The scent of vanilla and chocolate cake wafts through the Life Skills class at , leading to the creation of something truly EPIC.
This year marked the launch of EPIC Cakes (Every Person is Capable) 鈥� a Life Skills baking initiative that has already stirred up excitement and sweet success across the school community.
Equipping students with real-life baking skills, the program provides students in the Life Skills class a hands-on opportunity to bake, create, and build confidence through entrepreneurial learning. From shopping for ingredients to carefully measuring, mixing, and decorating their very own personal cakes, students are involved in every step of the process.
The program made its debut with a Valentine鈥檚 Day soft launch, selling more than 100 cakes to staff! The momentum continued with a Mother鈥檚 Day sale that saw another 80 cakes lovingly prepared and sold.
With 100% of proceeds reinvested into the program, EPIC Cakes is self-sustaining, relying on donations and cake sales to keep ingredients stocked and the oven baking. A generous contribution from the HCDSB Curriculum Department that donated entrepreneurial funds gave the program a strong start 鈥� but there’s still room to grow.
Currently, the classroom鈥檚 small convection oven can only bake six cakes at a time. Students and staff hope to one day have a full-size oven and expanded baking capacity, with donations and support from the community.
For School Principal, Josie Halycz, the EPIC Cakes initiative is a shining example of what鈥檚 possible:
鈥淭his program has been a beautiful reminder that every student has the ability to shine when given the opportunity,鈥� says Principal Halycz. 鈥淲atching our Life Skills students grow in confidence, independence, and pride in their work has been nothing short of inspiring. EPIC Cakes is more than a baking program 鈥� it鈥檚 a celebration of capability, creativity, and community.鈥�
With direct support from Ms. Condello and Ms. Lopez, the team behind EPIC cakes at St. Ignatius of Loyola hopes to keep the momentum going 鈥� one personal cake at a time!
