Written by: Melanie Steffan - Special Education Teacher at DHS
When Covid-19 hit, the students in room 120 at Dickinson High School were worried. To earn paychecks and work on budgeting skills in the classroom, they worked in the dish room over their lunch hour. They wanted to limit their exposure but still needed to earn some money, and this is where the idea for "The Unique Boutique" took off.
We have some really creative students in my classroom! Last Christmas, we painted boards and designed snowmen to give to our parents for gifts. The students enjoyed it so much; we decided to work on more projects. It was the perfect opportunity for my students to continue to earn money while staying safe.
Our business model is simple, 50% goes to the students for their work, and 50% goes back into our "business account." They log the hours they worked, and then we figure out how to divide the money accordingly. One of our students, Jacob, prides himself on his math skills. He interviewed for an accountant position, and we hired him. Jacob and I sit down and count the money made from our products, get paychecks ready for the students, and keep track of all our receipts used to purchase supplies. We use this as a business lesson for my students as they get to see that to keep doing projects, we need to sell more products. They are learning some valuable skills, and I can see some aspiring to start their own business someday.
The money that students earn goes into their accounts in my classroom. They then can spend the money how they choose. If their cell phone charger breaks or they want that new shirt from Amazon, they can get it! If they're going to go out to eat, they can do that too! The students in our classroom can also do some fun activities with the money, like swimming at the WRCC or going out for donuts.
We also talk about the importance of saving up your money, especially if you want to make a bigger purchase. Sometimes you aren't always able to eat with your friends if you don't have enough money. Having an opportunity to have the students make this real-life connection to money is more meaningful to them.
My students are so thankful for how much support they have gotten from the school district and community. It is fun to drive by neighborhoods and see our "Midget boards" on porches. My students love to deliver their products and visit with the people who are purchasing them.
To find out more about our student-led business, please visit our Facebook page, DHS Unique Boutique.