CHESTERFIELD INLET - More than 100 people started their day off right in Chesterfield Inlet earlier this month when Victor Sammurtok school held its fourth annual pancake breakfast and special events day.

Jeanine Ippiak gets a load of berries put on her plate by Jeannie Tautu as Rosalie Sammurtok waits to serve the next tasty treat during a special pancake breakfast at Victor Sammurtok school in Chester earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Glen Brocklebank

Special guests from the departments of Mental Health and Social Services helped prepare this year's breakfast, as did local principal Bruce Penney and Inuglak school principal Charles Anderson of Whale Cove.

Teacher Glen Brocklebank said the breakfast was a prelude to a day of special activities at the school.

"We had a pretty good turnout, once again, with about 130 people stopping by for breakfast," said Brocklebank.

"We started cooking at 7 a.m. and we were serving by 8 a.m.

"After the parents and students had their breakfast, those who wanted to headed to the school gym to watch the movie, Monsters Inc.

"The school's spirit teams then took part in the fourth annual broomball tournament to close out the day."

The special day is held to thank the students for coming to school on a regular basis, and for working hard on their subjects and class projects.

It's also a way to open the school to the community and encourage parents, friends and family members to come and see what the students are accomplishing.

Brocklebank said the special volunteers put in a lot of work each year to prepare the breakfast.

He said this year's celebrity cooks went through a case of bacon and a case of pancakes.

"We were cooking pancakes and bacon for more than two hours and when everything was finished, there wasn't one thing left.

"Everyone worked hard to start serving by 8 a.m. so our hamlet workers could stop by for a quick bite before starting work.

"We also had the nurses in from the health centre and some housing employees, so it was a super time for everybody."