During a field trip on March 31, 4th and 5th grade students were put to work. Students visited JA BizTown, a simulated town in Bridgeville, stocked with a plethora of mini-storefronts.  

Some of those storefronts include PPG Paints, #1 Cochran, FedEx Ground, Giant Eagle, Gordon Food Service, Highmark, UPMC, Vector Security, and Sheetz. Throughout the day, students worked their assigned jobs in various businesses.  

The field trip comes as the near last piece of the JA BizTown curriculum. Throughout the learning, students go through five units: Financial Literacy, Community & Economy, Work & Career Readiness, Business Management, and Visit & Debriefing.  

Following participation in the BizTown curriculum, students will be able to:  

• Discuss the roles they play as citizens, workers, and consumers in their community and relate those roles to the free enterprise system.
• Discuss the importance of citizen rights and responsibilities in a community.
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the free enterprise system.  
• Build money management skills through a practical knowledge of economic concepts and banking practices.  
• Develop an understanding of basic business practices and responsibilities.
• Display the soft skills necessary for successful participation in the world of work

Prior to the visit, students had to complete a philanthropy pledge, a business cost sheet, a loan application and create a radio ad for their business. Students also learned how to fill out a checkbook.