Credit for Life Fair for SHS Seniors
by Anne Wagner, Assistant Principal – Sandwich High School
On October 6, 2015, Sandwich High School hosted the 3rd annual Credit for Life Fair for members of the SHS Class of 2016. The Credit for Life Fair, a collaborative venture between the Cape Cod Five Bank, the Bourne-Sandwich Rotary Club and Sandwich High School, provided seniors with a unique opportunity to learn how to make good financial decisions after high school.
The Fair was an interactive simulation that required students to select a career option and then practice managing their personal budgets based upon the projected monthly income for their respective job choices. Students visited booths staffed by real estate agents, bankers, insurance representatives and retailers as they made financial decisions about what they want, what they need and what they can afford. At one point in the simulation, students visited the “Reality Check” booth, where realistic, but random events, could result in unexpected costs. The Fair ended with a debriefing session where students, teachers and sponsors can discuss the lessons learned during the day. The Credit for Life Fair was designed to help students gain an understanding of the financial decisions they will make when they are on their own, without parents or guardians paying the bills and covering their costs for food, clothing, shelter and entertainment.
Following a competitive application process, Sandwich High School learned it had been awarded a grant in the amount of $2,500. to expand upon the offerings of previous Credit for Life fairs at SHS. The announcement was made through a press release from Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg’s office dated August 18, 2016. “I have experienced firsthand the critical skills these ‘Credit for Life’ fairs teach our high school students,” said Treasurer Goldberg in the press release. “These new grants will help students to budget their money responsibly and make informed financial decisions as they prepare to enter college or begin their careers.”
The Credit for Life Fair would not be possible at Sandwich High School without the generous support and assistance of Cape Cod Five Bank, the Bourne-Sandwich Rotary, and the many individuals who volunteer their time and talents to organize and facilitate the event. It has again been a pleasure to work in partnership with these individuals to provide this opportunity to our seniors at Sandwich High School.
