Grove Goodies: Fostering Stewardship, Entrepreneurship, and Community at LCS

The new Grove Goodies initiative is a powerful testament to the capacity of student leadership at LCS. This project was conceived and executed by a group of ambitious Grade 10 students, Ben ’25, Louisa ’25, Jeronimo ’25, Jud ’25, Hannah ’25, and Audrey ’25.

Grove Goodies is a pop-up tuck shop that appears at school events and performances to provide students, staff, and faculty with a venue to purchase sweets and snacks to complement the festivities they’re attending. While the idea was originally developed by our Grade 10 students, it is designed to serve everyone on campus. The proceeds raised from this initiative will be directed toward student financial aid as well as local and international charities. Since its inception, Grove Goodies has already made appearances at performances of Something Rotten!, K-Rod, and the staff-student basketball game.

So, what motivated these students to start Grove Goodies? In their own words, "we wanted to do something that benefits the community and gives everyone a tasty treat. We hoped to attract more students to spirit events. You don't fully live the LCS experience if you don't attend spirit events, and having snacks available is a good motivator. Ultimately, our goal is to make people happy."

The benefits of students running Grove Goodies are clear. As an educator, Ms. Dalrymple sees this initiative as a unique example of stewardship in action. “The Grade 10 LCV pillar is stewardship, and these students are embodying that spirit. Additionally, this initiative is the epitome of authentic learning and community-first. The students saw a need in their community and sought a way to meet it. They had a vision, developed the concept, and created a business plan. They identified potential obstacles or challenges and trouble-shot them.”

In preparation to launch Grove Goodies, the Grade 10s created a business pitch. They met with Ms. Kee and Mr. Rutherford to clarify some of the logistical and financial details. After that, they gave a presentation to the leadership team, answered their questions, and received their approval. They have also made a concerted effort to align with some of our school's environmental stewardship and wellbeing goals when deciding which products to sell.

It is also worth mentioning that the students were so committed to getting Grove Goodies off the ground that they each contributed $20 in seed money. They also created a promotional strategy: they made chapel announcements, Edsby posts, flyers for bulletin boards, and set up an Instagram account (@grovegoodies).

The Grove Goodies initiative is a demonstration of the strength of student leadership. These Grade 10s saw an opportunity to make their community better, and they took it. They created a successful business model that not only benefits the school community but also contributes to various charitable causes. Their initiative has set a positive example for other students and shows the limitless potential of what student leadership can accomplish. 

We look forward to enjoying the array of snacks sold by Grove Goodies at upcoming events!