Off The Trail

Another Successful Semester!

2011-02-18T14:13:00.002-06:00

The fall proved to be another successful semester thanks to all of our volunteers, teachers and supporters! We had volunteers in 608 classrooms throughout Tarrant, Parker, Johnson, Wise and Erath counties, reaching over 12,240 students. We are so thankful for the continuous support from everyone. We look forward to a great spring semester!

2010-12-01T15:49:00.002-06:00

The last day of the fall semester is Friday, December 17th. That leaves two and a half weeks to finish up your lessons! After you have completed your final lesson, please log on to http://www.jafortworth.org/ to submit your Class Completion Form. The link is located on the left side of our home page.

Please contact Laura at LClingman@jafortworth.org with any questions. We greatly appreciate your support during the fall semester!

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-22T13:47:00.003-06:00

Junior Achievement would like to thank all of our teachers, volunteers, and community leaders for your continued support this year. It is through your hard work that we are able to reach over 27,000 students and advance the JA mission!

We would like to wish you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Second Annual JA Breakfast

2010-11-12T10:12:00.001-06:00

Junior Achievement’s second Annual JA Breakfast was held at the Fort Worth Club on Wednesday November 10th. There were over 325 guests in attendance, which is well over 100 guests more than our 2009 breakfast. Guest speaker, Nolan Ryan, was a big hit along with our student speakers from local schools. Thank you to our Vice President of Development, Leslie Flanery, and all of our board members who worked hard to make the event a success!

Want to make a difference?

2010-09-10T08:43:00.004-05:00

Volunteer for Junior Achievement! We offer kindergarten through 12th grade programs and we are looking for volunteers for the fall semester. You have the opportunity to help students learn workforce and college readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.

"I had no idea of the impact JA could make. The students were so enthusiastic in their participation during class and I feel they were inspired. I know I was definitely inspired!" -Junior Achievement volunteer

Please contact Kori at karmstrong@jafortworth.org to volunteer this year. We look forward to hearing from you!

A New Generation's Ethics

2010-09-02T10:28:00.004-05:00

In a recent Deloitte and Junior Achievement Teen Ethics Survey, 71 percent of teens said they felt “fully prepared” to make ethical decisions in the work place; on the other hand, 38 percent believed they must cheat, steal, plagiarize and even behave violently to succeed in school.

This conflict between behavior in schools and expected work place behavior is becoming more prominent in our society today. Junior Achievement and Deloitte have partnered to create a project that will guide teenagers to make ethical decisions both in school and the work place.

Click here to read more!

Junior Achievement: A Solution to the Dropout Crisis

2010-08-27T11:19:00.003-05:00

A recent research article created by Junior Achievement showed that each year only 70 percent of expected students earn a high school diploma. This issue is impacting these students’ lives along with the strength of our country’s economy. Junior Achievement USA provides several solutions to increase the percentage of high school students who graduate with a diploma. JA helps students connect what they are learning in school to the real world. 91 percent of teachers and volunteers agree that JA programs bridge this learning gap between the classroom and the outside world. Junior Achievement programs also help students understand the importance of an education and increase their self-confidence. In comparison to their peers, JA students were significantly more confident that they would not only graduate from high school but continue to pursue post-secondary education.

In addition to providing relevant and useful curriculum to students, Junior Achievement offices are piloting in-depth initiatives that aim to directly reduce the drop out rate of students in high risk districts.

It’s that time of year again!

2010-08-18T14:14:00.001-05:00

As administrators and teachers are gearing up for the 2010-2011 school year, we at Junior Achievement are also preparing for another successful year. JA programs will be up and running in mid to late September. Please contact Laura Clingman at lclingman@jafortworth.org if you are interested in volunteering in a local classroom this year.

We look forward to working with all of our outstanding schools and volunteers this year!

Ben Bernanke References JA

2010-07-29T15:26:00.002-05:00

Federal Reserve Board Chairman, Ben Bernanke, referenced Junior Achievement's efforts around financial literacy education as he delivered his semi-annual report on monetary policy before the Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday, July 21st. Junior Achievement was the only organization mentioned.

See the video here!

JA Awards Scholarships

2010-07-15T08:25:00.005-05:00

This past Spring, senior students that participated in a JA program were eligible to apply and interview for scholarships that are awarded thru the R. D. and Catherine Alexander Scholarship Fund and the John W. Spruill Scholarship Fund. In partnership with the Better Business Bureau, Tarrant County Bankers Association, Texas Christian University, and Texas Wesleyan University, scholarships are annually renewable provided minimum renewal requirements are met for the 4 years the student attends college. We are happy to announce a total of $48,625 has been awarded to the following 2010 scholarship winners:

Miranda Behrens - Colleyville Heritage HS, plans to attend UT Austin
Melinda Fuqua - Keller HS, plans to attend UT San Antonio
Meagan Reid from Crowley HS, plans to attend TCU
Alexandria Romo - Colleyville Heritage HS, plans to attend Colorado College
Kim Sohee, Colleyville Heritage HS, plans to attend Academy of Art Univ.
Sydney Sult - Stephenville HS, plans to attend Texas A & M
Joseph Sumcizk - Colleyville Heritage HS, plans to attend TCC

Summer Fun Bowl-aarrgghh-thon Info!

2010-07-12T14:42:00.010-05:00

Ahoy Mateys!

Summer is here and that means its time to bowl for JA! This year's Summer Fun Bowl will be on Saturday, August 21st at Cityview Lanes in Fort Worth. This event is one of our major fund raisers and will help us purchase program materials for our K-12th grade students this upcoming school year.

All you have to do is get a team of 5 people together (4-6 is accepted as well) and get ready to have fun! Each person on your team needs to raise at least $75 - many teams get together and have bake sales, sell raffle tickets or have a car wash to raise the $375 team minimum. You can also get pledges from friends, family and co-workers!

We will have 3 bowling times available on Saturday, August 21st: 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. (for Lockheed Martin only), 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Just choose the time you prefer then show up at Cityview Lanes at that time on August 21st! You will get an official Summer Fun Bowl t-shirt along with door prize eligibility at the event. Anyone who raises $125 and above will receive special gift cards!

Come dressed up in your best pirate costume for a chance to win the Lane Decorating Contest! We will have other fun contests during the event like push-up, hula-hoop and the show me game. This event is geared towards fun and you don't have to be a professional bowler - bumpers are available!

To find out more about the Summer Fun Bowl or to sign up click here! TEAM REGISTRATIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, JULY 30TH! You can also contact Jenny Senter at the JA office for more info. We hope to see you there!

Thank You!

2010-06-10T09:18:00.001-05:00

Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail would like to thank all of our volunteers, teachers and supporters for another great school year. During the 2009-2010 school year our volunteers helped us impact students in more than 1,300 classes throughout the greater Fort Worth area. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to seeing many of you back during the 2010-2011 school year.

Have a great summer!

Air Force Reservists Volunteer for JA in a Day!

2010-06-02T09:08:00.004-05:00

On Thursday, May 13th, twenty Air Force Reservists gave their entire day to kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students at Bellaire Elementary in Hurst. They volunteered their energy and time for a "JA in a Day" where Junior Achievement volunteers teach all 5 lessons in a single day.

The students and staff were thrilled to have so many excellent volunteers participate in showing them their potential and helping them have a brighter tomorrow. Students were in awe as volunteers showed up in full uniform for the event. Thank you all for a great day of learning and fun!

Volunteer Reminder

2010-05-19T10:01:00.000-05:00

The final day of the school year is Friday, June 4th. There are 2 and a half weeks left to finish up your lessons! Please log on to www.jafortworth.org to fill out a Class Completion form after your final lesson is complete. The link is located on the left side of the home page.

Thank you for your support during the 2009-2010 school year. We look forward to seeing many of you again in the fall!

Spring Scholarships Awarded

2010-05-12T15:27:00.003-05:00

In partnership with Texas Christian University, Tarrant County Bankers Association, the Better Business Bureau, and the John W. Spruill Leadership Scholarship, students participating in a Junior Achievement program were eligible to apply and interview for a scholarship. Committee members selected 8 students as recipients. These students will be presented more specific information at their high school awards program this month. Congratulations to these students!

Volunteer Receives Award

2010-04-30T13:17:00.003-05:00

Loyal and longtime Junior Achievement volunteer David Williams was recognized by Lockheed Martin for logging over 500 hours in Community Service with his support to several organizations. David indicates the majority of the hours benefited Junior Achievement and DFW Toys for Tots. Last year Lockheed Martin Aero provided the equivalent of $2.6 million to educational and charitable causes through grants, volunteer service and other forms of support. David is a classroom volunteer and the Bowlathon coordinator for Lockheed Martin. He motivates students in the classroom to stay in school and graduate, and bowlers at the yearly Summer Fun Bowl to raise money for JA. Congratulations David for being a great volunteer and for selecting JA to receive the $250 award!

Volunteer Appreciation Month!

2010-04-28T14:43:00.003-05:00

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail would like to take the time to thank all of our wonderful volunteers. It is through your hard work and commitment to our programs that we are able to impact so many students. This school year our 1,300 volunteers will reach roughly 28,500 students locally.

We thank you for your continued support!

And the Gold Star goes to…

2010-04-23T08:55:00.002-05:00

Last week I had the opportunity to visit Ms. Maria Hernandez’s classroom at E.M. Daggett Elementary. Her Junior Achievement volunteer, Aaron Jolly from Bank of America, is teaching the 2nd grade “Our Community” program to her students this semester. When I arrived at the school; I learned that Aaron had accidentally misplaced his JA bag earlier that week and did not have his materials available. Much to my surprise, he still wanted to teach the lesson! Even with no materials, and no volunteer guidebook; this was one of the best lessons I have ever seen taught. Aaron completed the lesson almost verbatim and had all of the students excited and engaged despite his lack of resources.

Ms. Hernandez has many bilingual students in her class at Daggett Elementary. Each week, she prepares a power point with all of the vocabulary words that correspond with Aaron’s Junior Achievement lesson. She makes sure her students understand all of the terminology in English before Aaron arrives to teach the students.

Aaron has been volunteering for Junior Achievement since the spring semester of 2007. Ms. Hernandez has participated in the program each spring since 2000. This is their second semester to work together!

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Aaron and Ms. Hernandez for their continued support of our programs and for going way above and beyond expectations. If you have a great volunteer story that you’d like to share – please email it to lclingman@jafortworth.org.

Congratulations!

2010-04-13T14:25:00.003-05:00

Congrats to Brandi Romero from OmniAmerican Bank for winning the Nascar tickets. Brandi has been a JA volunteer for over 2 years. Thank you, Brandi for all you have done for us over the years! A big thank you to all of our great volunteers and your support!

Texas Motor Speedway Ticket Giveaway

2010-04-13T08:41:00.004-05:00

Attention all Spring 2010 volunteers!!

In appreciation of all your support, Junior Achievement is giving away 4 tickets to the O'Reilly 300 on April 17th (this Saturday!). If you are able to attend the event and are interested in having the tickets, please email us at ja@jafortworth.org. The first person to inquire will be contacted to arrange pick-up/delivery of the tickets.

Thank you for volunteering for Junior Achievement!

TCU Student Volunteers in his Former School District

2010-04-07T15:46:00.003-05:00

Tyler Luttrell, a senior at Texas Christian University and a 2006 graduate of Weatherford High School, has returned to Weatherford ISD to volunteer at Juan Seguin Elementary School. While most of our TCU volunteers are teaching in schools near campus, Tyler specifically requested to return to his former school district. He is currently teaching Marsha Good’s first grade students the JA program, "Our Families" which discusses the role of families in the local economy.

Tyler is majoring in Entrepreneurial Management at the Neeley School of Business. We are happy to have Tyler on board this semester impacting the students at Juan Seguin Elementary.

Many Teens Lack Financial Literacy

2010-03-23T13:38:00.001-05:00

According to the annual JA and Allstate Foundation “Teens and Personal Finance” Survey, the majority of U.S. teens say they do not budget their money and are unsure about how to plan for saving and investing their money. Many teens say that their parents take care of all of their expenses or that budgeting is not necessary with the amount of money they have. To read more on the survey click here.

Junior Achievement offers several volunteer-led or parent-based resources to help students become financially literate. Click here to read more.

Spring Break Reminder

2010-03-16T09:59:00.004-05:00

Hey Volunteers! A friendly reminder – our teachers and students will be out on spring break this week. You will be able to continue with your lessons beginning the week of March 22nd. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Junior Achievement would like to wish you a safe and fun spring break!

TCU Student Reunited with Kindergarten Teacher

2010-03-11T10:15:00.005-06:00

Texas Christian University business student, Alexandria Bruton, was one of many TCU students to sign up to volunteer for Junior Achievement this semester. JA staff assigned these volunteers to a few elementary schools throughout Fort Worth ISD. Alexandria was assigned at random to Como Elementary in a kindergarten classroom. It was such a surprise to find out that she would be volunteering in the classroom of Ms. Beverly Patin, who taught her kindergarten when she attended Como Elementary about 15 years ago!

Alexandria will be teaching the JA program "Ourselves" which explains personal economics through a collection of short stories read aloud by the volunteer, followed by a fun, hands-on activity. We are excited to have Alexandria back in her kindergarten classroom impacting the students at Como Elementary.

“How you can affect the student drop out rate: Volunteer for Junior Achievement”

2010-03-02T09:00:00.002-06:00

• Every 26 seconds another student drops out of school in America - over 1.3 million students per year.

• Of those who do graduate high school, only 1/3 have the skills they need to succeed in college and in the 21st century workforce.

• Just 12% of US high schools generate half of the nation’s dropouts.

• There will be an estimated $3 trillion cost to our economy based on the more than 12 million students projected to drop out over next decade.

Help us change these statistics by volunteering to teach Junior Achievement in a local classroom today! Please contact Laura Clingman at lclingman@jafortworth.org for more information regarding classroom availability.

Spring Scholarship Deadline Approaching

2010-02-22T11:26:00.003-06:00

Each Spring, Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail awards scholarships to area high school seniors who have participated in a Junior Achievement program within our franchise. The student must complete the application form, meet the minimum GPA requirement (3.0), submit their SAT/ACT scores and participate in an interview with the scholarship committee. Applications are available online at http://www.jafortworth.org/ or from the JA teacher. The deadline to apply is April 7, 2010.

Register for the National Financial Literacy Challenge!

2010-02-16T08:56:00.004-06:00

Attention teachers and students!

April has been designated as Financial Literacy Month and JA encourages you to participate in the National Financial Capability Challenge. The "Challenge" is an awards program designed to increase the financial knowledge and capability of high school-aged youth across the U.S. so they can take control over their financial futures.

This is a free program facilitated by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Treasury. To view more information about this exciting challenge and to register, please go to http://www.challenge.treas.gov/about.aspx.

Please contact Jenny at the JA office if you have questions - jsenter@jafortworth.org

JA Embraces Outcome-Based Digital Learning

2010-02-16T08:45:00.008-06:00

"Colorado Springs, Colo. – Junior Achievement (JA) will convene the first meeting of its Digital Strategy Advisory Task Force in the Washington, D.C., area next week. JA programs are designed to build young people’s capacity to spur economic development and to engage them actively in the teaching and learning process. The Task Force will serve in an advisory role; it will define an action plan around the use of technology in Junior Achievement’s future program development and delivery, with a goal of applying the learning to drive systemic change in K-12 work-readiness education."

Click here to read more!

Wrapping Up the Fall Semester

2010-02-02T10:44:00.005-06:00

Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail is completing a very successful fall semester. During fall of 2009, JA operated in 617 classrooms reaching 12,310 students in Tarrant, Parker, Johnson, Wise and Erath counties. Thank you to the 585 dedicated individuals who volunteered to lead these JA programs. You are really making a difference in the life of a child.

For information on how you can volunteer during the spring semester at an elementary, middle, or high school near you, contact lclingman@jafortworth.org.

Teens Confident They'll Get Ideal Job

2010-01-28T11:04:00.003-06:00

According to the Junior Achievement and ING National Poll, teens are remaining optimistic about their job search. 90 percent of teens are confident that they will one day find their ideal job. 84 percent of teens value finding a job that “has a positive impact on society” rather than factors such as “being well paid” and "having decision-making responsibilities."

Although teens remain optimistic, over half continue to worry about today’s unemployment rate. Teens believe that maintaining high grades, participating in work-readiness programs – such as JA’s job shadow program, and believing in themselves are all key factors in finding a job.

Click here to read more!

Spring Semester Sign Ups

2010-01-21T13:35:00.004-06:00

It is JA time again! If you are interested in volunteering for Junior Achievement this semester, please let us know. We have volunteering opportunities available in Tarrant, Parker, Johnson and Wise counties and we are offering elementary, middle and high school classes.

We are excited to have so many great returning volunteers this semester, but we are always looking for new ones, too! So join in the JA fun and sign up TODAY!

For information on classes and to sign up, please contact Kori Armstrong at karmstrong@jafortworth.org. Help JA have another great semester as we educate our youth!

Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8 to 18 Year Olds

2010-01-21T13:25:00.007-06:00

A national survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that with technology allowing nearly 24-hour media access as children and teens go about their daily lives, the amount of time young people spend with entertainment media has risen dramatically, especially among minority youth.

Today, 8 to 18-year-olds devote an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes to using entertainment media across a typical day (more than 53 hours a week). Because they spend so much of that time "media multitasking", they actually manage to pack a total of 10 hours and 45 minutes worth of media content into those 7 1/2 hours.

To view a documentary video and full report about this study, please click the links below:

Documentary: http://www.kff.org/entmedia/hr012010video.cfm

Full Report: http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/8010.pdf

No Facebook at Work?!

2010-01-11T15:38:00.005-06:00

In the seventh annual Junior Achievement/Deloitte Teen Ethics survey, teens indicated that when accepting a job offer, the ability to access social networking sites during work hours was a high priority. The survey focuses on the ethical implications of the popularity of social networking sites. The survey found that 88% of teens access the sites daily, while more than half of those teens would consider access to the sites when considering a job offer.

Click here to read more!

Warm Holiday Wishes from JA

2009-12-17T11:03:00.007-06:00

As the holidays near, we would like to take the time to thank all of our volunteers, teachers, and supporters for another wonderful year here at JA! We wouldn't be an organization without all of you!

The JA office will be closed from December 24th - January 4th. We hope you and your families have a very happy holiday season and look forward to seeing you in 2010!

Sincerely,

The JA Staff - Randal, Lisa, Suzane, Laura, Jenny, Kori and Leslie

Volunteers- Don't Forget!!

2009-12-09T15:13:00.005-06:00

The final day of the fall semester is Friday, December 18th, so there is only a week and half left in the semester to finish up your classes. After you have completed the program, please log on to http://www.jafortworth.org/ to fill out a Class Completion Form! The link to the form is on the left side of the page.

If you are unable to complete the form online please email the following information to karmstrong@jafortworth.org:

Name:

School:

Grade:

Teacher:

Total Lessons Completed:

Total Number of Students:

Thank you for giving your time to Junior Achievement!

Turkey Time!

2009-11-24T15:09:00.006-06:00

We at JA would like to give thanks for having the privilege to work with so many amazing teachers, volunteers, and community leaders. It is through their hard work and sacrifices that we are able to advance the JA mission!

Junior Achievement would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

JA President on Fox Business!

2009-11-17T15:09:00.006-06:00

Click here to see JA Worldwide President, Sean Rush, speak on Fox Business about helping children gain knowledge of business, the economy and financial literacy through volunteering!

Online Forms are Working!

2009-11-13T09:40:00.011-06:00

Hey Volunteers!

The First Class Visit and Class Completion Forms are now working! To submit your form, please go to http://www.jafortworth.org/ and click on the appropriate link under the Volunteer Forms section (located on the left side of the Home page).

Please contact us if you have questions at jsenter@jafortworth.org.

First Annual Junior Achievement Breakfast

2009-11-09T15:43:00.002-06:00

The first annual JA Breakfast will be held at the Fort Worth Club this Thursday, November 12^th. Junior Achievement’s Vice President of Development, Leslie Flanery, along with our board members, have worked hard to develop the pilot event. With over 200 expected attendees and a full one-hour program including local JA students and esteemed speakers – we are looking forward to a successful event!

It's November!

2009-11-02T09:41:00.005-06:00

Hey volunteers - time is flyin by! Below are a few reminders as we enter the holiday season:

Many school districts will have the entire week of November 23rd off for Thanksgiving. If this is the case, you will need to skip this week and pick up where you left off the week of November 30th with your class.

It's a good idea to try to get your class completed by Friday, December 18th, which is the last day most schools are in session before the winter break. However, the Fall semester does carry over into January. If you find that you will need to complete your class in January, please start discussing this with your teacher now to get those dates on the calendar.

Please contact us at any time if you have questions about your class. Thank you so much for volunteering this Fall!

Attention Volunteers!

2009-10-19T10:04:00.003-05:00

Our First Class Visit and Class Completion Forms are currently being updated. Please email us to let us know you have begun or (finished, if you have already) your class. We will let you know as soon as the forms are completed - we apologize for any inconvenience.

Questions? Please contact Jenny at jsenter@jafortworth.org.

Thank you for your participation and support of Junior Achievement!

Steve Jobs Bigger Than Oprah??

2009-10-16T11:17:00.002-05:00

Well...that's what teens surveyed in the 2009 "Teens and Entrepreneurship" Survey say. This is the seventh year that Junior Achievement has conducted the "Teens and Entrepreneurship" poll, which attempts to gauge teens’ attitudes around business ownership. The survey was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation from August 20-24, 2009, and surveyed 1,000 U.S. teens ages 12-17 by telephone.

Click this link to check out the results - you may be surprised! http://www.ja.org/files/polls/Teens-Entrepreneurship-Part-2.pdf

Calling All Volunteers!

2009-10-14T13:43:00.010-05:00

With the fall semester in full swing, we are currently placing volunteers in classrooms throughout Tarrant, Parker, Johnson and Wise counties. We still have many opportunities available in our local elementary, middle and high schools. Listed below are the schools in which we have classrooms in need of a volunteer:

Available Elementary Classes:

Cannon Elementary (Grapevine Colleyville ISD)

Tarver-Rendon Elementary (Mansfield ISD)

Westcliff Elementary (Fort Worth ISD)

Washington Heights (Fort Worth ISD)

Webb Elementary (Arlington ISD)

Northbrook (Eagle Mountain/Saginaw ISD)

We have middle school classes available in several Fort Worth schools.

We have high school classes available in classrooms just west of Texas Motor Speedway.

Please help us impact as many students as possible in North Texas during the 2009-2010 school year! For more information please contact Laura Clingman at Lclingman@jafortworth.org.

Penn State Welcomes Junior Achievement!

2009-10-05T09:46:00.005-05:00

Randal Mays, President of JA of the Chisholm Trail, spent the week of September 14th at the Penn State Executive Education Center participating in Strategic Leadership in JA training. Randal and the other twenty participants were hand-selected by JA’s headquarters as leaders who will shape the future of the organization.

A major initiative of JA is to maintain its relevancy and cutting edge position in an ever changing education and social environment. The training for all the participants was paid for through a grant from the American Express Foundation.

NEW NATIONAL POLL: MORE THAN NINE-IN-TEN U.S. TEENS SAY ENTREPRENEURSHIP SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL

2009-10-05T09:20:00.007-05:00

More than half surveyed would like to start their own businesses

Colorado Springs, Colo. — The results of a new national poll released today by Junior Achievement indicate that an overwhelming majority of U.S. teens-92 percent of those surveyed-believe that entrepreneurial skills should be taught in college or earlier. The "Junior Achievement Teens and Entrepreneurship Poll" defined entrepreneurial skills as "taking the initiative and assuming risk to create value for the company or business, either as an owner of your own business or in your place of work."

To read this entire article, please visit:

http://www.ja.org/about/releases/about_newsitem546.asp

Golf Marathon - 100 Hole Shoot Out

2009-09-03T15:54:00.006-05:00

The second-annual 100 Hole Shoot Out will be held on Monday, October 26, 2009 at Shady Valley Golf Club. Each golfer sets out to play 100 holes of golf in one day! On course games and contests will add to the challenge. The goal is for each golfer to raise a minimum of $1,200 from family, friends and business associates. All golfers receive Nike golf apparel and other merchandise just for participating! Golfers raising $2,500 or more will receive a complimentary playing spot in JA's 'premier' Trinity Invitational Golf Tournament in May 2010. Are you up for the Challenge? Do you think you can play 100 holes of golf in one day??? Contact Lisa Cox for more information or sign up online.

Back to School Time!

2009-09-03T14:01:00.002-05:00

Hey volunteers! School is back in session (as we are sure you already know). That means it's time to get Junior Achievement programs up and running again. If you are interested in participating in JA this year, please let us know. We have many K-12 opportunities and you can choose the class you want to volunteer in.

For more information, please contact Jenny Senter at jsenter@jafortworth.org. We are looking forward to another great school year!

JA Welcomes Laura Clingman!

2009-08-24T09:51:00.003-05:00

Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail has a new face! Laura Clingman started at JA on August 3rd as an Education Manager and will be in charge of elementary classes. Laura graduated from TCU in the Spring of 2009 with a BS in Advertising and Public Relations and a Spanish and Latin American studies minor. Welcome to the team Laura!

Under the Bigtop! JA hosts 2009 Summer Fun Bowl

2009-08-20T14:41:00.007-05:00

Junior Achievement hosted the 2009 Summer Fun Bowl on Saturday, August 15th. This year over 750 bowlers participated in the event to raise money for JA! Many businesses across Tarrant county dressed up in their best circus gear and bowled "Under the Big Top."

A big thank you to everyone who participated to make this year's event a success! We appreciate you sharing your Saturday to help raise money to purchase JA program materials to help students in our area succeed.

To view pictures from the event, please go to http://picasaweb.google.com/jjjsenter/2009SummerFunBowl?feat=directlink

Attention volunteers!! School is almost out!

2009-05-29T15:14:00.006-05:00

The final day of school (for most districts) is Friday, June 5th, so everyone should be wrapping up their classes. Please don't forget to submit your Class Completion Form! To do this, go to http://www.jafortworth.org/ and click the "Class Completion Form" link on the left side of the page.

If you cannot access this form, please email the following information to us at jsenter@jafortworth.org:

Name:

School:

Teacher:

Total Lessons Completed:

Total Students:

Thank you so much for your participation in Junior Achievement and have a great summer!!!

New National Poll: Teens Likely To Be Out Of Work This Summer

2009-05-29T15:06:00.002-05:00

Only 22 percent had a job last summer, yet 74 percent hope to work this summer.

Colorado Springs, Colo. – According to a new national poll released today by Junior Achievement and Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), nearly three-quarters of teens surveyed (74 percent) either have or hope to get a summer job this year, despite the fact that fewer than one-in-four (22 percent) reported that they had a summer job last year. Teens could be pounding the pavement with little hope of finding summer employment-- last summer's job market was the most challenging since the Great Depression, according to a report from Northeastern University.

To read this entire news release, please visit: http://www.ja.org/about/releases/about_newsitem535.asp

Roanoke Elementary's own Debbie Merki named Principal of the Year!

2009-04-29T15:35:00.005-05:00

A HUGE congratulations goes out to Debbie Merki, principal at Roanoke Elementary, for being awarded the Communities in Schools Principal of the Year! Roanoke Elementary has had Junior Achievement programs for over 7 years in their Kindergarten - 5th grade classes. Sabre-Holdings provides volunteers to teach the JA program at Roanoke, many of which return each and every year.

A well-deserving award!! To view the official article, go to http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=4245

Job Shadow Day a "Huge Success!"

2009-04-22T13:45:00.007-05:00

On Thursday, April 9th, approximately 130 students from Colleyville, Cross Timbers and Heritage Middle Schools participated in Job Shadow Day. 43 business in Tarrant County hosted these students and showed them an up-close look at the world of work. Job Shadow invites students to see firsthand how the skills learned in school relate to the workplace.

Cross Timbers Middle School teacher Kate Burkhart said, "The day was a huge success!" Junior Achievement has teamed up with these schools for over 10 years now to provide 7th graders with the Job Shadow opportunity. Thank you to all of the businesses and hosts who dedicated their time to prepare our future workforce!

Pictured above with Judge Phil Sorrells from Tarrant County Criminal Court #10 is Farzan Surani, Conor Shepard and Sam Roberts from Cross Timbers Middle School. Judge Sorrells has participated in the Job Shadow program for the past 4 years.

Dallas Cowboy, Pat McQuistan visits JA Class!

2009-04-22T13:18:00.011-05:00

Mrs. Helms' 2nd grade class at Woodland Springs Elementary had a special visitor during one of their JA lessons this Spring! Pat McQuistan, Offensive Tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, assisted long time JA volunteer, Gregg Zody from BNSF Railway, with the "Our Community" program.

A HUGE thank you to Gregg for making this happen and to Pat for taking time out of his schedule to put some big smiles on some little faces!

Spring is in full swing!

2009-04-22T10:41:00.018-05:00

It's hard to believe May is just around the corner! We cannot thank everyone enough for participating in Junior Achievement this year. Together we are helping to build a stronger community.

Friendly Reminder for Volunteers

Don't forget to submit your Class Completion Form at www.jafortworth.org. If you cannot access this form, please contact Jenny at jhobson@jafortworth.org

We would love to hear how your class is going! Please send us your stories and comments!

Who's Teaching Your Kids About Managing Money?

2009-04-22T10:31:00.007-05:00

Fifty-six percent of teens believe the best source of useful information about financial matters is their parents or guardians. However, many parents hesitate to discuss money management with their children - they may feel awkward talking about money or are embarrassed about their own financial missteps.

Junior Achievement and The Allstate Foundation have created a new series of free, downloadable teaching tools to help parents talk to their children about smart money management.

Click here to view and download all 12 lessons!

Class Completion Forms

2008-12-12T14:08:00.003-06:00

Volunteers! Don't forget to fill out your Class Completion Form as soon as you can! Please have this in within 24 hours of finishing your class!

Thanks!

Stay tuned....

2008-12-12T14:07:00.002-06:00

A new JA of the Chisholm Trail website AND blog will be launched before Christmas! Stay tuned to www.jafortworth.org.

Economic Downturn Hasn't Dimmed Teens’ holiday season Consumer Confidence

2008-11-10T14:08:00.002-06:00

National Junior Achievement poll takes pulse to forecast teen spending on gifts.

Colorado Springs, Colo. – For retailers expecting lumps of coal in their cash registers this holiday season, teens’ consumer confidence about holiday spending may provide an unexpected gift. According to Junior Achievement’s 2008 Teen Holiday Spending poll, more than three quarters of teens surveyed (76 percent) plan to spend as much—or more—this year than last year on holiday gifts.

Are teens looking at the economy through rose-colored glasses, or has the impact of the current financial crisis not yet trickled down to their wallets? The results of the poll may reveal a disconnect between teens’ expectations and the reality that many families may have to curtail spending on gifts this year.

The 2008 Teen Holiday Spending Poll’s other key findings revealed that 47 percent of teens surveyed said they’d spend at least $100 on gifts, a four percent increase over last year. And, of those who said they’d spend at least some money on holiday gifts, 87 percent said they’d use their own money, 49 percent said they’d use money given to them by a parent, 19 percent said they’d use their parents’ debit or credit card, and 16 percent said they’d use their own debit or credit card (multiple responses were permitted).

Jack E. Kosakowski, president of Junior Achievement USA, noted, “Given the current state of the economy, the holiday shopping season provides an ideal opportunity for parents to talk to their children about appropriate budgeting and spending, so that they are staying within their financial means. Junior Achievement programs can also provide young people with practical financial tools so that they understand how to appropriately save, spend and invest."

Among teens who said they would spend less this year or not spend any money on gifts, 71 percent said they were trying to save money, 48 percent cited concern about the state of the U.S. economy, and 41 percent cited a change in their family’s financial circumstances (multiple responses were permitted).

The poll was conducted for Junior Achievement by Opinion Research Corporation the week of October 23, 2008, and queried 500 U.S. teens ages 12-17. This is the eighth year that Junior Achievement has conducted this poll. Last year, 78 percent of teens who took the poll (conducted in 2007 using an online survey tool) indicated they’d spend as much or more than the previous year on holiday gifts.

About Junior Achievement® (JA)
Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Today, 138 individual area operations reach more than four million students in the United States, with an additional five million students served by operations in 120 other countries worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ja.org/.

Cast your vote...

2008-10-29T14:40:00.002-05:00

And help JA of the Chisholm Trail win $20,000!!!

Hello, Junior Achievement supporters!

We need you to get out the vote for Junior Achievement in Wells Fargo's Someday Stories contest. With your help, Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail could win $20,000!Wells Fargo has selected five finalists in the Someday Stories contest. Through November 10, you can vote for a Someday Story finalist and for Junior Achievement!

It's easy:

Go online to the Wells Fargo Someday Stories site: http://wellsfargo.com/somedaycontest/ja.
Watch the short finalist videos and vote for your favorite story.
Select Junior Achievement as your favorite cause! Voting is limited to (1) vote per person and per valid email address.

Tell everyone you know, and ask your friends and family to vote, too!

Thanks for your support of JA!

VOLUNTEERS: DON'T FORGET!!!!

2008-10-24T15:44:00.007-05:00

Volunteers, don't forget to fill out the

FIRST CLASS VISIT FORM

after you teach your first class.

All classes must be started by Nov. 1.

Credit Unions join forces in program to educate students

2008-10-24T15:22:00.004-05:00

By Randal Mays
Special to the Business Press
Fall 2008 Private/Public School Guide

With an ever-changing and unpredictable economy, the need for financial literacy education is crucial to prepare our next generation leaders. Educators and policy makers all over the country are making efforts to increase the requirements for and access to financial literacy education in
public schools.

Community members and financial institutions also are joining forces to help prepare and guide students to make wise and informed financial decisions. During the past school year, local credit unions and Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail in Fort Worth joined in a unique effort to
increase community involvement in financial literacy education. JA is a youth development organization that provides hands-on classroom instruction focusing on work and college readiness, financial literacy and dropout prevention.

The Fort Worth Chapter of Credit Unions, the Texas Credit Union Foundation and JA created a pilot program through a first-of-its-kind collaboration that will be replicated across the state. There are 26 credit union chapters in Texas, and each has an emphasis on improving the financial literacy of students. Organizers developed the Fort Worth initiative to model how other
credit unions chapters can work together to achieve that goal.

Here’s how it worked: Through its membership, the Fort Worth Chapter of Credit Unions provided 30 volunteers to deliver JA programs to every kindergarten, first- and second-grader at Sam Rosen Elementary in Fort Worth Independent School District and Webb Elementary in
Arlington Independent School District. The member credit unions combined to provide $7,500 in funding, and the Texas Credit Union Foundation matched it to fully sponsor JA programs
at both schools.

Volunteers spent about an hour each for five weeks in classrooms teaching students how money is earned, used and saved. Students learned the importance of determining needs versus
wants in purchasing items, how money moves through the economy and the role of taxation. Students also learned important concepts and skills relating education to the workforce and how to make informed financial decisions.

The program launched this past spring and will be expanded this fall. By the time the pilot phase ends, more than 1,000 students at both schools will have benefited from this collaboration. The goal is to continue collaborating each year in order to reach every
student in both schools.

“With financial education as our key focus, we are proud to be a part of this groundbreaking partnership,” says Jill Pharr, executive director of the Texas Credit Union Foundation, a 501(c)3
charitable organization representing more than 500 credit unions in the state. The foundation promotes financial literacy with community and statewide grants for financial education
programs as well as partnerships with credit unions and other organizations to offer financial education to their communities and members.

“In the current economic climate, it makes great business sense both for credit unions and the foundation to bring the JA program to Texas students,” Pharr says. “More importantly, helping
to ensure that more young Texans have the knowledge and skills to build a better financial future for themselves and their families is a cause we all share.”

In April, the Fort Worth Chapter of Credit Unions won the Foundation’s prestigious FOCUS award recognizing its commitment and efforts to promote financial education throughout the
state. This is the third time the Fort Worth Chapter has been awarded this honor by the Texas Credit Union Foundation.

“Promoting financial literacy through the JA partnership lines up perfectly with the mission of credit unions to give back to our local communities,” says Cindy Baker, recently appointed
chair of JA’s Board of Directors. “As a credit union employee, and the board chair of JA, it is terrific to witness this level of partnership coming to fruition.”

JA’s programs prepare students for college and the workplace, provide financial literacy skills, develop future entrepreneurs and motivate students to stay in school. By emphasizing the need to prepare students to be future leaders and teaching them the skills they need to know today, we can be assured that the future of our country and economy will be in the hands of informed and educated leaders.

Randal Mays is president of Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail Inc., a youth development organization based in Fort Worth that serves children in Tarrant, Parker, Johnson, and Wise counties. For more information, visit http://www.jafortworth.org/.

Financial institutions give back to help kids prepare for future

2008-09-23T10:23:00.001-05:00

BY RANDAL MAYS
Fort Worth Business Press
April 21, 2008

For decades, financial institutions have been viewed as cornerstones of support throughout the community. Fort Worth and Tarrant County benefit from the generosity of its local banks, credit unions and other financial institutions, which provide money and a volunteer base to local organizations and community initiatives, such as Junior Achievement.

In 1977, Congress passed the Community Reinvestment Act, which encourages depository institutions to help meet the credit needs of the communities in which they operate, including low-and-moderate-income neighborhoods. Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail, partners with financial institutions and other local businesses to provide a means to reinvest in the community through financial literacy education and meet the CRA requirements.

This type of partnership truly makes a difference in the lives of children, thus the community. Studies show that individuals who do not understand the purpose of financial institutions or how to use their products and services are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to their personal finance management....

For the full article....click here.

Randal Mays is president of Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail Inc., a youth development organization based in Fort Worth that serves children in Tarrant, Parker, Johnson, and Wise counties. For more information, visit www.jafortworth.org.

High School Can Be Fun!!!

2008-09-15T15:32:00.007-05:00

For those of you thinking, "I'm not so sure about volunteering for a high school class", think again! JA has many high school programs that are game and activity-based, which means not only a fun 45 minutes a week for the students, but also a great time for you.

JA's newest high school program is JA Exploring Economics. Through seven 45-minute lessons, students will be given age-appropriate examples to learn how the economy works and how things like supply and demand and trade affect them on a daily basis. For example in the first lesson, students will be asked to plan a concert based on different economic systems...not your typical high school Economics lesson!

To check out what students and teachers think about JA Exploring Economics, just click play below!

JA has many high school volunteer opportunities this fall semester. For more information on how you can get in the classroom, contact Jenny Hobson at jhobson@jafortworth.org or (817) 731-0838 x 226.

Remember, the time you personally share with these students can help them realize their potential...and you may learn a little in the process!

New 5th Grade Program Information:

2008-09-05T14:39:00.003-05:00

This year we are launching a new and improved version of the JA Our Nation curriculum. Our Nation is Junior Achievement’s fifth-grade program that provides practical information about businesses’ need for individuals who can meet the demands of the job market, including high-growth, high-demand jobs. Students will learn that businesses need workers with skills that are in demand, such as STEM skills – science, technology, engineering and math. They’ll understand that people who have these skills benefit from a growing number of career opportunities.

Please note the important changes with the Our Nation curriculum before beginning the sessions. First, there are 6 sessions included in the Our Nation program. However, one session is listed as “supplemental.” If you teach the supplemental session, the program will last 6 weeks. If you do not, the program will last for only 5 weeks. Please be sure to teach EACH NUMBERED SESSION in order to ensure program completion.

Also, the content of the Our Nation program has changed. If you have taught this before please refer to the overview of each session at http://www.ja.org/. This is a completely new curriculum, and only the supplemental session is reflective of the old curriculum.

If you have any questions about the new Our Nation curriculum, please contact our office at 817-731-0837. We will be more than happy to discuss the program more fully.

Welcome!

2008-09-02T15:37:00.002-05:00

Welcome to “Off the Trail,” a blog for volunteers with updated information on training, programs, and education trends related to Junior Achievement. Please stop by for ideas on how to keep your JA class fresh and exciting. Also feel free to post any ideas or special stories from your volunteer experiences. For questions or comments about the blog, please contact Sheri Pape, Sr. Education & PR Manager at spape@jafortworth.org.

We hope this blog is a tool to keep you “in-the-know” as you educate our youth!

Sincerely,

The JA of the Chisholm Trail Staff