Pilate students meet the real world

Cheryl Owens/The Newton Record
The Newton Record

NEWTON Fri, May 16 2008

— Mississippi State University Extension Service of Newton County visited Newton Pilate Middle School last week to present “Welcome to the Real World”, a life skills activity for eighth grade students.
The eighth graders got a glimpse of what the real world is all about when they got to experience first hand how to manage a family on the income they receive from their chosen profession.
“This is just one of the ways we try to help students know what kind of career they may want in life,” Extension Agent Katrina McCalphia said. “This also shows them it is not as easy paying bills as they think it is.”
Each student was given a card with a scenario of their occupation, annual salary, monthly income and family situation. From this they visited booths to pay taxes, deposit their money in bank, pay childcare, utilities, groceries and housing. After all deductions they might have money left over for entertainment.
“I learned what my mom and stepdad go through every month buying insurance and other things,” eighth grader Jeremiah Chapman said. “It taught me how to save money and to choose what you want carefully.”
Eight grader Amanda Pientowski said she learned it is a lot of decisions to make in life.
“Our parents have a lot to deal with whether we know it or not,” Amanda said.” It has opened up my eyes to a lot of things.”
Principal Sherrod Miller said this was an awesome opportunity for the students and he would like to thank Katrina McCalphia, Susan Cosgrove, Teresa Lyle, from Mississippi State Extension Service and all the local businesses that helped with the activity to make it a success.

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