Three secondary school students tripled their financial investment in just hours by having their fellow students take “Sweet Shots” at them for money at St Anne’s College’s market day.
The goal was to knock down a pyramid of tin cans with beanbags to win one of 74 bags of lollies year nine students Liam Carboon, Taj Leader and Jay Briant had put together.
The annual market day event - which saw tie-dyed garments sell out, student-prepared tornado potatoes devoured, and learning support staff saturated with ice-cold buckets of water - is a culmination of the students’ Year 9 learning inquiry, which investigated economics and careers.
The rear of the college was abuzz with students, their families and teaching staff browsing the 29 variety stalls, which included food, clothing and crafts, sideshow-style games and a golf driving range.
School of Innovation leader Adam Zito said he was “rapt” with what the students achieved this year.
“I feel like a proud father,” he said.
“It’s a collaboration of communications, self-management, research, critical thinking; students have had to use all of those skills.”
In the lead-up to their market day, the students were challenged to come up with a business idea for a product or service to pitch Shark Tank-style to Mr Zito, who played the role of Shark.
With advice, students either went ahead with their ideas, developed them further or scrapped them entirely to head back to the drawing board.
Once their ideas were approved, they were granted a $60 loan to fund them. After the market day event, the loan was to be paid back to “the bank” with $1 interest.
Students came up with clever business names, designed logos and marketing material, and settled on profitable pricing for their products and services.
They then brought them to life, whether it was filling a jar with lollies for players to guess how many were inside, filling dipping containers with chocolate sauce before making and cooking churros live at the event, or pre-cooking and packaging brownies and cake pops to sell on the day.
Profits from the day will go towards funding something the Year 9 students will decide on together.
In past years, the Year 9s have seen about $3000 made with less capital than this year’s $60, which has paid for 3D printers, guitars and GoPro cameras.
“This is a great practical celebration of the work the Year 9s have done,” college principal Sue Carroll said.
“After this, there will be some really good reflection taking lessons and hopefully they become the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
The day doubled as an out-of-uniform day, where students made a gold-coin donation to raise funds for a cause the students will vote on.
“The project also links to charity and has an overall benefit to the college community,” Mr Zito said.
“This is part of our tradition and culture now and I hope this continues to be an annual event we can look forward to each year and into the future.”