Wake Up Wednesday coffee program run by students
Coshocton Elementary School administrative assistant Tonya McVay chats with Karissa Tatro for a moment after receiving a tea from her classroom’s Wake Up Wednesday program. Adults in the classroom make the hot beverages and hand them off to staff members who purchased them, but the students push the delivery cart and ask if they want any sweeteners or creamers. Josie Sellers | Beacon
COSHOCTON – For the past month, Wednesday morning has been an extra busy day for Kathleen Laughlin’s students.
The intervention specialist at Coshocton Elementary School runs a coffee delivery program out of her self-contained classroom.
“We average about 35-40 orders a week and have a lot of regulars,” Laughlin said. “It’s been really well received.”
Order forms are made available to staff members throughout the building. For $1 they can have either a Starbucks Pike Place Roast coffee, decaf coffee, black tea, green tea or hot chocolate delivered right to their classroom or office.
“I heard about the idea from my daughter because they do it at her school building in Wooster,” Laughlin said. “I thought it was a fantastic idea. They are gaining employability skills and have the opportunity to work on social skills. I’m also all about community service.”
Wake Up Wednesday deliveries are typically made from 9:15 to 11 a.m. and Laughlin has the students take turns pushing around their delivery cart. They also ask their customers if they would like any sweeteners or creamers for their beverage.
Everyone is Laughlin’s room agreed that it’s been a fun project to be part of.
“I get to see different parts of the building and talk to people,” said sixth grader Karissa Tatro.
Sometimes they also get to enjoy their own hot chocolate.
“We put creamer in it,” Tatro said.
Her favorite is the Cold Stone Sweet Creamer.
Fourth grader Kaylee Newman said she likes that they take turns pushing the coffee cart and get to talk to people.
Her classmate Chelsey LeMaster also shared her thoughts.
“We love it,” said the fourth grader.
Their customers also love Wake Up Wednesday.
“I’m paid up for the year,” said Crystal Dixon, a staff member in one of the preschool rooms. “It’s refreshing and is a pick me up in the middle of the week. I look forward to it and the kids are gaining communications skills which is great.”
The school’s PTO provided start-up funds for the program and McDonald’s donated cup holders to help get them started. Laughlin said any money raised this year will be put right back into the program to keep it going.
Category: Education
