Source: NG News

NEW GLASGOW – The noise and milling crowds put one in mind of a busy bazaar in some far off land.

It's nothing quite so exotic – but the treats are just as tasty.

What it is, in fact, is a group of Grade 9 New Glasgow Junior High School students selling products, foods and services to their Grade 7 and 8 schoolmates with a liberal sprinkling of teachers thrown in for good measure.

A quick tour revealed baked goods of all sorts, drinks, photo opportunities with mascots, dinky cars for sale and haircuts.

The project was the brainchild of Grade 9 social studies and French teacher Alana Bryan to transform the gym into a thriving mini-mall.

"It's very popular," she said of the afternoon event. "They get to keep their profit. They're charged rent ($1 per person) and it goes to charity."

This year's charity chosen by the students is Luke's Fight for Sight which is aiming to raise funds to allow a county infant and his family to travel to China for stem cell therapy to treat his blindness.

Bryan said the students had to cross several hurdles on their way to their respective grand openings. Each group had to come up with a product they could sell and then clean up in an afternoon. Along the way they needed a budget and advertising. Following business day they have a post-event budget assessment to see how they fared in light of paying themselves an hourly wage ($8 per hour) and expenses.

"Most of the ones that bake don't make much money after they have to pay for ingredients," she said.
Sweetin' it up sold popcorn and slushies and despite power interruptions it appeared business was booming.

"We expected a good business," Michaela Taylor said.

She also said she learned running a business is tough but rewarding. "There's problems, but it's fun working with our friends."

A panther and a bright yellow bird (either Tweety Bird or a duck depending on how you look at it) were located near dead centre in the gym. For a mere 50 cents anyone could have their photo taken with one, or both of the critters.

That idea didn't have any particular origin.

"It was just kind of random," said Julia Beaton (the bird). "We wanted to promote school spirit," added Emily Beaton.

Judging from the turnout and effort put into the projects, school spirit seems just fine.