Santa Maria High School 9th graders learned why grades matter and financial literacy during a “Reality Fair” on today, May 5th.
The freshmen received a paycheck based on their grades (GPA’s) from the first semester and then made purchases and paid bills like an adult. The students monitored their spending with an Excel budget spreadsheet that they had already downloaded.
The fair took place during PE class inside the Wilson gym where there were booths for them to visit - Banking, Automotive, Realty, Insurance, Grocery, Utilities and Entertainment. The event involved more than 750 freshmen.
“The goal is for the students to visit all seven stations and finish the fair without going into debt,’’ said Saint 9th Grade School Counselor Terzino Gaeta. “We hope this experience encourages our students to not only graduate from high school, but to continue their education into college or a vocational school so they can earn a living working in a well-paying job.’’
SMHS would like to thank several local businesses for participating in the event. They include FoodMaxx, Santa Maria KIA, Santa Maria Ford, and Nissan, SESLOC, and Better Home and Garden Realty.
SMJUHSD Media Contact: Public Information Officer Kenny Klein 805-709-1454 or kklein@smjuhsd.org
