The Mornington School teacher said the 8- to 10-year-olds were preparing to create a Yellow Pages-type list of contacts with hand-drawn advertisements for businesses in the Mornington area.
Already, marketing terms such as branding, consumer relationships, word of mouth, engagement, hashtags and public relations can be heard around the classroom.
"Hopefully they won’t turn into an office of aggressive marketing executives," Mrs Sutherland said.
"I’ll have my hands full in the classroom if they do, that’s for sure. Especially if they start demanding coffee and doughnuts."
The pupils sent out letters to local businesses this week, asking them for details about their work, which would be used to create the ads.
So far, several businesses had been hooked, she said.
"We’re creating sort of like a phone book A-Z, and we’re going to put it out on our school Facebook page and in school newsletters."
Inspiration for the initiative came from the pupils themselves.
She said some of the pupils’ parents owned businesses in the community and were finding it difficult to rebuild after the lockdown.
The children felt they had lost control of their world during the Covid-19 pandemic, and this was a way for them to show their fortitude and help rebuild the community.
"It’s them taking control of something that they have no control over — that’s what’s driving them.
"They want to be helpful and do something that makes a difference."
It was hoped the publication would be available free at various Mornington businesses in late July.
