NEWYA, Algoma High team up on Reality Store

FOR THE STAR-NEWS

ALGOMA – On April 25, Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship (NEWYA) and Algoma High School teamed up to provide a Reality Store event for both Algoma and Kewaunee junior and senior students at the Algoma Wellness Center.

The Reality Store offers students an experience to see, “What’s it like in the Real World?”

Each student researches a career before the event, to gain insight as to what their entry-level salary would be for the simulation. At the event, they are given a check register booklet and go to a variety of different booths (i.e. housing, groceries, insurance, travel and recreation, daycare) recording different choices as to the lifestyle they plan to create.

The students then learn how that translates with the salary they are bringing in.

There is also a “chance” booth in which the students have to roll a dice to see what type of unexpected event happens in their life that affects their budget — the birth of an unexpected child, winning at the casino, unexpected car repair, finding a lost cat, etc…

There is an “SOS” booth for the students to go to at any time if they have a question, run out of money, or would like to make a change in one of their choices.

There is also a police officer on duty to hand out random “tickets” for offenses to the participating students.

For example, the students who receive a ticket will be required to go to the courtroom to pay for their fine or work it off.

Businesses that participated in this year’s event include Algoma Utilities, Bank of Luxemburg, Ebert Enterprises, FTS Technology Group, Kewaunee County Clerk of Courts, Kewaunee County District Attorney, Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Office, Meade Manor, School District of Algoma High School and Weber Insurance.