Valentine joy in Chesterfield Inlet
Annual school community breakfast still a hit in 15th year
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
CHESTERFIELD INLET
It was a gym full of smiling faces and happy tummies as Victor Sammurtok School hosted its 15th annual Valentine's Day Pancake Breakfast this past Friday in Chesterfield Inlet.
Charlotte Kattegatsiak and her son, Hunter, have some tasty treats before heading to work and day care during the annual Valentine's Day Pancake Breakfast at Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet on Feb. 10, 2017. - photo courtesy of Glen Brocklebank |
Teacher Ana Leishman said the annual breakfast was started by then-principal Reed Smith in 2003 and, because it worked so well, staff members took it on and kept the tradition going when Smith left the community.
She said the event has stayed popular because kids in the community look forward to it every year and it's a fun activity for everyone to enjoy.
"You build a community through food, and this is one of those good ways to do that," said Leishman.
"Everyone on staff pitches in and, this year, some of my students in Grade 9 and Grade 10 helped cook the sausages and bacon the day before the breakfast so they were ready ahead of time.
"Then a few of us came in around 7 a.m. on the big day to get things started, and we were joined by members of the RCMP.
"Some people do the cooking, some the serving and others monitor the hallways and supervise the kids afterwards."
Leishman said once breakfast is over, everybody helps to get things cleaned up and put away.
She said it's a total team effort, and that includes a number of students who help out.
"During the past few weeks, I couldn't guess how many times kids have asked me how many more days until the breakfast.
"If anything, I'd say it's still growing in popularity."
About 150 people are served at the breakfast, and the school goes through a small mountain of bacon and sausages.
Leishman said the event attracts people from every part of the community.
She said it's always great to see so many people at the school and having a great time.
"The nurses have always driven to the breakfast and we usually have a lot of elders attend.
"We try to have it started by 8:30 a.m., so the hamlet workers can come in before starting their day.
"We usually have a good representation from everyone in town at our Valentine's Day Pancake Breakfast.
In years past, the school hosted afternoon activities to make it a totally fun day for the students.
Leishman said this year, the teachers opted to do something special in their own classrooms.
"This year, as well, the students in my Grade 9 and Grade 10 aulajaaqtut program are running a candy-gram program, so people could spend $2 on candy and the students delivered it all in the afternoon.
"That kind of went along with our Valentine's Day theme, and the program teaches the students a bit about entrepreneurship.
"So, every year there's something a little different that goes along with the event, depending, usually, if there's any type of theme going on at the school at the time, but we stay consistent with our breakfast menu of pancakes, Cool Whip, strawberries, bacon and big, big sausages.
"It's a winner!"
