Coffee cart rolls into Edison

MILAN — Edison Elementary School's new initiative for students blends lessons they need in school while preparing them with valuable skills, regardless of their age, required throughout life. Earlier this school year, district educators brewed up what's known as the Chargers Coffee Cart. Happening weekly on Friday mornings at the Milan-based elementary school, with help from workers there, students prepare coffee, other drinks and desserts based on orders placed by teachers. But they're more than just baristas. They personally deliver these orders to teachers, aides, administrators and other personnel throughout this multistory building. Three district educators working in the building — Pamela Grames, Ryan Gwin and Aubree McMinn — all help oversee this program and assist children in fulfilling these orders. All three collectively called this experience rewarding not only for children but also for themselves. They answered some questions about this program: Q: What is the Chargers Coffee Cart? A: It was created this year as a program for some of our students to get extra support in engaging in social interactions that require communication skills that will hopefully follow them well into their future. Q: How does the ordering process work? A: We get orders through Google Forms, and then we make tickets and we make it. (We offer) coffee with the options of sugar or flavor, hot chocolate and pastries. A different staff member graciously donates pastries for the coffee cart each week. Q: How many students are involved with the coffee cart? A: There are 14 first-grade students and 12 kindergarten students. Q: What are the lessons children are learning? A: The students are learning a lot about: • Social and communication skills — Students are having to greet other teachers. We always tell them to say, "Good morning" and, "How are you?" We encourage them to make eye contact when talking to the teachers or staff members. • Money: Students are learning about what a dollar is and what cents are. They are in charge of counting change. The students then say how much the item costs and take the change. • Kindness: We have the students always say, "Thank you for ordering," and "Have a good day." Q: What benefits are students getting out of this? A: The students are gaining vital social skills and communication skills as well as having a lot of fun. The students ask Ms. McMinn every day, "How many days until coffee cart day?" The kindergarten students are always ecstatic when Mr. Gwin comes to their classrooms and asks them to join the coffee cart for the day. Q: What does the staff get out of this? A: (They get) coffee and pastries in the middle of their busy school day as well as interaction with current, former and future students, depending on what grade they teach. Q: Is this something that will be a one-time deal or will it continue into next school year? A: We plan on keeping it rolling next year. Q: How does this advance the curriculum for students and the mission statement of Edison Schools? Please explain. A: The overall mission of the district is to provide our students with a progressive course of study that contributes and collectively develops a mastery of their intellectual, moral, social, physical and aesthetic growth. We feel the coffee cart is helping our students achieve this via the social interactions that involve communicating and interacting with staff members and peers. We also feel that it is teaching our students real-life math concepts, such as counting and taking change, that will be helpful as they continue to grow and learn past the halls of Edison Elementary.