John Wollaston Anglican Community School

JOHN WOLLASTON ANGLICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL

HARNESSING AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

Young entrepreneurs at John Wollaston Anglican Community School are equipped for a bright future as they embrace innovation and challenge their thinking.

A variety of programs operating throughout the senior school are providing opportunities for students to learn new skills and build their entrepreneurial spirit.

Year 7 students recently took part in a Shark Tank project to develop solutions to everyday challenges for their Economics unit. In small groups, students formed their own company, logo, vision statement and product. Their final product was presented to a panel of ‘Guest Sharks’ from across the School.

Year 7 student, Kayla Jonker said that being an entrepreneur meant “Creating something new and exciting to help others by filling a gap in society.”

Year 12 students completing a Certificate III in Business recently hosted Biz Fest, an initiative of The Foundation for Young Australians $20 Boss Program.

Hospitality teacher Lisa Bissell introduced Biz Fest to the curriculum to enable students to develop their skills in a practical way. This year students focused on market stalls, selling a variety of snacks to their peers. Year 12 student, Skye McKennay said, “It was challenging to realise how much planning goes into creating the best presentation for a product and working with a small budget of $20.”

One group said, “The entrepreneurial experience taught us verbal communication skills and a strong understanding of marketing strategies.” A total of 12 teams entered Biz Fest, raising approximately $600 for Anglicare homelessness and youth charities.

An ongoing program at John Wollaston is the student run Chalk Café. Certificate II and III Hospitality students manage the Café with a weekly menu, selling breakfast, lunch and beverages to staff and parents. Students also assist with catering for various events throughout the year, planning, preparing and serving the School community.

The modern commercial kitchen and experienced teachers give students the tools and confidence to run a successful café, while giving them a taste of what it is like to work in the hospitality industry. Despite some challenges due to COVID-19 restrictions, students have been able to adapt and develop new techniques to serve the School, by creating a takeaway food service like UberEats.