March 10, 2022 at 12:55 p.m.
RHS sophomores get 'Mad' about 'Money'
Personal financial literacy exercise returns after 2-year hiatus
RHS sophomores get 'Mad' about 'Money'
RHS principal Shane Dornfeld said last month that students will go out into a world "fraught with enormous financial hurdles."
"And it's critical that our young people leave high school prepared to face the challenges ahead," Dornfeld said.
The event was sponsored by Rhinelander Partners in Education (P.I.E.), in collaboration with the School District of Rhinelander.
During the morning, students were given a randomly-assigned family and occupation with a set salary and starting checking account balance. The goal is to balance their checking accounts while obtaining housing, transportation, food, household necessities, clothing, day care, and weighing other wants and needs.
"We do our best to simulate what life would really be like if they were out and about today working and living while raising a family in Rhinelander area," Dornfeld said.
That simulation includes random financial setbacks that were given to the students by RHS school resource officer Sgt. Brad Fogerty of the Oneida County Sheriff's Department and Rhinelander Police Department Capt. Josh Chiamulera. Both men carried decks of cards that had events - such as a speeding ticket or other event that could entail a cost that could wreck a budget - and the students would blindly pick from these decks.
For Chiamulera, Mad Money is one of his favorite annual events.
"This event is very high on my list of times that I truly love my job. Just being able to interact and joke around with the kids for a few hours is so much fun," Chiamulera said. "I really hope that they have as much fun as I do."
In the afternoon, students were divided into two groups, one went through mock job interviews and learned about the new INSPIRE Rhinelander program while the others heard from motivational speaker Mike McGowan. The two groups switched when completed.
Dornfeld thanked P.I.E. and the businesses that sent volunteers to help man the various stations.
Jamie Taylor may be reached via email at [email protected].
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