Gladys Speers PS in Oakville held its recent Holiday Gift Shop, which provided students opportunities to purchase holiday items while learning about financial literacy and responsibility.
In partnership with the school council, Principal Jennifer Feke says this activity allowed students to purchase affordable gifts for their family and friends and learn valuable budgeting tools. Specifically, older students partnered with younger students to help in this financial learning experience.
“It not only encourages the significance of saving money and budgeting, but also enables students to strategize and make purchases in a positive educational setting,” she says. “The Holiday Gift Shop offers children a firsthand encounter with the gratification of giving, which is one of the December character traits we have been focusing on.”
The collaboration between students was an important piece of the Holiday Gift Shop activity, Feke says.
“Older students can play an important role in making the market shopping experience a positive and educational one for their younger learning buddies. They are often guides, helping their younger buddy locate items for the identified recipients on their shopping lists and offering valuable advice on suitable choices. Additionally, older students can assist with budgeting skills by helping to count money, compare prices and make decisions based on budget. Acting as mentors, the older buddies also help with things like reading labels and signs, sharing information about an item. Encouraging positive behavior, offering a helping hand with carrying bags, and fostering communication are all ways in which older students can contribute to creating a supportive and enjoyable experience for their younger buddy.”
Students say they enjoyed the shopping and learning experience.
“Mentoring little students is great because the older kids can really teach them and gain a better excitement for what they are learning about,” says Evan, in Grade 6.
Says Grade 5 student Peyton: “Because the big kids are older, they can teach them how to behave and act responsibly in a large area, like the market. Maybe this way they can know how to shop when they go to a real store.”
Feke says partnering with the School Council to make the Holiday Gift Shop a reality was very important.
“Partnering with parents, particularly through our school council, is an essential part of our school operations,” she says. “This collaboration fosters a sense of community, encourages diverse perspectives, and enhances communication between the school and our families. Parents bring valuable resources, both in terms of time and expertise, contributing to the overall experience.”
Connections between the Holiday Gift Shop and the
HDSB's 2020-2024 Multi-Year Plan were made in multiple ways, Feke says.
“Keeping environment leadership in mind, over the past couple of years, we have started to purchase our own paper bags to "wrap" items rather than ordering and using the plastic bags from the company in order to reduce our carbon footprint.”
