Chelsea Groton Bank Presents Three Local Teachers with Grants to Teach Financial Literacy

Groton, CT – Chelsea Groton Bank recently presented financial literacy education grants to three area teachers, for use in a Special Education classroom at Norwich Free Academy, in a Personal Finance class at Montville High School, and a Consumer Math class at Waterford Country Day School. 
 
All teachers receiving grants were trained to teach the FDIC Money Smart Program to their class. They administered pre- and post-program testing, taught six age-appropriate Money Smart Program lessons in class, and brought students to a bank branch as part of an educational field trip. Following the completion of these requirements, teachers were awarded the grants to use for financial educational programming with their classes.
 
“Since Chelsea Groton launched our Community Education program 12 years ago, we’ve spent a lot of time in the classrooms of area schools, educating students on budgeting, credit and other financial lessons,” said Pam Days-Luketich, AVP, Community Outreach Officer at Chelsea Groton Bank. “We developed the teacher grant program since we realized many teachers had great ideas for additional hands-on programming for students, but didn’t have a budget to make those plans a reality. We’re thrilled to be able to support the hardworking teachers in our community, and excited to provide students with hands-on learning experiences.”
 
Grants have been used for a range of activities, including the opening of a juice bar at one of the schools, where students learned to run a business, including the planning of the finances. Another grant was used to provide students with a set amount of money. The students had to plan a budget in order to make purchases with the allocated funds.
 
Christopher Zyrlis, a teacher at Montville High School and recipient of one of the grants said, “This grant gives our students an invaluable perspective by meeting banking professionals and engaging in hands-on learning experiences. Students have been able to learn first-hand the intricacies of the world of finance and the importance of how their own finances, even at a young age, impact the rest of their lives."
 
To learn more about these grants, and how to apply, contact Pam Days-Luketich at PDays-Luketich@chelseagroton.com or 860-572-4024. Decisions are made and grants are awarded on a rolling basis.

About Chelsea Groton Bank
Based in Groton, CT, Chelsea Groton Bank is a mutually owned bank with 14 locations throughout New London County and a Loan Production Office in Hartford County. The Bank has over $1 billion in assets and serves businesses, individuals and families throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island. To learn more, please visit chelseagroton.com. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.