An effort to collaborate between Newcastle Public Schools’ students and the Newcastle business community has an ultimate goal of preparing students to walk across the stage at graduation knowing both what they want to do and what they don’t want to do.
As part of the attempt to reach that goal, Newcastle students have the option of taking classes in Entrepreneurship, and Skills for Success, and they can join the Business Professionals of America.
These courses and the BPA are under the guidance of 2022 Newcastle High School Teacher of the Year, Jeffrey Duncan.
“The Entrepreneurship class represents bold step towards preparing our students for success in the world of business and entrepreneurship,” Duncan said. “While this is our first year, we are committed to laying a strong foundation for future generations of entrepreneurs.”
Duncan said the class focuses on topics such as business planning, marketing strategies, financial literacy, and critical thinking.
Duncan said the entrepreneurship class offers handson experience, and has a practical approach which reinforces classroom learning, and instills a sense of confidence and initiative in the students.
“We want to create opportunity for our students to succeed and thrive,” Duncan said.
Duncan said area business leaders are invited to join the students in the classroom as a way to get the community involved, show the students they are supported, and inspire them as their mentors and guides.
Newcastle’s BPA is designed to help those students who are members to develop business skills and prepare them for future careers.
They have activities and competitions which help them develop practical skills, a sense of professionalism, and a drive to excel, according to Duncan.
Newcastle’s BPA students are planning to compete at Nationals in Chicago, Illinois in May.
They are undertaking a community service project this year to engage with the community and instill into the students the sense of giving back.
Duncan said, “Our students are reaching out to community members to ask a simple, yet profound question: “How can we make our community better?”
He said, “This dialogue between our students and the community is a vital aspect of our educational approach. It reinforces the idea that education is not just about acquiring knowledge, but also about applying that knowledge to create positive change.”
The BPA students will help support the Skills for Success classroom by helping raise funds for supplies, support the student store helping to manage inventory, handling finances, and imparting valuable life skills, and contribute to field trips and curriculum enhancement.
The idea is to nurture a sense of unity and shared purpose within the school community, Duncan said.
Fundraisers will aid in student success
As mentioned in the page 1 story from this week’s issue of the Newcastle Pacer, the BPA students and the Skills for Success classroom are coming together for three different fundraisers.
The first, as earlier mentioned is the Student Store. Second, is the Swing for Success Golf Tournament planned for October 21 at Earlywine Golf Course. The third is a Newcastle Community Cookbook, with local residents asked to submit their best recipes.
There are multiple ways community members and businesses can help sponsor the tournament and benefit the students (see related story in this issue).
“These three fundraising opportunities represent our commitment to creating a supportive and enriching environment for our students,” Duncan said. “Your participation and support in any of these initiatives will go a long way in providing valuable educational experiences, classroom supplies, field trips, and curriculum enhancements for our students.”
Duncan said the business programs at NPS aim to deepen the students’ community involvement, forge strong connections with business leaders and organizations, and in so doing, create an ecosystem of learning that benefits both the students and the community.
He said these programs will continue to evolve and expand, and help prepare Newcastle students not only for challenges of today, but also for the opportunities and demands of tomorrow.
Duncan said he believes Newcastle is not just a place of learning, but also a hub of inspiration, innovation and excellence.
