MALLAIG – Amid the chatter of excited students and the hum of expert speakers, young minds were introduced to the mysteries of adult life. From household maintenance to navigating the complexities of insurance, the day-long convention offered a crash course in essential skills that sometimes get forgotten in regular classrooms.
Mallaig School was transformed into a bustling hub of activity as the school’s very first “Learning Something New: Kids Convention 2023” took over on March 24.
Students were taught by a line of experts about skills like vehicle maintenance, paying taxes, renting an apartment, taking public transit, basic banking, and job interview skills.
The youth were given information necessary for adult life, according to Principal Kellie Handford. This included information on scholarship applications, reading pay stubs, renting an apartment, and even taking public transit – a skill that is important for “kids coming from a rural school like ours going to a big city,” she said.
Handford expressed her delight over the event and emphasized the importance of such events in shaping the future of students. “We’re giving students [Grade 7 to Grade 12] an opportunity to experience what it’s like to be an adult for a day.”
“Kids are just lacking a lot of basic skills that we [adults] think that they know [after] leaving high school,” she acknowledged. The skills are necessary for students to be “successful as adults.”
According to Handford, the event was the result of feedback from people including parents and former students. Many of those people expressed how they wished to have learned such skills upon graduating high school, she said.
“We felt like we were almost lacking a little bit in the sense that we’re not preparing our kids for what life is like outside of school,” said Handford, adding, she hopes events such as the Kids Convention can help guide students in the right direction.
Many students who attended the event also expressed their excitement about the event.
Among them was Grade 9 student Ethan Locke, who said that many students upon graduating high school lacked the experience with things like paying bills or banking, so, “we're learning important life skills that’s very helpful.”
Another Grade 9 student, Sophia Dargis, agreed. “I feel like it would be a good idea to do this again... and hopefully figure out more stuff in the future.” Both students agreed the event teaches independence.
Handford thanked all those involved in making the event a possibility and a success. She also thanked the experts and members of the business community who “were more than happy to come and present for us.”
The school plans to do another Kids Convention in the future.
