Exciting things are happening at Queen Margaret’s School. Guided by a refreshed Strategic Plan, QMS is providing more immersive student learning opportunities in the area of sustainable innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. The perfect mix for budding entrepreneurs!
In partnership with Junior Achievement BC, QMS students in Grades 6 and 8 have worked for weeks under the mentorship of local professionals developing creative business concepts into viable, marketable, profitable businesses. After working extensively on implementing a distinctive proposition, the students eagerly showcased their final products at an Entrepreneurship Marketplace sale at QMS. Staff, students and parents lined up to support the students by purchasing products that ranged from hand-crafted jewellery, baked goods and stained glass art, to distinctive mugs, carved wood art, and plants. Each group will be donating their profits to local charities.
“Being able to participate in this entrepreneurship program has enabled me to learn a new skill while having the freedom to design my own unique product,” Grade 8 student Elly Park stated, as she happily sat behind an almost sold-out table of hand crafted dream catchers. “Not only has this experience been enjoyable, but it has also piqued my interest in looking at careers in the business sector,” she said.
“Creative, gratifying, inquisitive and fun,” were words that Grade 8 Denzy James used to describe the project, as she carefully presented all of her colourful jewelry. For Grade 6 student Charlotte Jackson, the work with Junior Achievement was exciting. “After all our work, finally releasing our product to market was the moment of truth,” she explained. “I’m inspired to be an entrepreneur myself!”
Local businessman and Junior Achievement Mentor, Michael Green, Mortgage Specialist with RBC, echoes the students’ excitement. “The level of engagement, research, innovation and high quality of the products produced was astonishing,” Green admired. “I’m so pleased with their success.” Queen Margaret’s School would also like to thank Junior Achievement volunteers Cheryl Williams and Brian McArthur for their support and sharing of expertise.
As a trailblazing university-preparatory day and boarding school for girls and boys, Queen Margaret’s School (QMS) transforms how students learn through our unique programming. Experiential and inquiry-based learning, sustainable innovation and entrepreneurial thinking, and equine facilitated leadership provide students with hands-on skills they need for an unknown future. We develop new generations of confident leaders of character and compassion to create a more just and connected world.