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Hayesville Middle School STEM-E/CTE Entrepreneurship students officially opened HMS Underground School Storefront this school year during fourth, nine weeks. This project began during the 2022-2023 school year with HMS eighth grade Entrepreneurship students who had a vision to startup a school store.
Much of the ground work was laid during the 2022-2023 school year by the eighth grade CTE entrepreneurship students who worked with their teacher Jennifer Nachtrieb. In 2022-2023 Nachtrieb wrote an AIM grant through Gear Up which provided the funding necessary to purchase a Glowforge laser printer and supplies along with a Cricut Maker 3 and supplies. Gear Up has continued to provide support in this project.
Local area businesses to include are: Prints Plus, Signs Fast, Tri County Office Supply and Tri State Upholstery who have also been involved in the success of this project through donations of materials and ongoing support. Clay County Community for Students volunteered their time in the classroom working one on one with students to teach them how to use the Cricut Maker 3, design platform and to inspire creativity.
Additional funding from the grant was also used to create a school store space that was constructed by the Clay County Schools Maintenance Department with student input and involvement. Last year’s students designed the logo, named the store and began the custom design side of the business to include providing custom engraving for Prints Plus customers which laid the foundations for this year’s project completion.
This year’s students have continued to work diligently on this project to expand the custom design side and stock the store with wholesale items for resale. STEM-E/ CTE Entrepreneurship students have collaborated and expanded the vision for the school store and worked diligently to put the final touches on this project and officially open the School Store “StoreFront Doors” for business.
Nachtrieb and STEM-E/CTE Entrepreneurship students would like to graciously thank everyone for the support and generosity in making this vision a reality. In addition Nachtrieb would like to give a huge shout out to her 2022-2023 CTE entrepreneurship class who have moved on to high school and who had a vision for a school store and worked so diligently to lay the groundwork for this project to be a success.
It is so important that students are able to apply what is learned in the classroom into real-life situations at home, work and in solving everyday problems. Nachtrieb is very proud of her students and excited to see the great progress they will make next year to grow the store even more.