WEST MILFORD — Apshawa Elementary School will hold its TREP$ Marketplace on Wednesday, April 10, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
TREP$, the entrepreneurship education program for youth, was created by Pamela deWaal and Hayley Romano, two certified teachers who reside in West Milford. It began when their then 10-year-old sons decided to go into business together selling hand-stamped wrapping paper at an adult vendor night at the school. The boys "sold out" of product and learned some great lessons. The kids were very proud of their success and shared the story with their peers.
Experiencing life as a small business owner is an empowering, self esteem-builder for children. Romano and deWaal saw a unique opportunity to create a program where all children could achieve success, and in turn, improve self-esteem. The program was carefully crafted to support the standards of education our schools are currently using.
TREP$ was piloted in the West Milford School District at Paradise Knoll. Based on the merits of the program, the Paradise Knoll PTA earned the New Jersey PTA's Champion for Children Award for best new program.
This year's Apshawa program began with an enthusiastic kick-off speaker enjoyed by students in grades five and six. Children were then given the opportunity to enroll in a series of six after school workshops where they received instruction and will be guided through various creative exercises to understand the ready skills of entrepreneurship, as well as team dynamics.
During this six-week period, the children will research and develop the products or services they will sell or promote at the TREP$ Marketplace.
The event is free and open to the public. The entire community is invited to come and see what happens when you give children the creative outlet and responsibility that comes with starting a business venture. Come out and support Apshawa's young enTREPreneur$.
Apshawa School is located at 140 Highcrest Drive in West Milford.