HALLOWELL — A group of fourth-grade female students at Hall-Dale Elementary School were visited March 9 by Darcy Dow, vice president of finance of Gifford’s Ice Cream and Lindsey Skilling, CEO of Gifford’s Ice Cream.

They talked with the students about the importance of being confident math students, according to a news release from the school.

School counselor Amanda Wilcox has been working with the students on a curriculum that focuses on building confidence in themselves, particularly during math class.

This includes understanding how making mistakes in math helps them learn, feeling comfortable asking questions in a group setting and being assertive while participating in math discussions in the classroom.

To reinforce these messages, Dow and Skillings talked about their roads to becoming successful women in the fields of finance and business, and how they use the same skills in their own careers that the students use during math.

“They were extremely energized about the possibilities of their future, and having some delicious ice cream samples didn’t hurt either,” said Wilcox.

“Working collaboratively with local businesses helps foster a greater understanding of the importance of community within our schools,” said Kelly Byron, education liaison for RSU 2.