Cardinal
Credit Union
St. Isidore Catholic
School made a commitment to develop a curriculum that would introduce
students on the elementary school level to practical hands-on training in
business and financial literacy. We formed a partnership with LA DOTD
Federal Credit Union to open an in-school branch at our school. The
curriculum for the in-school branch was designed to meet several
objectives. Students participating in this project will: have hands-on
experience in a financial setting, acquire knowledge regarding financial
products and services, learn to save by setting realistic savings goals,
develop current math, computer and social skills through experiences
learned while working as a volunteer in the school credit union branch,
gain life-long employment skills, and recognize key economic terms
including: consumers, income, goods, services, producers, employment, and
marketing.
In the spring of the
2006-2007 school year, fifth and sixth grade students at St. Isidore were
taught a series of lessons on resume writing and job interviewing skills.
Students were then graded on the personal resume they wrote along with how
they conducted themselves during a mock job interview with a staff member of
the Human Resources department of LA DOTD Federal Credit Union. Students
even wore proper interviewing attire the day of their interview which was
also videotaped.
The fifth grade students
were encouraged to apply for positions at the in-school Credit Union
branch. Eligibility requirements included having a 2.5 grade point average
and nothing less than a C in any area, and a 94 or above conduct grade. If
students met these requirements, their resume and recorded interview scores
were reviewed, and a joint recommendation was made by the teachers at St.
Isidore and LA DOTD Federal Credit Union staff. In an effort to give
students sole ownership of this project, LA DOTD Federal Credit Union hosted
a contest to name the Credit Union branch and create a logo.
The
new staff of the in-school Credit Union, along with the name and logo was
announced at a ground breaking ceremony held at St. Isidore where every
student was issued by LA DOTD
Federal Credit Union a
t-shirt promoting the name and logo of their in-school branch. These
t-shirts will also be worn once a month next school year on “Credit Union
Day.”
In preparation for the
opening of Cardinal Credit Union in the fall of the 2007-2008 school year,
ten students which will be operating the in-school branch were trained. At
these trainings, students learned: Credit Union’s Code of Ethics, rules on
confidentiality, counting money, filing deposit slips, accountability, check
writing and verification, cash-handling procedures, professionalism, member
services, and how to make live transactions using our computer systems.
To kick off Cardinal
Credit Union, the first in-school Credit Union branch in an elementary
school in Louisiana, a ribbon cutting ceremony at the beginning of the
2006-2007 school year was held by LA DOTD Federal Credit Union to recognize
the student employees and provide them with certificates of completion from
their required trainings. The grand opening date was announced and former
and new students at St. Isidore were encouraged to save and open accounts at
Cardinal Credit Union. Administration and faculty at St. Isidore were also
recognized by LA DOTD Federal Credit Union for being first to incorporate in
their curriculum teaching students how a financial institution functions
along with important money management topics such as financial goal setting
and the employment skills needed for career exploration.
At Cardinal Credit
Union’s “Grand Opening,” the student employees balanced their drawer, and
the students at St. Isidore deposited almost $700.
