YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS OPEN SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
ox Chapel Area FOX CHAPEL AREA SCHOOL NEWS
Students from the business practicum experience displayed merchandise in the Foxes Den.
YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS OPEN SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
Class Offers Real-World Experience
Juniors and seniors with a keen interest in directly applying what they have learned from business courses are gaining real-world experience in a new course that is centered around a practical lab concept, the new Foxes Den. Fans of the Foxes like the selection and quality of the merchandise they can purchase in the new store. High school business education teacher Brian Yanizeski, who oversees the business practicum experience class, said,“ The students have done a fantastic job researching current trends, selecting specific products, and marketing them very well.”
The class, offered at Fox Chapel Area High School for the first time this year, allows students who have already completed at least three business courses to“ step further in their exploration of business,” Mr. Yanizeski said. The business education department encourages students to participate in internships, but it can be difficult for high school students to acquire a real, hands-on experience. The business experience practicum offers the opportunity for students to directly apply what they learned from their business courses to a real-world concept, while also providing a service to the community.
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The Foxes Den serves not just high school students, but has a website where people can order online. The students have also done a satellite store at Dorseyville Middle School.
Depending on students’ schedules, it is offered either as a three-day- or five-day-a-week class.
By setting up their own small business operation, students are able to learn what it will be like to actually work in a business and what skills they will need as they make real business decisions with clear outcomes. Students select their area of interest which is primarily based on previous coursework and experiences in the areas of operations, marketing, and finance. The students manage everything in the store from inventory to payments to designing products and working with vendors, while also advertising the business through various channels, including social media.
“ First and foremost, students learn about cooperative teamwork and communication. Everyone in the class