WAYNE – A group of local students are quickly becoming young entrepreneurs thanks to a new afterschool program focused on preparing kids for the business world.

The Parent Teacher Organization at John F. Kennedy Elementary School is now offering TREP$, an innovative program that teaches entrepreneurship to children in grades four to eight. The six-week program explores how to start and operate a small business in terms of product development, finance, marketing, advertising, and sales. In addition, TREP$ is an empowering, self-esteem builder for children as well.

A total of 64 students in grades four and five signed up for the program, which runs January through March. JFK Elementary is the pilot school for the program.

"They're so excited about the ideas they're coming up with. It's really been great," said Lisa Kuegler, teacher coordinator for TREP$.

According to Karen Marron, PTO co-president and chairperson for TREP$, it was first brought to their attention a few years ago but it's taken a while to implement it. One of the creators of TREP$, Pamela deWaal, gave a presentation to the PTO, who voted unanimously to purchase the program for a one-time fee of $599. The PTO then charges each student a registration fee of $25 for a total of six workshops. Teachers from JFK were also impressed by the program and nine are volunteering their time.

Each student must come up with a product to sell such as food, jewelry, clothing, art work, and short stories. They have up to two weeks to produce their product. Money for supplies and materials needed must come from the students themselves.

"And if they are getting the money from their parents the students must sign a loan," said Marron.

The kids are also allowed to form partnerships for which they have to sign a partnership agreement with a parent being the mediator if agreements on a product are not met. However most of the participants are working solo.

"The program teaches them everything. It offers them many different considerations as if in the real business world," Marron said.

At a recent workshop, business mentors — who are currently working within the business sector or had previously done so and are now stay-at-home moms — listened to the kids pitch their ideas and gave them feedback.

The culmination of the program is a marketplace scheduled for March 12, at JFK Elementary from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Each student rents a table to sell their product and school community and residents alike are invited. The marketplace is treated as if it were an actual grand opening of a business and Mayor Chris Vergano is also invited for a ribbon cutting ceremony. The TREP$ will all be dressed professionally and ready with their sales pitches. Free raffles for $25 Visa gift cards will also be up for grabs for those 12 years and under.

Parents are not allowed behind the tables during the sale because either. Students are expected to put to work what they learned in the workshops, explained Marron. The kids themselves will have an opportunity to shop at their peer's tables at which time parents will be allowed to man their children's tables.

"Students will then figure out how much profit they made at the sale or if they are at a loss," said Marron.

During the final workshop, entitled "Lessons Learned," the kids will learn what worked and why. The program overall was a success.

Fourth grader Taylor O'Shea, who created Apple of My Eye shampoo by mixing different kinds of shampoo together, said the TREP$ was a great opportunity for kids to learn how to be professional about marketing and how to start your own business.

"I might like to do something like this when I get older as my job. Everyone really enjoyed it," said Taylor. "They liked that they could earn money doing this."

Whereas fifth grader Parker Sek, who marketing homemade cookies, found it fun and exciting to be a business owner.

"I learned how to be a part of a technical group all on your own. It was great just learning how to do everything you would need to know," Parked said.

The PTO is already gearing up for next year's TREP$ program. Many kids unfortunately were unable to join in the fun this year due to personal scheduling conflicts but will be given the opportunity next time around. Those who took part in the initial run will be allowed to skip the workshop and take part in the market place selling another product.

"We'll be doing this for years to come. TREP$ is an outstanding program," said Marron.

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