Students create hoodie to remember home schooling
Two Warragul mates have joined forces during COVID-19 to create a hoodie brand.
The pair, 10-year-old Billy Jones and 11-yearold Alex Hare, have learnt many real-life lessons as they take steps to become young entrepreneurs – all whilst undertaking remote learning.
The final result is GOAT hoodies which are now available for purchase. The hoodies are a form of mateship and souvenir of the homeschool experience.
The grade five students live one street away from each other and spent their recess and lunch breaks enjoying bike rides. It was during these rides they talked about wanting to start a hoodie brand.
After days spent sketching and brainstorming, the name of GOAT (standing for Greatest of All Time) was decided and the design locked away. They took the plunge and ordered 40 hoodies.
“We really like to wear hoodies and think that other kids might like to wear a GOAT hoodie to remember their home-school time,” said Alex.
“We hope that people will buy our hoodies because we owe a lot of money and I don’t want to be doing jobs around the house to pay our debt off,” added Billy.
With remote learning over and kids unlikely to forget the experience where they learnt online and couldn’t see friends, the boys hope the hoodie can stand for mateship and act as a souvenir.
“The school we go to (St Paul’s) are doing a time capsule,” said Alex. “Maybe the school can put a hoodie in the capsule so we can all look back in years to come and remember this crazy time in our lives.”
In this entrepreneurial journey, Billy and Alex have learnt about profit and loss, copyright, marketing, stock control in spreadsheets and risk.
Whilst they have sold half the stock to schoolmates, they haven’t yet made a profit.
They are working towards the goal of selling all stock so they can reinvest their profits into another project.
GOAT hoodies are available via their “GOATZ Brand” Facebook and “@goatzfam” Instagram page in sizes six, eight, 10, 12 and 14 for $49.95.
Alternatively, call 0448 261 407 for further information.
Five teachers and a student from Marist-Sion College in Warragul have been recognised for dedication with Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Awards.
Religious education teacher Michael Hall received a Spirit of Catholic Education Award for inspiring faith.
Marist-Sion College principal Peter Houlahan said Mr Hall had made a significant contribution to the development of the faith lives of many students at Marist-Sion during his 35 years of teaching.
“Michael has an immense dedication to his profession and Catholic schools in general. His authentic and heartfelt teaching, along with his high expectations of his students, ensure that all in his care make the most of their learning opportunities,” he said.
Long-time teachers Dean Hendrikse, Debra Robson, Helen Davine and Judy Whiteside each received service awards in recognition of 25 years or more of service to Australian Catholic education.
Year 12 student Rachel Willig was also recognised for achieving a study score over 40 in VCE Religion and Society in 2019, as a year 11 student.
“All five of the teachers recognised with awards this year have dedicated themselves to ensuring every student is able to reach their full potential, as Rachel did in Religion and Society last year,” said Mr Houlahan.
A further six staff members from schools across the diocese also received awards. Recipients will be recognised at a special Eucharist in Warragul during term four.