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Schools

Fourth Graders Will Be Merchants for a Day

Lowell Elementary School students will participate in annual event.

It is that time of year again when fourth-grade students at Lowell Elementary School will have the opportunity to get a taste of the real world.

About 135 students will participate in next week's Merchant Mentor Days, an annual event pairing them with local business owners. The students will take active roles actually working at the businesses for an hour and a half, according to one of the parent volunteers Elizabeth Borsting.

"One thing we want to convey to the merchants is we don't want the kids just standing around," Borsting said. "We want them to be doing something. Put them to work."

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Dede Rossi, executive director of the Belmont Shore Belmont Shore Business Association’s executive director, assisted the parents in getting businesses to participate, according to Borsting.

While the teachers are the ones who ultimately decide which students will be matched with certain businesses, Borsting, whose older son participated in previous years, said all of the fourth graders seem to enjoy it no matter what the outcome.

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"No matter where the kids are placed, they really enjoy it," she said.

The volunteer parents will walk groups of kids, including Borsting's daughter, Katie, next week from the school to their employers. Borsting said the event seems to help make the kids feel independent.

"They have a sense of accomplishment," she said. "I think they feel a little bit of empowerment."

The following businesses are scheduled to participated in this year’s Merchant Mentor Days:

  • Yogurtland, 4816 E. Second St.
  • 2nd Street Beauty, 5716A E. 7th St.
  • Billings Paint & Hardware, 5004 E. Second St.
  • Open Sesame, 5201 E. Second St.
  • New York's Upper Crust Pizza, 5291 E. Second St.
  • Paradis, 5305 E. Second St.
  • Powell's Sweet Shoppe, 5282 E. Second St.
  • George's Greek Cafe, 5316 E. Second St.
  • The Beach, 5308 E. Second St.
  • Runner's High, 5338 E. Second St.                                                                                        
  • Jamba Juice, 4923 E. Second St.
  • Kimberly Collections, 5203 E. Second St.
  • La Bella, 5280 E. Second St.
  • Fern's Garden, 5308 E. Second St.
  • Apostrophe Books, 4712 E. Second St.
  • La Strada, 4716 E. Second St.
  • Farmers & Merchants Bank, 4827 E. Second St.
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