Ratihén:te’s student-run shop

In the front hall of Ratihén:te high school, more than a dozen students lined up to receive a cheeseburger and buy snacks for lunch on Tuesday.

But instead of seeing the school cook once they reached the front of the line, they saw another friendly and familiar face: a fellow student.

The WOW Shop is a lunch and snack store run by students in the work-oriented training program (WOTP), who are mastering entrepreneurial skills.

“It’s really fun and exciting,” said Kali Simon, 15, one of the two students who runs the shop.

Students in the program are given more one-on-one attention and taught a curriculum tailored to teach vocational skills connected to where the students see themselves working in the future.

“They wanted to come up with some sort of small business they could do as part of the program,” said Fiona Wilkinson, life skills and WOTP teacher.

Simon, for example, is considering working as an esthetician. The other student in the program has some interest in childcare, said Wilkinson. Part of the skills necessary to help them achieve their goals is to learn business skills.

The store also fills a gap for the rest of the school. Lunch service only runs three days a week. The other two days students in need of lunch or craving a snack normally walked to a local convenience store for food.

“They figured, well, why don’t we create a lunch service? It’ll benefit the kids,” said Wilkinson. “They don’t need to walk in the snow, and it’ll benefit the WOTP student, because it’s part of their program and they get to keep the tips.”

Last year in September, another school staff member had the idea of converting an unused school closet into a small shop.

The students painted the room blue and white, installed flooring and shelving units along with the teachers. Together, they made a menu and established the price for the food and snacks they would sell, such as $2 for candy bags and chips.

Simon designed the logo for the shop.

And in October they opened.

The shop has already made a big difference for the kids at the school, especially those in the WOTP, said Wilkinson.

“I’m super proud of you guys,” Wilkinson told Simon.

Wilkinson has noticed the benefits of the program when it comes to nurturing confidence.

“Something like this has helped them communicate with other students,” said Wilkinson, noting the opportunity for interaction.

“Once you get used to serving them and telling them to have a good day and asking if they need anything else, it makes a big difference – even if you’re just following that script.”

For Simon, her favourite menu item so far has been their chicken wrap. She also likes going for Costco runs, as well as chatting with her student co-worker and with other friends when they come to the storefront.

And, of course, the tips.

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