Dollar Bank Educational Banking Program Comes to Penn Hills Elementary School
This January, Dollar Bank brought its Educational Banking Program to Penn Hills Elementary School (PHES), engaging with approximately 235 fifth-grade students, across nine homerooms, with their Career Choices presentations.
This visit marked the first collaboration between Dollar Bank and PHES. Before the visit, Dollar Bank shared an overview of their lessons with the district's administrators. Choosing from the different lessons, they selected the Career Choices presentation for its strong alignment with the district's Career Readiness Standards.
During the session, students explored career possibilities by identifying their interests and participating in interactive activities. For example, they were shown how specific skills and interests—such as being good at math—could lead to careers like financial analysts or statisticians.
The lesson also included a "Hedbanz" game where students guessed different careers by asking their partners yes-or-no questions. A handout helped students connect their interests to potential job paths, encouraging them to think critically about their future goals. At the end of the session, each student received a Dollar Bank piggy bank.
Jessica Fentress, Braddock Hills Branch Manager, expressed her enthusiasm for future partnerships with the district. "We would love to work with the school more going forward and potentially introduce more lessons," she shared.
While this session focused on fifth graders, Dollar Bank's presentations can be adapted for other grade levels. Their programs include financial literacy topics like Needs vs. Wants, Saving Money, and Setting Goals, catering to learners from kindergarten through adulthood.
Thank you to Dollar Bank for helping our fifth graders begin thinking about their futures and introducing them to valuable resources for career readiness and financial literacy. Your support is greatly appreciated!