Faces of the Valley: Plum’s fourth graders try their hand at investing and excel at writing poetry

Whether it’s crunchy cash or fresh grass covered in morning dew, 10-year-old Jet Bittner knows green.

Plum’s O’Brock Elementary School fourth graders recently placed first in Allegheny County and 10th overall in the state in the elementary division of the Stock Market Game. And he was one of several classmates whose poems were chosen to be published in a poetry anthology.

In an investment challenge sponsored by the Pennsylvania Financial Literacy Council, in which he worked with a fictitious $100,000, Jett gained between $4,000 and $5,000 near the end of the 10-week game. But it ended with a small loss of $99,369, according to Congressional spokesman Eric Attinger.

Jett’s poem, which she entered in a contest run by Creative Communications, was about the color green. In addition to grass, his poems stimulate the senses with images such as a cactus standing in the desert, the smell of pepper waiting to be eaten, the taste of a watermelon bursting with juice, and “the sound of leaves rustling in the wind.” . ”

But while Jett says he wants to make a living as an artist, he has no intention of merging the worlds of finance and art just yet.

“I didn’t put any money into my poems,” Jett said.

Jett is the son of Michelle and Michael Bittner. He has a younger sister, Marlo, who is 8 years old and in his third grade.

“I’m so proud of him. He never ceases to amaze me,” Michelle Bittner said. “He’s always so humble and kind and thinking about others. It’s great to see him succeed in things.”

Carolyn Shirk, vice president of the nonprofit Pennsylvania Financial Literacy Council, said the investment challenge is a simulation of reality with real-time stock prices.

“Learning to save and invest is very important for this generation of students. They can’t rely on Social Security,” she said. “We strongly believe in independence and want to help students become independent adults.”

Of the 4,841 students who participated in the statewide competition, only 132 competed in the elementary division, Attinger said. The contest ran from October 9th to December 15th.

Jett worked under the guidance of Brian Stevens, Obrock’s librarian and talented coordinator. Stevens said he was surprised that Jett was No. 1 in the county and excited that he was No. 10 in the state.

At the entry-level level, students typically choose popular companies they know, Stevens said. Mr. Jett bought stock in Home Depot, Apple, Amazon and Target, all of which performed well, with Apple being the best performer.

Jett said buying CVS stock wasn’t a good idea.

Finishing 10th in the state was a shock for the Jets.

“I was really surprised when Dr. Stevens told me I was 10th in the state. I was like, ‘What?’ “A week or two later, he told me I was in Allegheny County first,” he said. “I never thought I’d get this far.”

Jet will try again for better results.

“I had no idea what this was,” he said. “It was definitely a learning experience.”

Peggy Mankovich, Jett’s language and writing teacher, entered her students’ poems into a creative communication contest.

Jett’s poem will be included in the organization’s fall 2023 poetry collection, which will be published in June, said spokeswoman Kelsey Payne. Of the thousands of entries nationwide, only a little more than half are made public.

The top 10 winners of the fall contest will be announced at the end of March. Jett’s poem will be contested by students in grades 4 through 6. The top 10 winners will receive special recognition in their books, a $25 cash prize, and a free copy of the book containing their poems.

Jett is one of those rare students who is good at writing and math, Mankovich said.

“He really puts a lot of thought into what he writes,” she said. “He’s a very creative writer,” she said.

She said Jett did a great job with the poem and brought the color green to life.

“It was very descriptive and allowed the reader to imagine what was going on, and we were able to bring the greenery to life,” she said.