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Something for Everyone at Roxbury’s TREP$ Marketplace

TREP$ Spring Marketplace Flyer

Something for Everyone at Roxbury’s TREP$ Marketplace

ROXBURY, NJ (April 19, 2024) – The four elementary schools in Roxbury Township are excited to announce their spring TREP$ Marketplace on Wednesday, May 1st from 6:30-7:45 p.m. at Franklin Elementary School located at 8 Meeker Street in Succasunna.

The TREP$ Marketplace is a unique flea-market style event in that all of the vendors are fourth-graders from Franklin, Jefferson, Kennedy, and Nixon Schools. Over the past six weeks, more than 30 students from the four schools have been participating in the award-winning TREP$ program (www.trepsed.com) where they have learned the basics of entrepreneurship.

“TREP$,” short for enTREPreneurS, teaches kids what they need to know to launch their own businesses, and then hosts a TREP$ Marketplace, where the kids actually sell their products cash and carry to their friends, family, and community. On May 1st, they will put all that they have learned to the test as they launch their own businesses for the evening. All of the items these students have made will be available for purchase to all cash-carrying members of the public. There will be something for everyone: young, old, or even the household pet!

“Fourth graders at Franklin, Jefferson, Kennedy, and Nixon Schools have been getting ready to show the world that passion, determination, and hard work have their rewards. Please stop by to browse, buy, or just offer encouragement to these amazing entrepreneurs,” said Roxbury TREP$ instructors, Marcia Cordeiro, Joanne Saul, Erin Neumann, and Courtney Meaney.

Sponsored by the Roxbury Community School, the initiative is designed to serve as an inspiration for young people to think creatively and to put their ideas into action by creating a new business. This program would not have been made possible without the partial funding from Sustainable Jersey for Schools and the NJEA.

Each of the four elementary schools was awarded a $2,000 grant from SJFS and the NJEA back in February 2019 for its proposals entitled, Roxbury Inspires Sustainable Entrepreneurs (R.I.S.E.), a sustainable business enrichment program for students.

Forward-thinking schools like in Roxbury have chosen to offer their students true project-based learning experiences, like TREP$, that give children the opportunity to build their communication skills, practice informed decision-making, use their creativity and problem solving, and work on their understanding of money. “Part of the beauty of TREP$ is that the kids are so engaged in starting their own businesses, they don’t even realize the lessons they are learning,” commented Hayley Romano, co-founder of TREP$. “Regardless of the career path each chooses, the ability to think like an entrepreneur will serve them well.”

The community is invited to participate in this event with these young entrepreneurs. Come hear their sales pitches and check out the projects they made to sell. Those who attend will enjoy a unique and exciting shopping event and meet some of tomorrow’s leaders. Don’t forget though, this is a cash only event, so bring the green!

PHOTO ATTACHED (courtesy of Roxbury Schools)

  • TREPS Marketplace Flyer v1
  • TREPS Marketplace Flyer v2

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About Sustainable Jersey for Schools

Sustainable Jersey for Schools is a certificate program for public schools in New Jersey. It was launched by Sustainable Jersey, an organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support and reward municipalities and schools as they pursue sustainability programs. To date, 325 school districts and 840 schools are participating in the program. Sustainable Jersey for Schools has awarded over $1.7 million in grants to schools and school districts. In 2019, Sustainable Jersey is celebrating its 10th Anniversary with a year-long campaign that will include special events to educate and engage the Sustainable Jersey community and create a vision for the future.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools is underwritten by the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Program, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA). The 2019 Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants program is underwritten by the PSEG Foundation, NJEA, and the Gardinier Environmental Fund.  Platinum and founding sponsors are South Jersey Gas and New Jersey Natural Gas. The gold and founding sponsor is NJM Insurance Group. The silver sponsor is Investors Bank. The bronze sponsors are BioShine, Gabel Association, Maschio’s Food Service Inc., and Schneider Electric.

Program partners include: NJSBA, NJEA, New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA), New Jersey Association of School Business Officials (NJASBO), New Jersey Parent Teacher Association (NJPTA), New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA), New Jersey Buildings and Grounds Association (NJSBGA), and The Sustainability Institute at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ).

About the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA)

NJEA is the state’s largest association of education professionals, representing over 200,000 elementary and secondary teachers, administrators, higher education faculty, educational support professionals, retirees, and students preparing to become teachers. To learn more about NJEA, visit www.NJEA.org.