As students, teachers, alumni and faculty entered the Stanley G. Falk School’s Cambridge campus, they were greeted by enticing aromas and bright smiles at the opening day of the school’s newest hotspot – “The Hungry Pug Café.” This café was run by none other than Mr. Costello’s seventh grade class.
Mr. Costello’s knew his students would benefit from doing a hands-on project with real-world scenarios. Fortunately, his classroom has a kitchen area where students can learn culinary skills. In addition to teaching the students how to cook, Mr. Costello wanted his students to learn about job readiness for entry-level positions in the service industry.
At the start of the project, students filled out job applications and had a formal interview with the “owner” of The Hungry Pug Café, Stephanie Novo, Principal at Falk – Cambridge.
“It’s a really cool experience for students to be able to practice skills that are important in the workforce,” said Ms. Novo. “Many students learned which jobs they preferred and where their skillset lies.”
After Ms. Novo provided feedback to the students regarding their interviews, they started developing the menu for the café. Every omelet was named after the student who created it, – and there were a variety of breakfast options on the menu including pancakes, waffles, French toast, crepes and breakfast sandwiches.
The week the restaurant opened, students rotated different jobs such as serving, hosting, operating the cash register and cooking meals.
This work-based initiative occurs year-round at the Cambridge campus, with the Cambridge Café opening for three hours every morning in the summer. Students in the work study program raise money for the school by selling breakfast food to faculty members.
“Our students have demonstrated a strong interest in the culinary arts and learning how to run a business, so we try to incorporate it as often as possible” explained Ms. Novo. “Being a part of something like this helps grow their confidence and strengthens their interactions with others.”
A round of applause goes out to all the talented students operating The Hungry Pug Café!