Hardyston MIddle school hosts first TREP$ Marketplace

HARDYSTON — Hardyston Township Middle School welcomed the public on Nov. 26 to their very first TREP$ Marketplace.
Around 33 young entrepreneurs launched their own creative and innovative products for the public to buy.
In preparation for the marketplace, Hardyston Middle School students, ages 10–14, participated in the six week award-winning TREP$ after-school program, where they learned entrepreneurship, product development, and marketing.
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Hamburg and the Hardyston Township P.T.A. sponsored the event.
Workshop Facilitator Karen Dunn greeted the public saying, “We are so proud to be here and have this happen. The kids are so excited. Enjoy what the kids did here.”
Chief School Administrator Mike Ryder thanked the Hardyston P.T.A, Kiwanis Club, Hardyston Board of Education, and parents, “who made it all happen. Let the selling begin.”
He then cut the ceremonial red ribbon before cheerful shoppers entered the gym to buy presents.
Kiwanis President and TREP$ Market Publicity Coordinator Anita Collins said, it was the very first, and they hoped annual, Hardyston Middle School TREP$ Market.
Ryder explained, it is a board and district goal to get the community more involved. He continued, Vice Principal Robert Demeter had been talking about TREP$ for a couple years; and then the Kiwanis Club knocked on their door asking, “Can we volunteer for something?”
Collins said they had heard about the board’s goal to work with the public and said, “We’re public. We want to help.” The Kiwanis mission, she explained, is to help the children of the greater community.
She also gave credit to the P.T.A., who had financed the market.
Demeter said the Student Council helped with the market; the WSRX community radio station came to support; the P.T.A. president attended to ensure everything ran well; board members attended; and the Hardyston parents always stepped up to help make great programming.”
“It truly is a community outreach,” he said.
Collins commented, a mother had just said, “Thank you,” because her children had always wanted to participate in a Hardyston TREP$ Marketplace after visiting other marketplaces throughout the county. Now it happened, Collins said, and the family was delighted.
TREP$ Originator Pamela de Waal visited the Hardyston TREP$ Marketplace, asked students about their products, and took photos for the TREP$ Facebook Album.
She told Collins, the kids “really know their stuff. Congratulations.” Adding, she thought TREP$ is now in 115 schools, “It’s spreading. It’s exciting.”
In the marketplace, money passed hands between satisfied customers and savvy entrepreneurs.
Items for sale were: Sarah’s Sweet Charms, Trick Treats, Paper Boats, Kaya’s Christmas Ornaments, Lovely lotion, Pocket of Sunshine, Fortnite Art, B&B Perler Beads, Bella’s all natural sugar scrub, Barker’s Dozen, Joy’s Jewelry, Bubble Stick, Erwin Designs, Kellan’s Galaxy Soap, Cookie Jars, A&O Slime, Outstanding Origami, Maggie’s Munchies, Country Quotes, Adore-A-Jarables, Davin’s Jewlery, Johnathan’s Surprise, Logan’s Jewelry, Brit’s Christmas Cheer, Double A’s Lip Balm, O-Dog Signs & Jewelry, Savannah’s Scents, and Amy’s Lovely Decorations.
In addition, a Student Council member in a huge Santa hat worked with Blanket Boutique.
Marketing Entrepreneur Tyler advertised “Slime Time” two rows away announcing, “If you got the time, we got the slime.”
His dad was pleasantly impressed at how aggressively Tyler marketed his product.