Students and staff at Wright City High School can now get their caffeine fix without having to interrupt their morning commute. As part of its effort to be proactive in preparing its students to be …
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Students and staff at Wright City High School can now get their caffeine fix without having to interrupt their morning commute.
As part of its effort to be proactive in preparing its students to be career and college ready, the special education department at R-II has introduced Catfe Coffee Shop. Students in the work experience program operate the shop four days a week, learning to interact and develop customer service skills.
“Last year we realized our work experience program needed some improvement,” said Special Education Director David Herod. “We wanted to see what we could do to give our kids some employment opportunities.”
Transition Coordinator and Special Education instructor Pam Hambach introduced the idea after learning of a school in Collinsville, Ill., running a similar program. A coffee distributor offered to partner with the district, coming in with a presentation to administration and staff.
“We saw it was a really good idea and would be a great opportunity for us to start this program,” said Herod.
The first month’s supplies were donated by a student’s parent who works for Ronnocco. Hambach spent the initial week of school training students, before Catfe opened for business in mid-August. Students raised $246 the first month and have been able to replenish supplies with their revenue. Catfe is open from around 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
“It’s work experience that could be meaningful to their chosen career path,” said Herod. “A lot of our kids don’t have opportunities out in the community to learn some of the skills.”
Teachers from other buildings will also stop in to grab a cup of coffee, and the shop is looking to expand its offerings to tea, cappuccinos and hot chocolate.
“We think it’s something that’s really well-centered for the kids, but also kind of an outreach to the teachers and staff,” said Herod.
Students from the special education department at Wright City High School have been operating the Brew and Gold Catfe Coffee Shop four mornings a week since the beginning of the school year. Record photo/Derrick Forsythe.
Richard Demler
