Students learn financial lesson at JA Finance Park

Westlake Middle School 8th Grade Students recently had the opportunity to take a trip to the Junior Achievement Finance Park located in Thornton, Colorado. JA Finance Park, presented by Transamerica, helps students build a foundation for making intelligent and lifelong personal financial decisions through a hands-on, realistic simulation experience. Students become an adult for the day and are immersed in a reality based decision-making process addressing aspects of individual family budgeting, including housing, transportation, food, utilities, healthcare, investments, philanthropy, and banking.

The students were able to use the new virtual JA Finance Park game where users adopt a fictional persona and make fiscal decisions based on predetermined life circumstances. Students were able to budget for necessities and optional expenses, and then use that budget to actually shop in the virtual simulation. Students quickly learned about the efficacy of their budget as options across categories were higher or lower than they expected.

This session was aided by corporate and community volunteers to help deliver lessons and keep students engaged in the experience. Volunteers also shared stories and experiences to drive lessons home with students. 

This story exemplifies our ELEVATE Focus Area: Outside-the-Classroom Learning. Sharing stories about how the district offers students multiple learning opportunities outside the traditional classroom providing various pathways to success.