The Stock Market Game

In January of this year a note was sent home from school saying that any 5th grade student interested in playing the "Stock Market Game" was invited to do so. The game would go for 11 weeks and the students would need to go to school early on Thursday mornings to participate.  Oh, and there was a $10 fee to do it. Now, if I have learned anything it's that if you offer Britton an extra activity outside of school (especially if it's educational) he will want to do it. End of story. I didn't know very much about The Stock Market Game but if it taught kids about the stock market and investing than I was all for it.  Jenna is only in 4th grade, but because she is in a 4th/5th split class and her teacher was the Stock Market Game advisor she allowed the 4th graders in her own class to participate. This meant both Jenna and Britton got to play.

Ok, first of all let me say this, the Stock Market Game is cool.  The kids broke up into teams and each team got $100,000 of fake money to invest.  They selected their own stocks and then bought and sold in real time meaning they followed the actual stock market during those 11 weeks.  I found out later there were 787 teams across the State of Utah all participating in this simulation.  At dinner Britton and Jenna would sometimes talk about the stock market and how their investments were doing. If a company ever came up in conversation one of them would run to the computer to see if it was a publicly traded company and would look it over to see if it was a company they were willing to invest in. It was awesome.  Before too long, it was over. I was happy to get our normal Thursday mornings back and that was that.

Or so I thought.

Britton came home with a paper a few weeks ago that said he and his teammate Collin had placed 5th overall in the Elementary School Division of the Stock Market Game in the State of Utah. There was an awards banquet at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building at noon on Friday, May 3rd. and he was allowed to bring 2 guests.

What? I didn't even know this was a thing! Now, all of the sudden we are traveling to SLC on a school day for a banquet?

"And Mom, it's an excused absence!" he cheerfully stated.  Apparently his elementary school won the whole competition and several students were also being honored. So, less than 24 hours after their brilliant debate debut Britton and Collin were back together again sporting their latest award.

We were on the 9th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and the room was full.

 

Britton and Collin gave a short speech when they accepted their award and did a great job.

 

 

It was pretty fancy and I wondered who was paying for it. The Director of the Utah Division of Securities got up and told us we should thank the crooks for paying for our lunch.  Apparently some of the money they collect from criminals when they find investment fraud in the state of Utah goes to education and "The Stock Market Game" is an outlet of that.  So, I would like to thank the latest Ponzi scammer to get caught for my yummy lunch!

In addition to their plaques and a big trophy for the school they each got $50.00 to put in their 529 college savings account.

 

It was such a fun day.  The weather was gorgeous and the kids were absolutely thrilled with the recognition. 

 

Jameson got to know the hallway of the 9th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg very well.

 

 

Maybe some day he will be able to sit still long enough to enjoy lunch in a fancy place. Unfortunately, that day is not today.

 

This wasn't the only payout this week.  Remember that darn "practice-a-thon" for orchestra? The one where I had to ask Britton to STOP practicing?  Well, at the end of the 2 weeks Britton and Jenna logged in 30 hours of practice each.  30 HOURS! It will come as no surprise that they won the whole thing (I'm sure no one else in the valley even came close) and this week they got their rewards.  Between the 2 of them they received:

 

2 tickets to a Utah Festival Opera performance this summer (a $98.00 value)

A $40.00 gift card to the Elements Restaurant (The fanciest restaurant in town)

Free dessert at the Bluebird

Free passes to the Jump Zone trampoline park

Free crazy bread at Little Ceasers

 

Boo-yah! All of this requires a parent and I am more than willing to be that parent!  This definitely makes up for the 2 straight weeks of practice that would drive any parent crazy.  30 minutes of practice --good. 30 HOURS of practice--not so fun.  I do appreciate the competitive spirit that motivates Britton and Jenna to go above and beyond, however, even if it does drive me nuts at times.