On Friday, Oct. 21, 2016 all 520 students at Wilbraham Middle School took part in a JA in a Day event sponsored and organized by Luso Federal Credit Union.

Sixth grade students completed JA Global Marketplace, exploring the impact that the global economy has on their lives. In the seventh grade the students participated in a study sponsored by the Women’s Leadership Council, United Way of Pioneer Valley and were split into all girl or all boy classes. One returning volunteer noted “that in the all girl class, the girls were less “giggly” and more at ease making presentations.”  While one class of all boys commented that “it was a judgement free zone” and there were “not as many distractions.” The students completed JA It’s My Future where students explore potential careers, discover how to plan for a job, and learn how to keep it and develop their own personal-brand.

All 8th grade students completed JA Economics for Success, a program where students explore their skills, interests and values and learn how they could use those to choose a career and then how to manage money and balance a budget when they have career.

On November 22 for the first time ever all 5th-8th graders at Thornton Burgess Middle School in Hampden will participate in a JA in a Day event thanks to Luso Federal Credit Union.