Charlo students hold annual auction
Hannah Harriman, 7, a second grade student at Charlo Elementary, holds a doll she bought at an auction held in her classroom Friday, Dec. 21. (Ashley Fox photos/Lake County Leader)
Kylie Cox, 8, a second grade student at Charlo Elementary, contemplates an item during an auction her teacher, Danielle Frisk, held just before Christmas.
While the schools that were in session on Friday, Dec. 21 were filled with anxious kiddos waiting to start their holiday break, the second-grade classroom at Charlo Elementary was boistrous, but for a different reason.
Teacher Danielle Frisk carried on the annual tradition of an auction with her 19 students.
“We have two auctions a year,” she explained, adding that in addition to the Christmas auction, there is also another at the end of the school year.
Among their eager classmates were Hannah Harriman, 7, and Kylie Cox, 8.
Both girls participated in the auction, with Hannah ‘purchasing’ a doll that she could be seen hugging, while Kylie bought a bag and hat, along with other trinkets.
Frisk said that the auction is a way to help students apply money concepts.
Students use play money to purchase donated items that Frisk auctions off, usually beginning the bidding at 10 cents.
Students interested in an item stand, and sit if they decide they don’t want the item.
The last student standing receives the item, taking their money to Frisk, counting it to her.
“Having students earn money and keeping track of their amount gives them a real purpose for counting money,” Frisk said.
Hannah and Kylie, who earned $8.85 and $8.65 respectively, said that the class began earning their money at the beginning of the school year.
Students earn money by doing homework and other tasks assigned by Frisk, Hannah said, with Kylie adding that wages are also given when students follow policy guidelines for being ‘champions.’
The items up for auction range from camping gear to jewelry.
Both Hannah and Kylie said they helped donate to the event by cleaning out their rooms, bringing some items that their classmates could use.
In addition to the students learning how to handle money, Frisk said the auction also gives the students a change to give back to their classmates-people they love.
Once the auction-which took up a good part of the day-came to a close, Frisk helped students wrap some of the items with wrapping paper and ribbons that parents donated.
“Without this auction some of them would not be able to have gifts to give,” Frisk said.