WEST MILFORD Fifth graders from Paradise Knoll Elementary act out mock commercials for the products they will be introducing to the community at the annual TREP$ marketplace scheduled for tonight, March 23.
Students had fun brainstorming ideas for getting their products and services out into the community during a recent workshop of the TREP$ program, headed by Program Advisers Martha Cook and Joyce Troast.
TREP$, the entrepreneurship education for youth, was created by Pamela DeWaal and Haley Romano, two certified teachers who reside in West Milford. Experiencing life as a small business owner is an empowering, self-esteem builder for children of all abilities and talents. This program was piloted in Paradise Knoll School and still thrives today. The Paradise Knoll PTA won the New Jersey PTAs Champion for Children Award for best new program.
Paradise Knoll PTA is proud to be offering the TREP$ program again this year. The program began with showing the fifth graders a video of past TREP$ in action. Children were given the opportunity to enroll in a series of six after school workshops where they will receive instruction and will be guided through various creative exercises to understand the ready skills of entrepreneurship, as well as team dynamics. The sixth graders are returning this year, but not as workshop participants.
During this six-week period, the children researched and developed the products or services they will sell or promote at the TREP$ Marketplace, that takes place tonight, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Paradise Knoll School, 103 Paradise Road. The Marketplace is free and open to the public. The entire community is invited to come and see what happens when you give a child the creative outlet and responsibility that comes with starting a business venture.