Holiday Shop Highlights Ellis Entrepreneurs
The Ellis Entrepreneurs Club was out in full force on Friday, December 2 as Ellis hosted the annual Holiday Shop in Janet’s Gym. Handmade candles, stress balls, and dog treats were just a few of the items up for grabs as the Ellis Entrepreneurs Club tested their business acumen in front of parents, employees, and students.
The Holiday Shop is the culmination of hard work the Ellis Entrepreneurs have put in since the beginning of the year, and the time to put their creative efforts on display. Students sell the goods they brainstormed and created in the club to test their entrepreneurial spirit. Whether that results in financial gain, one student happily made an $80 profit, or financial despair, the fundamental lessons and teachings of entrepreneurship are applied at the Holiday Shop.
Middle School Math teachers Cara LaRoche and Kristy Tomashewski helm the Ellis Entrepreneurs Club and encourage the girls to start thinking outside the box on small business ideas from day one. They inspire students to embrace the long-term project, take accountability for their ideas, and teach a basic understanding of what it takes to start a small business.
“Ellis Entrepreneurs is very open ended. It encourages the girls to think of an idea for a product or good and run with it. It can be super simple, or super complex, we encourage them to use their talents to work in their favor. Very rarely will we say that’s not a good idea. The girls loves the fact that this is their thing––it builds confidence,” said Tomashewski.
The girls are challenged to create something they can prototype in the club, and if they would like, make more of and sell at the Holiday Shop. They must then determine the final selling price based on material and labor costs, and consider the market at the Holiday Shop where they will sell to Ellis families, peers, and teachers.
“No matter what they’re making––the math is the same, the underlying principles are the same. This is a great experience for them to understand costing, supply and demand, and how a small business runs based on something they have invested a lot of time into,” said LaRoche.
Grades 5 and 6 have dedicated time built into their schedules for Ellis Entrepreneurs starting the first week of school. Working alone or in groups of three, the girls are taught how to lead a project and bring an idea to life in a creative, collaborative environment. They learn communication skills, time management, and goal setting to build confidence when it’s time to sell at the Holiday Shop.
Ellis Entrepreneurs grants students a hands-on, project-based learning experience that they can then apply in the classroom, whether that be decimal math or understanding how to work within a group. Early exposure to entrepreneurial efforts in the Middle School supports the girls’ growth and development, while encouraging them to take risks and believe in themselves. Ellis Entrepreneurs shows the girls’ that there is value in their ideas, creativity, and passions by giving them the tools to explore their imagination and unlock their unique potential.
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