Thursday, March 25, 2010
Good Things Are Happening
JUNIOR ATB AT DALY GROVE SCHOOL AN ALBERTA FIRST
A pioneering partnership between Edmonton's Daly Grove Elementary School and ATB Financial sees students learn financial literacy, leadership skills and the power of saving money in a real working bank "branch" staffed by the children themselves.
Since opening its doors in November 2009, Daly Grove's Junior ATB branch has attracted 53 student customers, 19 of whom double as staffers ranging from teller to branch greeter. Six other students flex their leadership skills as Board Members charged with overseeing the branch's total operations.
Every two weeks over lunch break, customers can deposit money in the branch - a specially designed classroom outfitted with student-created marketing material and stations for typical banking positions such as tellers. If needed, ATB associates are on hand to help staffers collect and track students' deposits, which have grown to more than $1,500 in the first few weeks of operation.
Daly Grove principal Sheila Nash says Junior ATB - the first program of its kind in Alberta - is a welcome addition to the school. Students and teachers have embraced the program with open arms. "This is a wonderful hands-on program where students learn about money management, improve math skills and acquire real life work skills," said Nash, who unveiled the club to the general public on Thursday, March 25. "I am so pleased that all students have the opportunity to become involved in this unique and innovative club that supports our learning goals."
Kim Irving, ATB's Vice President Edmonton Region, said Daly Grove is the ideal home for the financial institution's first-ever Junior ATB partnership. It has since started a second Junior ATB at Holy Spirit Elementary in Sherwood Park.
"Sheila Nash and Daly Grove are wonderful partners because of their appetite for innovation, their community presence, their focus on numeracy and math skills, and their immediate recognition of the potential of a program that encourages great financial habits among children," Irving said. "The branch's marketing slogan - 'It starts with a dream' - really says it all. We're thrilled with how it's gone!"
"Our District is proud to partner with ATB Financial to help our students acquire valuable skills and knowledge in a very unique learning environment," says Edgar Schmidt, Superintendent of Schools. "We firmly believe in building collaborations with organizations such as ATB Financial because we deeply appreciate the great impact these partnerships have on the success of our students."
ATB hopes to partner in the coming months with other Alberta schools interested in the Junior ATB program.
About Daly Grove Elementary: Daly Grove School, located in Edmonton's southside was opened in 1989 and is named after Thomas Daly, an early pioneer settler. Daly Grove School's motto, "Working, learning, growing... together", captures the school's core beliefs and values. Visit the school's website at: http://dalygrove.epsb.ca/
About Edmonton Public Schools: In over 200 locations throughout the city, Edmonton Public Schools is helping to shape the future. We're focused on giving our 80,000 students the skills, knowledge and abilities they need to become the leaders, decision-makers and visionaries of tomorrow. We want to give every student the best possible opportunity to succeed in school and excel in life. Our work relies in large part on our relationships with community partners - amazing work that's being done in co-operation with parents, business, industry and community agencies to assist teachers and students. Our District is proud to have over 125 formal and informal educational partnerships. Visit www.epsb.ca for more information.
About ATB Financial: ATB Financial is the largest Alberta-based financial institution, with assets of $26.2 billion. It provides Personal and Business Financial Services, Investor Services, and Corporate Financial Services to more than 690,000 Albertans in 243 communities. It provides service through 165 branches and 131 agencies, telephone and Internet banking, a Customer Contact Centre, and Automated Banking Machines. ATB Financial was established in 1938 and has been a provincial Crown corporation since 1997. ATB has also been named one of Canada's 50 Best Employers by Report on Business Magazine, one of the 75 Best Workplaces in Canada by the Great Place to Work Institute, and one of Canada's Top 100 Employers and Alberta's Top 50 Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc.
For more information:
Shawn Ohler
Director of External and Media Relations
ATB Financial
780-913-8905 (cell); 780-408-6529 (office)
e-mail: sohler@atb.com
Sheila Nash
Principal, Daly Grove School
Edmonton Public Schools
780-450-1532
e-mail: Sheila.Nash@epsb.ca
Edmonton Public Schools is helping to shape the future in every one of our classrooms. We’re focused on ensuring each student learns to their full potential and develops the ability, passion and imagination to pursue their dreams and contribute to their community.
Edmonton Public Schools
Centre for Education
1 Kingsway NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5H 4G9