FORT LORAMIE — The sixth grade class at Fort Loramie Elementary School made some big spending, savings and budgeting decisions when local financial professionals visited their class recently.

Smart money management are the lessons of FETCH!, a financial literacy program presented to teacher Lori Albers’ math classes. FETCH!, which stands for Financial Education Teaches Children Healthy Habits, is a classroom board game that teaches students financial basics. The game is set in a dog park, where student teams manage the finances of owning a pet. With each turn, the teams use critical math and thinking skills to earn money for basics like a leash and a collar, budget for unplanned expenses of their fictional pet and save money for the future.

“FETCH! Teaches younger children important financial management concepts so they are better prepared when they have to make financial decisions on their own,” said Coordinator Sandy Hoehne. “The game brings financial lessons to life in a meaningful and fun way that kids understand. FETCH! helps children grasp that the responsibility of owing a pet extends beyond just walking and feeding it-you also have to pay for it.”

The winning team for the first session was “Gizmo”, comprised of students Gavin Kemper, Jacob Pleiman, Luke Regula, Quinn Sholtis and McKenna Homan. The winning team for the second session was “Brownie”, comprised of students Ava Sholtis, Lauren Bergman, Sierra Henning and Trey Ranly. The winning team for the third session was “Daisy”, comprised of students Isaiah Burnside, Elizabeth Shatto, Clint Hilgefort and Khole Rhoades.

The Fort Loramie program was presented by Josh Kremer and Sandy Hoehne from Osgood State Bank in Fort Loramie, and Randy Hoehne from Mutual Federal Savings Bank in Sidney. The morning program concluded with a pizza party lunch, sponsored by Osgood State Bank and Mutual Federal Savings Bank. The Ohio CPA Foundation provides all classroom materials as part of a public service to teach students how to build a foundation for a healthy financial future.

Aubrey Baker lets the dice fly as teammates Elliot Davis and Ethan Larger watch as part of the FETCH! game presented recently to sixth grade math classes at Fort Loramie Elementary School.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2015/12/web1_fetch3.jpgAubrey Baker lets the dice fly as teammates Elliot Davis and Ethan Larger watch as part of the FETCH! game presented recently to sixth grade math classes at Fort Loramie Elementary School.

Adult Volunteer Randy Hoehne assists teammates Jared Rodeheffer, Katelyn North and Karson Tennery fill out their savings register as part of the FETCH! game presented to the sixth grade math classes at Fort Loramie Elementary School.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2015/12/web1_fetch4.jpgAdult Volunteer Randy Hoehne assists teammates Jared Rodeheffer, Katelyn North and Karson Tennery fill out their savings register as part of the FETCH! game presented to the sixth grade math classes at Fort Loramie Elementary School.