Getting Down to Business
Mars Area High School Special Education students manage
the school’s Mars Space Shop and Mobile Cart.
By Nicole Tafe
M
ars Area High School Special Education students are getting down
to business with the Mars Space Shop. As part of a school-wide
experiment that began last November, the Mars Space Shop and Mobile
Cart project offers students the chance to purchase Mars Area apparel
and school items. The “business” is managed by special education teacher
Samantha Flanhofer, and run by special education students.
“Last summer, we started throwing around ideas about how something
like this could work,” says Flanhofer, who’s been at Mars Area High School
for two years. “Things quickly became cross-curricular and we enlisted the
help of several teachers and their classes, including Mr. Knauff ’s business
class, Mrs. Iman’s advanced accounting class and Mr. Peteras’ technology
education class.”
Toward the start of the project, Mr. Knauff ’s business class conducted
several surveys throughout the building asking students what kind of
materials they would buy and at what cost. From there, Mrs. Iman’s
advanced accounting class determined the best methods to help control
inventory, keep track of deposits, receipts and more. Finally, Mr. Peteras’
graphics club pressed all of the apparel and made it ready for sale.
“With everyone’s help, we were able to get everything up and running!”
says Flanhofer. It was officially decided that the Mars Space Shop would
sell Mars apparel and the Mobile Cart would sell daily items including
snacks, water bottles, pencils, pens, notebooks and more.
The next step was to interview the interested special education students
for various jobs. “The interview process for my students was as real as it
could be,” notes Flanhofer. Students were presented with positions that
included accountant, inventory clerk, manager and assistant manager.
Job descriptions were provided, explained and reviewed. Students then
practiced for the interviews multiple times with Flanhofer.
“The interviews consisted of two rounds with administration and
members of the Planet
Foundation,” explains Flanhofer.
“Students were given five interview
questions that were assessed using
a number scale. The students were
then given their scores followed
by a discussion of their strengths/
weaknesses.”
After the interview process,
students were awarded the jobs
that best suited them. “I created a
work shift and the students followed
MARS SPACE SHOP
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