Sparkle and Shine Car Wash
It’s hot out. You are a very busy person and your car is dirty. Wouldn’t it be great if you could buy a “magic ticket” and have your car shiny and clean at the end of your workday without having to go anywhere or do anything? Well, that “magic ticket” is not a fantasy, it’s real. And it’s the result of the hard work of the Ulster BOCES Special Education students in the Junior Achievement program at Highland High School.

The objective of the program is to introduce secondary students to the world of business and to give them an opportunity to develop skills needed to succeed. “Sparkle and Shine” is a car wash enterprise with an elected president and vice president, operational divisions, and a service to offer. It is the result of months of hard work in the Career and Development classes.

Students aren’t just washing cars; they are learning valuable business skills and more. They designed the logo for “Sparkle and Shine” and created advertisements for the service. They solicited customers and promoted the business themselves. They even maintain business records and deal with human resources issues.

Several of the New York State Career Development and Occupational Skills (CDOS) Learning Standards are supported by this exercise. Standard 1 requires that “Students be knowledgeable about the world of work, explore career options, and relate personal skills, aptitudes, and abilities to future career decisions.” Standards 2 and 3 demand that students develop skills and competencies that are essential for success in the workplace and other settings.

With their hands all wet from the soapy water, it may be hard for these students to realize the full learning experience that they are undergoing simply by washing someone’s car.