Financial Literacy Experience
On January 14, Niverville High School was transformed into a hands-on learning hub as Grade 10 students from Grunthal and Niverville, along with Grade 10 and 11 students from Landmark, took part in Hanover School Division’s Reality Check event.
Students were each assigned an occupation that was representative of opportunities in the Hanover area, with a monthly income based on Job Bank Canada labour market information. Additionally they were each given a slip of paper to determine if they had a spouse, what their spouse’s occupation and income might be, and even how many children they were raising. With their personalized profile in hand, students visited 17 booths staffed by community organizations, parents, and volunteers to build a workable monthly budget.
From housing and transportation to insurance, groceries, child care, and entertainment, every decision required thoughtful consideration. Students tracked their spending in cheque registers and quickly discovered how lifestyle choices directly affect financial stability. The experience provided a powerful, practical look at the real cost of living and the importance of planning ahead.
This marks the third time Reality Check has been hosted in Niverville and the fourth event overall within the division, with a fifth event planned at SRSS this spring. The continued expansion reflects the strong value students and staff see in this hands-on financial literacy experience.
Feedback from both students and teachers was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the event’s impact and relevance.
Reality Check would not be possible without the generous support of community volunteers. Anyone interested in volunteering at a future event is encouraged to reach out to kkrause@hsd.ca
in: Community Events