Summit High School Store Opens Monday

Summit High School's new store, Top of the Hill, makes its freshman debut Monday. 

Largely run and operated by students, the shop, offering school supplies, snacks and beverages, is located across the hall from the school's cafeteria.

Students, faculty and administrators have been working together for the past two years to prepare for the store's opening. In 2012, the Summit Education Foundation approved a grant awarded to MaryBeth Reardon, Supervisor of the Special Education Department 9-12, and Pat Walsh, the district's Transition Coordinator, for the purpose of establishing a school store.

The SHS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) made significant and generous contributions to assist with the operation of the store, according to the school district, which also thanked Karnak Construction for "the beautiful job" they did in building the store.  

Making it a total team effort, Top of the Hill's advisory board has recognized opportunities for students taking wood technology, fashion design, foods and nutrition, graphic design and other fine arts classes to put their skills to work.  

For example, students studying wood tech will have a chance to sell hand-crafted wood projects, while students in fashion design can sell tote bags, pencil cases, and other items. Those in foods and nutrition classes can prepare snacks such as cookies and cupcakes and in the future, advanced foods classes hope to offer to-go meals.

Keeping the community involved, Top of the Hill will host 'Throw Down Thursdays' monthly featuring local Summit food purveyors who will serve up pizza, baked goods and healthy snacks. 

Top of the Hill interns are currently being selected and trained. The district explained that as the store becomes solvent and profitable, students can apply and interview for paid positions. A few job-shared positions will be available for students who may be unable to commit to working throughout the full school year do to other activities.