to visit the store during posted hours.
The district said the store’s proceeds are used to buy future supplies and to support student programming; presenters said the model emphasizes relationship building, leadership, customer service and practical skills as part of the sixth-grade experience.
