By Katie Vasquez
Milkshakes, sundaes and other sweet treats filled the halls of St. Joseph Catholic Academy this week, but the lesson behind the desserts went far beyond sugar and sprinkles.
Seventh graders at the Astoria school created and ran their own small businesses as part of a hands-on entrepreneurship project, learning how to price products, market to customers and manage responsibilities under a tight deadline.
Teacher John Barry said the goal was to give students an early taste of the real world.
“The kids had a lot more responsibility,” Barry said. “They usually do this over a trimester, but this time they did it in just three weeks.”
Students quickly learned that running a business involved more than just serving ice cream. Teams like Smiley Scoops conducted research to determine how much to charge for each cup or cone.
“We wanted to make it cheap so Astoria could afford it,” said seventh grader Valentina Tominovick. “Who doesn’t like cheap stuff? Get a deal.”
Customer service was also a major focus for businesses such as Frozen Fantasy. Seventh grader Meadow DiChiara said her team made respect a priority.
“We wanted to treat customers with the utmost respect,” DiChiara said. “Like they’re our best friends, supporting us on our journey of making this stand.”
Each of the four student-run businesses presented their plans to classmates Thursday. One group, Cherry on Top, leaned heavily into social media marketing to promote its brand.
“We all shared the login and took turns posting,” said seventh grader Milan Herrera. “We’d design background photos and captions after school or on weekends. When we reached 100 followers, it was a big deal.”
For some students, the project sparked ambitions beyond the classroom. Seventh grader Anthony Primiani said the experience inspired him to start his own year-round neighborhood business.
“I had a really fun time, and it encouraged me to start my own mini business,” Primiani said. “I do things like shoveling, pulling weeds and sweeping leaves.”
A panel of judges sampled the final products and declared a tie between Sundae Scoops and Cherry on Top.