Spence Bay (Mar 27/06) - You could smell the success at the Netsilik school in Taloyoak. For the “Food Venture” project, students had to make and sell food to their classmates.

Every day for a week, Tanya Qanguaq (left) and Annette Jayko slaved over their trademark cinnamon rolls and pizza. Students at the Netsilik school approved, the two budding business-people sold out every day. - photo courtesy of Gina Pizzo

Aside from coming up with a high-quality product, the students also had to keep an eye on their costs, their price, and all of the other factors that make running a business a challenge.

“It showed them what you need to be in first place, it takes more of an effort. It has to look good and taste good,” said Gina Pizzo, the principal of the school.

While the students laboured over hot stoves, their fellow students had a range of food to choose from. Chili, cookies, pizza, tacos and spaghetti with meatballs were a few of the items up for sale.

“When I first saw (the first place team’s) prices, I thought they would have to mark them down. They proved me wrong,” said Pizzo, of Cecile Lyall and Margaret Neeveacheak Steele’s cinnamon rolls and macaroons.

Patricia Lyall and her partner Naomi Eetoolook had a simple plan. “We thought that most people in town like pizza and tacos, so that’s what we made,” said Lyall.

That straight-forward approach landed the girls in second place.

All 10 student businesses turned a profit, ranging from $69 to $290.