VTHS students open school store

VERNON — In full-fledged entrepreneurial spirit, Vernon business students burst open the doors of the new School Store at Vernon Township High School to welcome throngs of prospective customers across its threshold.
Once inside, visitors meandered around merchandise displays and eyed the racks of tech gadgets hanging from the freshly-painted walls. Others, meanwhile, aimed for the high-top tables that beckoned from the opposite end of the store, where they could unwind under soft lights and enjoy the café-like ambience of the space.
And just like that, Vernon Township High School’s new retail store became an instantaneous hit.
The Grand Opening of the VTHS School Store took place in the late afternoon of Nov. 1, with a ceremonious ribbon-cutting event and evening reception, catered by the high school’s own culinary students. The proud student business owners mingled with guests, while dining on elegantly dressed salads and hearty pasta dishes prepared by their entrepreneurial peers.
Vernon’s new school store is, in itself, proof of the rewards brought on by collaborative efforts. The modern-day shop is run by two student groups within Vernon Township High School who have formed a business-minded partnership: students enrolled in the Developing Independent Life Skills course and the newly-formed Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). Emulating a traditional enterprise, the VTHS School Store stands as a product of the high school students’ creative ideas, unique skill sets and strategic planning. Thanks to their collective contributions, Vernon’s school store is now in full operation and promises a profitable return on the students’ hard-earned investment.
Located adjacent to the school cafeteria, the new VTHS School Store opens its doors to students, faculty and staff throughout the day and is additionally available for public access during after-school and evening school events. Students follow a rotational schedule to take turns managing the store, in order to ensure a seamless transition of business ownership between shifts.
Guided by Business teacher Dominick LoPresti and consumer science faculty member Jennifer Fowler, the young entrepreneurs practice their skills in retail sales and business management, within both the classroom and the VTHS School Store. LoPresti marvels at the students’ dedication and eagerness to succeed, noting that, together, the FBLS and DILS students create “the engine that allows the store to run.”
Realizing that store management requires more than just a smiling face, the high school business students are learning the ropes of the industry in a real-life environment. Granting what other simulation models cannot afford, the VTHS School Store enables students to conduct business at a legitimate point-of-sale location, while under the safe watch of their instructors. Here, students are taught a variety of business ownership skills, such as how to use the cash register, tag merchandise, track stock inventory, and maintain a clean and welcoming environment. Teachers Fowler and LoPresti say that the students’ cooperative teamwork has “strengthened the bonds that our members share with each other and their ability to communicate more effectively.”
The impressive work ethic of the students is evident upon walking into the trendy, yet warmly inviting VTHS School Store. LoPresti and Fowler admire their students’ drive and enthusiasm, and equally admire the positive response of the local community. Along with in-kind contributions from generous residents in the area, the school store has stocked its shelves with items supplied by Vernon teachers, faculty and administration.
Along with many others, Vernon Superintendent Art DiBenedetto has repeatedly donated various items to the VTHS School Store, to enrich the prosperous future of this “blue-and-gold”-chip business.