ST. PAUL – It was a night of practical lessons in business and finance for École du Sommet students on Nov. 21, when they transformed part of the school into a lively Christmas market.
This was the school’s second year of doing the Christmas market. Students sold a variety of things, from handmade crafts to practical services like snow shovelling.
Some students had even sold out their product completely, including student Arley’s mealworms, which proved so popular her booth was already empty before the night ended.
Lise Gratton, principal at the school, said students had been preparing for the market for quite a while. The students worked with their teachers and Community Futures St. Paul to learn about business, which involved learning about demand, pricing, and marketing.
“It’s just a great way for the kids to share their passion . . . their interests . . . [while] taking part in the business world,” said Gratton.
Another important component the initiative aimed to teach the students was people skills, said Gratton. The market offered students a chance to learn “how to present themselves and how to interact with the public.”
“We are just so proud of our students and proud to see them succeed,” she added. “We’re anxious to see what they’ll do next year.”
Caerys Young-Krekoski, one of the students who participated, said she enjoyed doing the market. “I learned that it’s a lot [of work] to make all the stuff [we sell] and then [manage] all the money.”
But for the young student, it was all worth it. “I liked being here with my friends . . . Walking around and talking and selling stuff to people,” she said, before expressing gratitude to everyone who came out to support the students.
“Thank you all for coming. I really enjoyed it, and I hope you also did.”
