Since when did period seven come complete with a massage, cup of ice-cold lemonade, and a chocolate-covered strawberry? Ever since Mr. Pepper and Mrs. Given assigned a three-week long project to their freshman cultural geography classes, entitled “Market Day”. Just two weeks after the assignment was given, the hallways filled with advertising for Market Day. The Market was set up in the mini-gym on February 16 during periods three, five, six, and seven. The objective: make the most profit.

“They [the students] really learned a lot about how to sell a product effectively,” stated Rachel Bridges, Given’s Teacher Assistant. The planning guide given to the students covered athree week time-span. By the end of the first week, the students chose their products and drafted a list of items needed, costs, and time needed to produce their products. By the closing of week two the young entrepreneurs gathered all materials required to begin producing their product, developed a book-keeping strategy, and outlined a marketing campaign. In the final week ending with Market Day on Friday, the groups had products completed, posters to hang up, and decorations ready for their booth.

One might wonder how all this was achieved successfully without a hitch. Students began by brain-storming and polling the class for interest. Next, the groups assigned individual roles for each team member. The four team positions were: creative genius, marketing guru, cooker of books, and CEO. The creative genius came up with a winning idea while keeping cost, marketing, and prospective profit in mind. The marketing guru thought of innovative ways to advertise the group’s product in order to incite interest. The cooker of books kept track of the group’s profits, losses, and supply and demand of the group’s product. The CEO organized, delegated, and kept the group connected to the teacher. “They [the students] learned about how a market economy runs, how to advertise, keep track of finances and how to advertise different types of products. We did this to fulfill the state standards in a freshman world cultures class, which is required to include more studying in the field of economics,” described Given.

With CavCash set at one CavBuck equivalent to one US dollar, on Market Day, the groups kept track of earnings like any business in the marketplace. One could find everything from a raffle with movie tickets to a massage to an aqua ball. The gym echoed with noise as products were sold and profit was made. “They had lots of fun, and put a whole of work into it,” said Pepper. While discussing the do’s and don’ts of Market Day Kendall Nicosia-Rusin said, “Make sure you don’t spend too much money to make your product because you have to make a profit in the end.” Becky Kabel advises next year’s freshman not to “plan for more than you need so that you have plenty of extra supplies.” These two freshmen also had advice for their teachers. Kabel stated, “The upperclassmen were a group we had no idea was invited to the Market. Our estimations were off because there were so many people. Next year they should have a restricted number of upperclassmen allowed in.” In response to this Given replied, “The Market was only meant to be open to the freshman class. I liked how the amount of people simulated a real marketplace economy, though. Mr. Kelley and I have talked about possibly opening the market to the whole school and maybe moving it to Field Day in later years.” One can be sure Market Day will grow as an HBHS tradition in the years to come as a result of its great success.