THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 29, 1995 TAG: 9510270216
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Everybody at Independence Middle School knows the secret behind the success of a group of 60 enterprising eighth-graders.
The sweet scent that lingered in the elective hall was a dead giveaway for the cookie-baking entrepreneurship that kept three teen living classes busy in the kitchens for three weeks. The students baked and sold chocolate chip cookie bouquets to raise money for the department.
``I think the smell is in the walls,'' said Lynn Burton, who team-taught the unit with Janet Pugh. ``We still have people knocking at our door asking for more cookies.''
The students made a profit of $200, which will help redecorate the classroom's living room and purchase supplies for the four kitchens.
Pugh started the cookie business with a handful of students last year, but decided to expand it and include more participants because of all the work involved. Twelve jobs, including positions in management, marketing, sales and production, were assigned to students.
Students had to be interviewed by guidance and eighth-grade core teachers, but were prepared after speech teacher Mary Clayton gave the group a two-day lesson on interviewing.
``We're trying to emphasize the importance of dressing for an interview and the proper techniques,'' Pugh said. ``We want them to learn everything that's important for the real world of work.''
Students baked the cookies from scratch, stuck them with skewers, wrapped them in cellophane and tied them with pastel-colored ribbons. They advertised and took orders for bouquets, which sold for $2, as well as single cookies, which went for 75 cents.
Managers and assistant managers evaluated performances to make sure everyone was doing his or her job correctly.
But operating a business wasn't that cut and dry for students. Many learned lessons the hard way.
Amber Ward, 13, cut her right arm on the cutting edge of an aluminum foil box and had to get two stitches next to her elbow.
While forgetting to add sugar to the mixture posed a problem for 13-year-old Matt Williams, baking was a challenge for Josh Howell, 13, when he burned a batch of cookies.
Cory Petty, 13, got covered with flour once, and 14-year-old John Schultz lived with green hands for a week after dyeing skewers with food coloring.
Besides the mishaps, a little sampling here and there, and a pizza party to celebrate their accomplishments, the students also walked away from the experience with a little more knowledge about the world of work.
``Now I know why my mom quit the restaurant business after 25 years,'' said Brian Sullivan, 13. ``It was very stressful and frustrating.''
Students will see the rewards of their work soon. If everything goes as planned, the furniture should be re-upholstered by Christmas. An interior designer has already visited the school, and students picked out fabrics for the makeover.
The teachers hope to repeat the entrepreneurship project in the spring.
``Some days were better than others, but overall, we enjoyed it and we had fun,'' Burton said. ``It was important, too, because it opened the students' eyes to some things they need to know for the future.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by HOLLY WESTER
ABOVE: Tisha Thurber, a manager in the cookie operation at
Independence Middle School, evaluates two of the latest samples.
LEFT: Matt Williams, left, and Josh Howell, in production, have had
their share of kitchen mishaps while baking cookies.
Photo by HOLLY WESTER
``I think the smell is in the walls,'' said Lynn Burton, left, who
team-taught the baking entrepreneurship with Janet Pugh. ``We still
have people knocking at our door asking for more cookies.''
by CNB