Dave Noodlez helps 5th Graders Launch Businesses partnering w/ Sundog Theatre & PS 5

Thirty-fifth graders recently took part in an amazing program called "Smart Money Kids," organized by Sundog Theatre and PS5 The Huguenot School

For 10 weeks there were after-school workshops by David Nudelman, who guided the students through creative and educational projects.

During the program, students worked in groups to learn about different aspects of running a business. Students created business plans, budgets, logos, elevator pitches, marketing plans, business cards, and commercials and worked alongside local businesses to create their products.

Stereotype Co, Jana Designs, and Ava Quinns were three of the local companies that created products for the students.

Founders of SMYLZ brand

The program ended with a "Grand Opening" event where our families and teachers came to support the student’s pop-up shops in the school

Gabriella Alessi, said, "Smart Money Kids is a wonderful program that has taught us how to manage money, budget, and save. We learned about the ups and downs of building a business. This program sets a strong foundation for us to develop smart money habits early on, so we can use these skills throughout our lives."

Sundog's Executive Director, Susan Fenley, added, "Through 'Smart Money Kids,' we not only learned about teamwork but also improved our skills in the arts and math. Sundog believes in combining different subjects with the arts, and this program allowed us to do just that. We gained valuable skills that will help us in our future careers and in life."

Kelsey said, "We learned how to create our own business through financial literacy, and it was a success! We had our own store, business cards, and products. We learned how to be organized and talk to customers. It was a fantastic experience."

Founders of Bee Bags

Eva shared, "The most surprising thing for me was how well we worked as a team. Despite the challenges, we created a great logo and business that people wanted to buy from. Even when things got tough, we pulled through and succeeded."

Christian added, "Learning about budgeting was really helpful. In the real world, it's important to stick to a budget. It's like having $100 and knowing you can't spend more than that. It teaches you to manage your money wisely and use any extra for other important things like taxes, groceries, and housing."

Dave went on social media to talk about his experience with the program.

Congrats to Sundog, PS5, students and Dave on a successful program!