Top Five Ways for Kids to Save $$$ For College!

#5 Make smart purchases

The best way to save money is to not spend money!  When you find something you really want to buy, wait 48 hours before you buy it to see if you change your mind.

#4 Always save 10%

Take 10% of any money you earn or get as a present and put it away.  You’ll be amazed at how that money will grow when you know you won’t be spending it!

                         #3 Write it down!

If you’re really trying to save money, whether it be for college or something else, write down what you buy.  This will help you to see where you are spending money and if you can make any changes.

#2 Start a change jar

A simple way to turn all that change into some cash!  Keep a jar in your room or house and add any coins you find to it.  You’ll be surprised at how much it will be worth after only a little while of doing this.

#1 Open a bank account

This is a great place to put away the 10% you are saving.  It will help develop good future money habits if you get used to handling your money through a bank.

This Summer, I Went to College!!

     “My favorite part of the Helena College camp was when we went rafting for two hours!” said Kenzie Wallace, who went to the “Preserving the Planet” camp at Carroll College this summer.

     This year’s 7th-9th graders were eligible to attend these free camps. 

     All students who applied were accepted into a camp, and a total of eleven students from Troy attended.

     The purpose of these free camps is to allow students to see what life is like at college while learning about a variety of topics and of course having a lot of fun!

“I didn’t think it would be that fun.  I really liked the nice people there,” Hunter Leighty said.  He also attended the Carroll College camp.

     “I learned about criminology in Glendive.  Also, their food was awesome!” said Tristyn Winebark, who attended the GEARing UP for College camp at Dawson Community College.

The parents of the students who attended also showed enthusiasm for the effects of the camp.  Parents reported that their son/daughter is more interested in college, met new friends from across Montana, and experienced what it is like to be away from home.

     Information about next year’s summer camps will be available in March 2014. If you have any questions about the summer camps, please contact Sarah Davis at the school.

GEAR UP Programs and Activities for the 13-14 School Year

· The hiring of Donna White, our new Student Intervention Coordinator, who will be working with students, parents, and teachers to increase academic achievement

· 20 New Google Chromebook   Laptops

· 25 New Graphing Calculators to be used in Algebra I

· ALEKS online math program for use by 9th graders

· National Geographic Bee

· After school tutoring and snacks two days per week

· Monthly donut parties for students

· Monthly GEAR UP newsletter mailed home to all 7th-9th grade parents

· Planners for all GEAR UP students

· Financial Aid Training for students

· 7th Grade College Visit to Flathead Valley Community College

· 8th Grade College Visit to North Idaho College

· 9th Grade College Visit to University of Montana-Missoula

· 7th, 8th, and 9th grade STEM field  trips

· Parent Information Meetings

What is GEAR UP?

The goal of GEAR UP is to get the 7th-9th grade students thinking about career options, where they want to go to college, how to pay for it, and how to do well in school now to make sure they get there!

GEAR UP is a federal grant that helps 18 schools across Montana make sure that their students are thinking about college and careers from an early age.
In the past two years that GEAR UP has been in Troy, it has provided field trips to colleges and the Spokane Science Center, the EXPLORE test ( a preparation for the ACT), career speakers, the college fair and college student panel, the career fair, textbooks for classes on career development and study skills, and much more!

If you would like to learn more about GEAR UP and its role in your 7th-9th grade son/daughter’s life, please be sure to attend the parent information session during Parent Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, October 1st.  A reminder of this meeting will be advertised on Facebook and emailed to parents.