SMETHPORT — This year, the second graders at the Smethport Area Elementary School are combining their classroom studies with real life experiences.

The three teachers are Kelly Davis, Katie Dart and Bre Hogan. “This year, instead of having one big field trip, we decided to have one special monthly activity and were encouraged by the administration to tie the activity to career readiness.” Dart told The Era. “This month we chose a community service project, which we planned with our math topics of money and counting coins.”

For three weeks, the homerooms had a penny war and students deposited coins into the three respective banks. At the conclusion, the students counted the donations, which amounted to an impressive $567, and then wrapped the coins.

This project culminated with several activities on Wednesday. The students, teachers and aides, walked to the main branch of the Hamlin Bank and Trust Company on West Main Street, and toured the facility while learning about investing money.

Then, it was on to the Christian Community Services Food Pantry in the basement of the Hamlin Bank and Trust Company Building. There they met with Sharon Kohler, the director, who informed the classes about the needs of the pantry.

Costa’s Supermarket on East Water street was the final stop for the classes. Dart said, “The students were grouped in small numbers, each with adult volunteers, and each group had a list of food pantry needs. Using the $567, the children were responsible buying their listed items after reading labels and making price comparisons.”

Speaking of the day’s activities, the teachers thanked the hosts, saying, “We appreciate the businesses for accommodating 50 children during business hours.”