MARMORA — Seventh-grade math students at Upper Township Middle School have been diving deep into the world of finance, mastering real-world skills such as calculating discounts, markups, sales tax and simple interest.
The culmination of the lessons was the 8th annual Taco Truck Challenge, a project-based learning initiative that tasks students with the simulated launch of their own mobile eatery.
Math teacher Ashley Butterick called it “an awesome project and community collaboration that has taken place in our seventh-grade math classrooms over the last few weeks.”
From the initial purchase of a truck — requiring precise calculations for interest rates and monthly payments — to the creative design of menus and pricing strategies, students have applied every formula learned in class to their business portfolios.
To celebrate the students’ hard work, the school partnered with Las Olas Taqueria at 4 Roosevelt Blvd. in Marmora for the Taco Truck Celebration on March 25.
Project organizers said they have been partnering with Las Olas since the Mexican eatery opened in Upper Township.
“We value their commitment to supporting our students. Celebrating here brings the project full circle by spotlighting a small business in our community that uses these exact math skills in their day-to-day operations,” Butterick said.
Sue Augustin-Rufino said the family business, owned by Eva, Yahir and Aedo Rufino, has been taking part in the event for three or four years. They offer children’s items from the menu for vouchers from the district
“We’re part of Upper Township and we support the school district,” she said. “We also have a lot of locals who eat here and wanted to help them out.”
The project and celebration are coordinated by Butterick and fellow seventh-grade math teacher Jack McNally, both active members of the Upper Township Education Association (UTEA).
To make the event possible, Butterick and McNally secured a Public Education Partnership grant through the New Jersey Education Association. The grants are designed to showcase the successes of New Jersey’s public schools while fostering community involvement.
The Taco Truck Challenge has grown into a community favorite, praised by families and faculty alike for the way it bridges the gap between textbooks and the real world, organizers said.
“It is wonderful to see our students shine with their creativity,” Butterick said. “They are gaining skills they will need in the very near future, all while supporting the local businesses that make Upper Township special.”
McNally said the evening was a success as many school and community members came together to support the students and enjoy some local flavor at Las Olas Taqueria.
Butterick said the New Jersey Education Association provided a $650 Public Education Partnership grant that promotes tying academics to community outreach programs.
That funded food vouchers for the six seventh-grade classes, as well as money to buy prizes for a raffle and for the overall winner of the food challenge. Prizes included burrito blankets and Taco Tuesday cookbooks.
Butterick said Las Olas lets 12- and 13-year-olds take over the restaurant for about 90 minutes.
“They are a small shop and to take on the whole seventh grade for the night is terrific,” she said.
In exchange, students’ families join the celebration and get a chance to dine out at the eatery.
“We definitely appreciate them and how they treat our kids. It’s a really positive event that they look forward to each year,” Butterick said.
The event now is a rite of passage for the district.
“It’s become a nice little tradition,” she said.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff