Page 18 - TTWIBacktoSchool2025

STEM/Finance
Page 18 Electronic Edition: www .teachingtodaywi .com

Reality Day at DeForest Area Schools

necessities while making
choices about what additional
products and services to pur-
chase.
How does the program
impact students?
As a result of Reality
Day, students:
• Learn why financial
planning skills, goal
setting, and decision-
making are so important
to their futures.
• Learn the relevance of
what has been taught in school, and the initial each student’s checklist to verify
impact financial literacy has on their their visit) where purchases may be
lives. required or optional
• Examine their attitudes and under- • As students approach each station, vol-
standing about career choices, earning unteers answer questions and help them
potential, job satisfaction, and the role of make wise decisions based on their “life
those concepts in attaining a quality of status”
life. • There is an SOS station for those stu-
DeForest Area School District their application to determine an occupation • Interact with DeForest area business dents who need additional assistance.
and “life status.” Local businesses provide (All students’ goal: to leave the Reality
What is Reality Day? real-life product, service, and cost information people, community members, teachers, Day event with $0-$200 left in their
It is a fun, interactive financial literacy and staff the reality day “stations” (housing, support staff, and administrators. checking account)
simulation for all high school juniors to learn groceries, debit/savings accounts, etc.). • Work with other students, school staff, • “Fate Cards,” “Police Tickets,” and
the “realities” of life after high school or Students are assigned a future occupa- and the business community in an “Health Alerts” randomly present cir-
college. tion and “life status” (with a personal financial action-oriented setting that has the power cumstances for students to deal with
profile) based on their career area of interest to change student perceptions about their For more information Contact Austin
How does it work? and the completion of their application form. future.
All 11th-grade students will complete a The Reality Day career and life status assumes Hofer, CTE Coordinator, at (608) 842-6619
career cluster survey and identify a potential an age range from 28 to 30 years old. Quick overview of the process:
occupational area they may be interested in Students navigate through the Reality • Students use a checklist to document
pursuing in their future. After completing an Day stations and manage their personal finan- their station visits and purchases www.deforest.k12.wi.us
application form, business people evaluate cial resources to pay for one month of life’s • Students visit every station (volunteers

Bellin College Healthcare Academy Accounting Careers:

Continued from Page 17 A Comprehensive Overview
a win-win, providing benefits to both the stu-
dents and their employers. Accounting is a dynamic field with • Forensic accountants: Investigate
“The students are very productive diverse career paths for individuals with financial crimes like fraud, embezzle-
employees,” Snowberry shares of the feed- a strong aptitude for numbers, analytical ment, and money laundering. They
back he and other L-C administrators have thinking, and a commitment to accuracy and use their expertise to analyze finan-
received. “They want to learn, and they also ethical conduct. cial documents and provide litigation
want to do a really good job in the field they support.
are in. The organizations who have employed Types of accounting roles
our students have been very happy.” • Public accountants: Work for account- Specific job titles
Bellin College also collaborates with area ing firms providing services to various The following are some common
clinical agencies to enable students to shadow clients. Their work typically includes accounting career titles:
apply and interview for healthcare-related auditing, tax preparation, and consult- • Accountant
internship opportunities through the district’s professionals in different healthcare fields, in ing.
youth-apprenticeship program, securing high- addition to providing many career-focused • Auditor
level practical experience. exposure events each year. • Corporate accountants: Manage the • Bookkeeper
According to Jolyn Helgeson, youth It just goes to prove that Luxemburg- finances of a specific company. Their • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
apprenticeship coach based in LCHS, stu- Casco students not only can dream of playing responsibilities include maintaining • Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
dents this year have filled positions including doctor or nurse, they can start on a path to financial records, preparing financial • Controller
nursing assistant, Certified Nursing Assistant doing it through participation in the Bellin statements, and ensuring compliance • Financial Analyst
(CNA), surgical CNA, occupational assistant College Healthcare Academy. with regulations.
and resident aide. Their roles are at healthcare • Government accountants: Work for • Forensic Accountant
and therapy facilities, along with senior- and government agencies, focusing on • Senior Accountant
assisted-living facilities. www.luxcasco.k12.wi.us areas like budget analysis and financial
The YA work experience in healthcare is reporting in the public sector.