On Friday, November 4th 2016, the 8th graders from Robert A. Taft and Colonel John Wheeler Middle Schools participated in the annual Reality StoreSM event! The Reality StoreSM is brought to us by the Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce which hosts the event at various schools every year. The 8th grade class begins preparations for the event in August. The students took an interest inventory using the new program called Career Cruiser to find careers that most closely reflected their interests. They then chose a career to use when attending the event. The students also completed a lesson plan on how to complete a checkbook for budget monitoring. Colonel John Wheeler Middle School hosted the event.
During the event, each student was given their own faux paycheck with the career monthly salary of their choice with Federal and State taxes withheld. They also received a checkbook and savings account register. All students were asked to dress professionally as if they were going on a job interview. The students looked and dressed their parts flawlessly. They visited various booths to make purchases that they would make as 28 year old adults. The booths such as: Housing, Utilities, Clothing, Food, Transportation and many others are run by the Chamber of Commerce business and local volunteers. The students had to budget their money as they made purchases. All students were required to visit the Reality Check booth to pick a “Surprise” life event. Those “surprise” events consisted of but were not limited to; losing one’s job, having more children and getting arrested. Upon their return to regular classes, the students discussed their experiences and how they handled their situations and money. The students could not stop discussing what they bought, how much money they had left or what odd thing happened to them.
On behalf of the Crown Point Community School Corporation, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all of the volunteers that made this event possible and memorable. We are equally as proud of all the hard work and effort of the 8th grade students and school staff that made this event so successful.