PTO to offer youth education program

November 19, 2009 12:00 am

— Staff Report

The Cooperstown Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) will be offering an entrepreneurship education program for youth called TREP$.

According to organizers, the program will begin on Dec. 3. Students in grades 6-8 will watch the kick-off DVD in a short presentation about the program.

Students will then be 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.

During a six-week period, the students will research and develop the products or services they will sell or promote at the ``TREP$ Marketplace,’’ according to organizers.

This year’s Marketplace will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6 in the middle/high school cafeteria from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is free and open to the public.

TREP$ was created by Pamela deWaal and Hayley Romano, two certified teachers who reside in West Milford, N.J. The program began when their then 10- year-old sons decided to go into business together selling hand-stamped wrapping paper at an adult vendor night at the school.

The boys ``sold out’’ of product and learned some great lessons.

The kids were very proud of their success and shared the story with their peers.

According to a PTO media release, the mothers saw a unique opportunity to create a program where all children, not only the physically or academically gifted, could achieve success, and in turn, improve self esteem.

TRWP$ was piloted in the West Milford, New Jersey school district at Paradise Knoll School in Oak Ridge. According to the media release, based on the merits of the program, the Paradise Knoll PTA earned the New Jersey PTA’s Champion for Children award for best new program.