Grade 8 students at St. Francis French Immersion Catholic Elementary School recently explored the world of entrepreneurship during the school’s annual Entrepreneurship Day. This exciting initiative was designed to inspire creativity, develop problem-solving skills, and teach students the fundamentals of running a small business.

Originally launched last year for Grade 7 and 8 students, after the classes visited a job fair, the project was tailored exclusively for Grade 8 students this year, making it a meaningful way to kick off their final year of elementary school. 

“The idea for Entrepreneurship Day really came from a job fair we attended last year,” said Anna Gillespie, a Grade 8 teacher at St. Francis French Immersion. “Our students saw firsthand what it was like to work as an entrepreneur and got excited about careers that didn’t involve sitting at a desk all day. Another exciting component of this project is that students had the opportunity to connect with real business owners and hear directly about what it takes to run a business.”

Since December, students have worked diligently in teams to conceptualize, plan, and bring their businesses to life. Thanks to grant funding, each student received $100 in startup capital to purchase materials and turn their ideas into reality. 

“The Entrepreneurship Education Pilot Projects, funded by the Ministry, is a fantastic hands-on experiential learning initiative aimed at empowering students with an entrepreneurial mindset and introducing the skills needed to run a small business,” said Paula Trainor, Experiential Learning Lead. “With guidance from local industry partners, our students developed creativity, resilience, and problem-solving skills that could help turn their projects into long-term ventures. We’re excited to showcase one of our student projects at the Provincial Showcase in Toronto, which is coming up in May.”

On Tuesday, February 25, the school welcomed parents and fellow students eager to see the results of the students’ hard work. Each team developed a comprehensive business plan outlining their company’s purpose, goals, and operations before officially launching their products for sale. The funds raised were designated for their upcoming Grade 8 graduation trip, further enhancing their understanding of business and money management. 

The students’ creativity and entrepreneurial spirit shone through as they launched seven unique businesses:

• Golden Glow Candles – Handmade candles in a variety of sizes and scents.
• Handcrafted Boards – Custom-designed charcuterie boards made from scratch.
• Tone of You – A personalized scent company offering customizable fragrances for men and women.
• Peak Hydration – A hydration beverage brand infused with electrolytes.
• Heavenly Dough Bakery Bites – A bakery specializing in sweet treats for every occasion.
• Crunch Crave – A food venture putting a unique spin on Korean street food.
• ARGO Blocks – A toy company featuring fun, creative building blocks.

Beyond learning how to develop and launch a business, students gained valuable real-world skills such as teamwork, financial literacy, and problem-solving—skills that will serve them well in any career path. For many, this experience has been a transformative journey of growth and learning.

“It was fun to use a shop to create our boards for our business, Handcrafted Boards,” said Cole, a Grade 8 student at St. Francis French Immersion. “We had a great time building them and worked really well as a team.”

As a testament to their hard work, the young entrepreneurs will present their businesses to the Board of Trustees at the next Board Meeting on March 19. This opportunity further enhances their real-world experience, reinforcing the value of hands-on learning, creativity and leadership.