For over forty years Central Kitsap High School has run it’s student store, the Cougar Den, as a way for students to buy edible goods during lunch, as well as make a little extra money for the school. 

The Cougar Den provides money for both the school’s ASB and DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America). ASB gets 25% of all of the student store’s profits while a portion of the profits goes towards getting CK’s DECA team out to their conferences. 

The student store is completely run, during both lunches, by students in Kerri Ferate’s Store Ops and Business Management classes. Ms. Ferate teaches business-related classes, which includes running the student store. She hopes that, by providing these classes, students will learn how to handle a work environment. “All the students get hands-on work experience, so they’re actually running the cash registers, making smoothies and frappes, as well as running the espresso machine.”

The Cougar Den both gives students an opportunity to gain experience in a work environment.  Not only do students learn how to work in a fast-paced setting, but they also are expected to learn responsibility, dependability and have the ability to work together.  Senior, Johnny Willems, signed up for Store Ops for its flexible class dynamic as well as wanting more work experience. 

“Working in the Cougar Den I feel like I’ve really developed a better work ethic and good cooperation skills. I know it’s really going to help me succeed in an actual job.”