UPPER CANADA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
SGDHS Students Turn Classroom Project into Thriving Custom Apparel Business

What began as a classroom project has turned into a thriving student-led business at South Grenville District High School (SGDHS). During the 2024-25 school year, Grade 7 students launched an ambitious Real-World Learning (RWL) initiative a custom apparel venture they named Giants Ink.

With guidance from their teacher, Andrew Carson, students began designing and producing items such as clothing, decals, and stickers. Their creativity quickly gained the attention of local organizations and businesses, leading to real contracts and hands-on business experience.

As the year progressed, students realized that higher-quality production required professional-grade equipment, so they took their learning one step further by crafting a detailed business plan and pitching it to the UCDSB's RWL Team in the spring. Impressed by their professionalism and vision, the RWL Team approved funding for a state-of-the-art direct to film printer that has helped them take Giants Ink to the next level.

With this new equipment on hand, the 2025-26 school year is seeing Giants Ink produce custom apparel for a range of community groups, local businesses, and neighbouring elementary schools. Most recently, the team created shirts for the Spencerville Kraft Hockeyville campaign, helping celebrate local hockey pride and community spirit in the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal.

Now in Grade 8, Giants Ink founding students continue to operate the business outside of school time, spending a few hours a week after school preparing designs and running the heat press.

"It means the world to me that they give up their own time and they actually want to learn to do this, and they see the bigger picture," said teacher Andrew Carson. "They're helping their community and exploring possible future careers in the apparel business or being an entrepreneur."

Through their work, students are developing valuable skills in design, marketing, budgeting, customer service, and entrepreneurship all while giving back. Ten per cent of all Giants Ink profits are donated to Connect Youth, a local organization that provides resources, programming, and advocacy for young people in Leeds and Grenville.

"It's fun to help out, especially when we're giving some to Connect Youth," said Giants Ink founder and current Grade 8 student Gracie Foreman.

"It's like you're in the word problem," added student Mikaella Bellefeuille. "Instead of just writing down the answer, you're actually doing it. I saw someone in town wearing our shirt and I said "I made that!"

Student Sophie Pope spoke about the advantages of the RWL approach. "Instead of sitting down in a classroom you actually get to do it and you learn a lot more. Some people would want to do this in their job, so it gives you more opportunities."

The next task on the teams' to-do list is to step into their teachers' shoes and help train the incoming Grade 7 students in all aspects of the business, so they too can benefit from this unique, hands-on learning experience and push the business forward.