Never to early to start saving

By Diane Davies-Dixon

Save, save, save.

It is never too soon to learn how to manage money and save.
That was the message from a group of five girls from St. Andrew Elementary School in Newtown Township who discussed the financial literacy skills they have learned in an address to the Rotary Club of Langhorne and guests.
The occasion was a luncheon at the Bella Tori at the Mansion restaurant in Langhorne.
This year marks the fourth year for the financial literacy program at St. Andrew under the guidance of Vice Principal Rick Rosenblatt.
“The idea was to create a real bank for the students as a foundation to learn about saving money,” said Rosenblatt. “And to incorporate the idea into the curriculum.”
Inside the school is a designated area the students use as a bank. They perform real banking skills taught by tellers employed by First National Bank and Trust of Newtown.
Maria Platero, an enthusiastic eighth grader, detailed exactly what having the bank in school has taught her and her classmates.
“We learn about investments,” said Platero. “We are encouraged to work.”
She proudly boasted to the Rotarians, “We are the only school in Pennsylvania to have a bank!”
Another great plus for Platero, she noted, is the improvement she has had in her math skills.
The banking program has blossomed into adding stocks and entrepreneurship to the curriculum.
Juliana Braun, an eighth-grader at St. Andrew, detailed what’s involved in the school’s Junior Achievement Program.
“We generate wealth and learn how to manage it,” said Braun. “We learn the value of money and contributing to the community.”
Volunteers from the community come in to help teach students the ins and outs of the stock exchange and business world.
Alice Braun, Juliana’s mother and a Junior Achievement volunteer, uses a home garden as an example of how you can earn money from your own backyard.
“This enriches the curriculum,” she said, speaking of the financial literacy program.
Students come in with their allowance, money they worked to earn, and have an excitement at seeing the money grow.
The teachers find the time to work the program into the curriculum.
“They are creative,” said Rosenblatt.
St. Andrew was recently recognized as a Blue Ribbon School, an award given to top schools in the nation, according to Rosenblatt.
“This program is part of the reason (for the award),” said Rosenblatt.
Meredith Rickers, an eighth grader, is a member of the Stock Market Club.
Computerized money is used to invest in stocks to see how they would perform. Stock market game is the name of the program the kids use in competition against 400 other schools.
“At the end of the year we go to the stock exchange and see the opening bell and learn the history,” said Rickers. “We also learned people on the floor went from 5,000 to 500 in the last few years because it can now be done on the computer.”
She noted that there is no pushing and shoving on the exchange floor in New York City like you see in the movies.
“She knows her stuff and is teaching me a lot,” said Lisa Rickers, Meredith’s mother. She previously worked on Wall Street and donates time to the students teaching the trade.
Over 100 students between grade 5 and 8 participate in the school’s Stock Market Club.
The savings club is open to all students, grade K to 8.
The students are not able to work in the school bank until they are in seventh grade.
After the St. Andrew’s girls concluded their presentation, an appreciative man in the audience made mention of how many adults are financially illiterate.

“You’d be amazed,” he said.