To the Editor:
Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School would like to thank the following sponsors of our latest reality fair for our sophomores, coined the Ca$habet Challenge: Avidia Bank, Central One Federal Credit Union, Citizen’s Bank, Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce, Cox Tutoring Group, EKG Networking, Keller Williams Boston-Metro, L & S Boule Insurance, Market Basket, Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce, Marlborough Nissan, Marlborough Rotary, Orange Theory Fitness, REMAX Executive Realty, TD Bank, United Bank, the United States Army and the United States Army National Guard, and several staff members from Assabet. We would also like to acknowledge a grant from the Massachusetts State Treasurer’s Office, Office of Economic Empowerment that provided special padfolios for our students.
Avidia Bank volunteers gave the students a brief seminar on saving and budgeting prior to attending the event. Once inside, with a mock paycheck and the task of living for one month on that amount, other volunteers encouraged students to spend wisely on necessities, or tempted them with frivolous luxuries, explained student loans, and laughed with them as they spun the Wheel of Fortune/Misfortune and dealt with their fate. All in all, the students were engaged in learning and more than seventy-five percent reported it as a worthwhile exercise.
Partnerships between schools and businesses offer a different perspective to students that facilitates learning in a real world scenario. We thank all who gave up a morning to interact with our students and teach them some valuable lessons.
Cindy Zomar and Maki Faria
Marlborough