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Narrative: Car Care Day has been offered every year in October beginning in 1994. Over one hundred Henry County High School students from several classes work together to provide this service to the community in conjunction with National Car Care month. Students in Auto-Mechanics, Marketing, Journalism, and Applied Communications classes work together integrating life skills into existing curriculum to increase academic achievement levels.

The Applied Communications classes are responsible for creating print promotions distributed community-wide. Marketing classes wrote and produced radio announcements and prepared the schedule for the spots to run on two local radio stations. Students were responsible for selling advertising space on the flyer and helping to produce informational handouts. They also had cross training from the auto mechanics teacher to learn about basic car parts and maintenance. They greeted customers as they drove in and helped them fill out pre-check questionnaires. Journalism students sold sponsorship ads and determined the best way to use them in the local newspaper. They wrote a feature article for the school newspaper and produced a promotional advertisement to be seen on the school’s closed circuit television service. The Auto Mechanics class learned how to perform the diagnostic automobile checkups.

It Works! This project has been featured in "Automotive Excellence" and "Motor Age". The Car Care Council and the Paris/Henry County Chamber of Commerce continue to partner with the high school to bring this service to the community. Students are learning a variety of skills such as computer design, research, auto mechanics (primarily the non-auto students) and advertising, in a real-life context, which make the lessons more effective.

Contact:
Kris Bailey, Education Edge Director
217 Grove Boulevard
Paris, TN 38242
P(901)642-9551
F(901)642-8073
E-mail: baileyk4@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us

Billy Ross
Henry County High School
(901) 642-5232 Ext. 26

Leroy Frazier
Henry County High School
(901)642-1687