School News

Secret Shop

Excitement is building in 3rd grade as Secret Shop, a beloved tradition at Lowell, opens next week! Soon the shop will overflow with Primary School patrons ready to spend up to $5.00 on gifts for loved ones. On Monday, December 4, 3rd graders will open the shop and assume roles such as gift wrappers and personal shoppers, guiding customers towards perfect purchases for their loved ones. These positions require students to hone their social and leadership skills, which are crucial to the Shop's success. But, providing an enjoyable experience for student shoppers is only half their task.

The other half is learning to handle money. The toughest job in the shop is cashier. Teachers help students build this real-life skill through math games using dice marked with dollar amounts under $5.00. Third graders pair off, taking turns playing the role of the customer or the cashier. After the customer rolls the dice four times, the cashier totals the amounts from the four rolls to practice adding up purchases and factoring change. If the total is under $5.00, the cashier must then calculate the change the customer should receive. If the total is over $5.00, the cashier must deliver the grim news that the customer needs to exchange an item.

Secret Shop not only offers valuable learning experiences for the 3rd graders but also empowers them to serve their communities—those in school and beyond—a kind reminder for us all to seek opportunities to be in service to others. Once the shop closes, classes will research and choose a local charity to receive the proceeds from the shop. Guiding the process, teachers will ask: What is important to you? Where do you want to see the money going? The project wraps up later this month with 3rd graders writing letters and sending the Shop proceeds to the organizations they have chosen.

Secret Shop is a truly a school-wide effort. The Lowell Parent Community supports the running of the Secret Shop by promoting the sale and managing the inventory. They collect, sort, and display all of the nearly new or lightly used items that are donated by families from every division of the school. The parent co-chairs and volunteers, the teachers, and all of the families who donate items are vital to making this experience a success for both the 3rd graders and their eager customers.
Lowell School is a private PK-8th grade school located in NW Washington, DC. Our mission is to create an inclusive community of lifelong learners in which each individual is valued and respected.