School Spotlight: Smith Elementary and SMART Goals

Smith Elementary Student-Run Credit Union, October 2002.  

The SMART Student-Run Credit Union Program is Back!

Community Financial’s award-winning Student-Run Credit Union program is back in full force again this school year! Our school partnerships have grown over the years, and we now partner with 48 schools in our neighboring communities. 

Our first partnership in the Plymouth-Canton Community School District was with Smith Elementary School in Plymouth in 1995. Here are some throwback photos of our partnership with Smith Elementary!

Smith Elementary student volunteers and teachers, October 2002.  

What is the Student-Run Credit Union? 
The Student-Run Credit Union is a program operated by Community Financial where students, ages kindergarten through high school, can save their money monthly at their school. Students practice money management skills and develop a sense of ownership with their finances at an early age. Fourth grade students at Smith, under the supervision of Community Financial staff, operate the Student-Run Credit Union. Each student volunteer is assigned a job and assists young members of all grades to save their money.

Smith Elementary Student-Run Credit Union Fall Volunteers

Student volunteers working hard recording deposits and writing receipts.

SMART Savings Goals 
Our Education Partnership Coordinators help to educate students beyond just saving their money. One program highlight is helping student members have a SMART goal. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.

Each student credit union member receives a goal sheet at the beginning of the year where they can track a specific savings goal throughout the school year. Here are some Smith student members receiving their goal sheets in October.

Your Turn: What types of SMART goals do you have? Tell us what you are saving for in a SMART way?