EASTHAMPTON — High school teacher Digpal Singh Narang believes the best way to teach students about business is to have them create one.
That’s why students in his semester-long elective business course at Easthampton High School have spent this fall doing just that.
From a juice bar to a tutoring firm, an animal shelter to a new in-school store operated by seniors, Narang’s business class students spent part of Tuesday pitching business ideas they’ve developed this fall to city and school officials.
The goal, says Narang, is to create more jobs for high school students, especially during the summer months, and help the city attract more people. Otherwise, the school’s new business technology teacher says, “They (students) just sit around all summer and don’t have anything to do.”
This is the first year the school is offering the course, which Principal Kevin Burke said perfectly fits Narang’s hands-on approach to teaching.
Students separated into seven groups of three or four people and spent more than two months planning and researching their business ideas. On Tuesday, the groups consisting of freshmen through seniors, presented those ideas to Mayor Karen Cadieux, Superintendent Nancy Follansbee and Burke, all of whom provided feedback.
But the pitches won’t stop there. Throughout the week, students will present their business models to community members such as the head of the business department at Holyoke Community College and a local representative for Junior Achievement of Springfield.
One group of students presented an idea for a juice bar in Easthampton marketed toward teenagers.
“We want students to come to our juice bar to relax and enjoy themselves,” student Grace Raucher said.
Another group presented tutoring business run by students for students.
“We’ve been through the school system,” sophomore Sam Colenback said. “We know what they’re going through.”
This knowlege of curriculum, coupled with charging affordable prices and providing a group atmosphere with rewards such as candy are ideas the group hopes will lead to success.
“Students teaching students is a win-win,” Cadieux said.
Seniors Chris Hillenbrand, Nekysha Carter, Kassidy Clapper and Diamond Smith developed an idea for a school store. Unlike the current freshman-run store which sells supplies such as pencils and pens, the group came up with the idea of a senior-run store selling school merchandise. Leadership of the store would be passed down each year to the next senior class.
“I think this is a great idea,” Follensbee said.
Freshman Gabby Benoit and seniors Jayna Hanlon and Kiara Kelley presented their idea “E.A.S.T.,” or Easthampton Animal Safe Team, a business geared toward providing a home for stray animals. Kelley said the group researched the issue and found the city doesn’t have an animal shelter.
“It is a problem,” she said of stray animals. “There’s not enough funds for animal shelters.”
Kelley said the group also reached out to the Easthampton Police Department. As well as finding homes for animals that are found on the street, their business would help overpopulated shelters outside the city, they said.
“What a compassionate thing to do,” Cadieux said.
Using the feedback by community members throughout the week, students will plan the next steps in their businesses and create a 30-second pitch for possible investors. Narang said some groups will look into obtaining a business license.
“Four teams want to launch their ideas by next summer,” he said.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.