At the beginning of the school year, the entrepreneurship classes took on the challenge of running apple cider stands. Students in multiple classes were challenged to invite teachers, prepare within a limited amount of time, and pitch the idea to other classes. The project proved demanding. Still, it gave students a meaningful look at how business works in the real world. This February, they were challenged again, but this time, to create a hot chocolate stand paired with a treat chosen by each class.
While the stands may seem simple from the outside, a great deal of planning goes into running these small businesses. Business teacher Mrs. Dickinson encourages students to think beyond the classroom and understand the realities of owning and managing a business. She spoke highly of each class and the course saying, “The entrepreneur hot chocolate stand is always one of my favorite events. It is wonderful to see how each class of students selects to run their stands differently.” The concept was brand new to the 2024–2025 students, who ultimately found success with their sales. Now, the project has continued into this school year, with students expected to build on what previous classes accomplished.
To strengthen leadership and organization, Mrs. Dickinson appointed two managers for each stand and tasked them with overseeing operations. Senior Mackenzie Comprelli, who served as manager for the first stand during Block 8, reflected on the experience, “Since it was our first time, the stand was difficult to plan. Once we figured out roles for everyone in the class, set our prices, and focused on our budget, everything became much easier. Mrs. Dickinson helped us understand the real-world details we hadn’t considered.” Heading into the Valentine’s-themed stand, Mackenzie expressed optimism, saying, “I’m excited to see how it comes along the second time around.” With lessons learned from the first event, the class was determined to refine their approach and increase their sales. They also faced a major setback in the beginning of class when their hot water fell and spilled all over the floor, damaging their set up. It was interesting to see how the students were able to bounce back and keep the stand running smoothly and in time for their invited peers.
After running a second time, a few classes found success while others struggled in comparison to their previous stand. Block 8 doubled their profit from last time. According to Mrs. Dickinson it, “was the only stand of the day and went above and beyond selecting their treats and the feel of Valentine’s for their event.” She also mentioned how she “ loved how block 1 selected treats that made sense for breakfast. While the block 4 class really promoted the event knowing their stand was the second of the day and invited so many teachers and the students to attend.”
Overall, these stands are a great real life interpretation of what owning a business feels like. They allow students to experience setbacks and challenges along the way. And of course, it rewards the customer and the class in the long run with a sweet treat and some successful profits that will be designated for use on their
at the end of the year.
