Riverside Senior Kindergarten students bake cupcakes in support of OSPCA

Main photo: (back row from left) Jack Arrowsmith, Liam Jones, Jack Hampton, Jacob Montpetit, (front row) Ellie Foxcroft, Claudia Kruger, Josh Gevaert, Quinten Cool

February 29 is National Cupcake Day 2016, an event created by the Ontario and BC SPCAs to “bake” a difference for animals.

A small but enthusiastic group of Senior Kindergarten French Immersion students at Riverside Public School baked cupcakes in class today in support of the Ontario SPCA – Muskoka Animal Centre. The class will be selling them to students, school staff, and visitors on Tuesday, March 1 and Wednesday, March 2.

Due to school bus cancellations, only eight of the classroom’s 31 students baked dozens of cupcakes with help from staff, but they will all be eager to sell them and see the results of their effort pay off for the charity.

“We’re going to sell them and we’re not going to keep the money,” said Claudia Kruger. “We’re going to count it and then we’re going to donate it.”

“We’re going to give it to the ‘aminals’,” added Ellie Foxcroft. When asked how much she thought they’d raise she said, “One hundred!”

Liam Jones hopes it will help the animals and thought that if the OSPCA were to buy some toys it might make the animals happy. “My cat’s name is Cookie,” he said with a grin. “She’s silly. She chases the light on the floor,” he said, explaining that he shines the light from his toy Ironman sleeve for her to chase.”Toys, I guess (make them happy).”

Teacher Lisa McIlmoyle read about the initiative online and thought it would be a fun thing for students. “They all love animals, and I love cupcakes,” she laughed.

Their team – the Riverside Sweetie Treaties – also has an online donation page on the National Cupcake Day website here to collect donations for the cause.