Wayzata students showcase financial skills in Kimberly Lane investment club

Kimberly Lane Elementary students and their advisers presented outcomes from a new after‑school investment club at the Wayzata Public School District Board of Education work session on May 18, 2026, showing strong results in a simulated Stock Market Game and emphasizing early financial‑literacy skills.

Principal Dr. Carrie Weyman told the board that about one third of Kimberly Lane’s students and staff were new this year following boundary adjustments, and staff used that transition to pilot enrichment opportunities such as the investment club. "This is a way of them having something that's really mysterious of like what is all this stuff and getting exposure to it," Weyman said, describing the club as part of the school’s student experience goal.

Advisers Eddie Clifton (P.E. teacher) and Rob Olsen (technology and media arts teacher) said the club ran an eight‑session season after a parent volunteered to help. The game provides each participant with a simulated $100,000 portfolio and follows live market prices; presenters said they limited participation to 25 students and used online resources (including Yahoo Finance) to teach ticker‑symbol lookup, market‑capitalization concepts and trade entry. "We met in the computer lab every two weeks," Clifton said. "Students would log into their portals, collaborate and learn vocabulary and research skills."

The club was funded by the CFMA Foundation, presenters said, and fielded students from grades that matched the fall–spring season schedule. Program advisers reported that Kimberly Lane had three elementary portfolios finish in the top five of their grade band and seven in the top 10, against 167 elementary portfolios statewide. Advisers also said that, across grades 4–12 in Minnesota, 885 portfolios competed. One top elementary portfolio reached roughly $166,000 from a $100,000 starting point — reported in the presentation as about a 66% return — which advisers noted occurred during a period of market volatility.

Students then demonstrated concepts from the club. One student explained short‑ vs. long‑term goals and offered the club’s trade guidance — "cut your losses" for short‑term trades and "let the winners run" for long‑term holdings. Carter, a participating student who placed second in his division, described contest rules and strategy: "You start with $100,000 in your portfolio," he said, and noted a per‑stock cap the club used in play.

Parent volunteer Nick Asmus described how the club translated at home: when his son won $45 at a family event, he asked to invest that money in the simulated portfolio. "They learn so much. They love it, and I think these are invaluable skills," Asmus said, and recommended expanding similar offerings across other elementary schools.

Board members praised the students and the advisers and noted that Minnesota has recently embedded financial literacy into state standards; administrators said middle and high schools are integrating related lessons and electives. No formal board action or vote was taken at the May 18 work session; the board adjourned and reminded attendees that a self‑evaluation workshop is scheduled for June 8 at the district service center.

The board’s next regular meeting will include a fuller recognition segment and additional district business.