During the last weeks of September, Central High’s very own C.A.F.E. reopened after an exciting beginning in 2024. It has had a successful first few days of operation, after every student involved had the proper training and preparation over a few weeks.
You may remember the C.A.F.E. (an acronym for Central Apparel Fashion and Eatery) being open only during advisory last year, but this year is going to be a little different. The Work-Based Learning program has changed from a single advisory period to a full-on enterprise and class. The C.A.F.E. has a brand new group of students for this school year and is even merging with Mr.Travis’ Supply Chain Management class. As a result, he C.A.F.E. is expanding and growing with new items and an entirely new system being developed.
The first year was about creating a basic structure that every subsequent group of students can build on. That year focused on creating things and seeing what works and what doesn’t. As a bigger class, the C.A.F.E. has already undergone great changes, like its organization, leadership, and when it will be open. Since it’s a class during the first period, the C.A.F.E. will be open in the morning at 7:30 and will last all the way into advisory. As the class works with Supply Chain Management, they have already developed a new structure with different systems of the C.A.F.E., especially with managing the products and overall leadership.
Not only is this program growing in numbers, but it is also gaining lots of respect from fellow teachers and administration. Principal, Dr. LeAngela Rogers, says, “I look forward to supporting the program in any way I can.”
Students this year will work on expanding everything and making it even better than it was last year, with better systems, organization, and more special opportunities. The hope is that, over the years, the C.A.F.E. will continue to grow and improve, with more and more people working toward its success. This year, there are some new faces in the group that are already making and developing new ideas and changes that will deeply impact the store and coffee shop. One of these new faces is Lincoln Marquardt, who is already creating new ideas with the Retail Store and marketing, something the C.A.F.E. needs. Another new face, Jordan Lee, is a part of the advisory side of the SBE, as he already thinks this opportunity “…could provide important job knowledge and experience needed… to get a nice job early on.” Mr. Travis’s group is already putting in tons of work and collaborating with Mr.Russell, our SBE Coordinator, one of the best examples being the reorganization of our coffee shop.
The Central C.A.F.E. has gone through so many major changes this year, and it will continue to grow as the students develop better bonds and relationships over time. Isabell Smith, one of the SBE’s founding members, says she is “…really excited for this year [because] we have been given the amazing opportunity to have more students get involved, be open for more time during the day, [and even] sell more things.” She also mentioned that students can “learn how to do things like inventory, effective storage, customer service, marketing and advertising, shift leading, safety appliance, and so much more.”
Mr.Russell says, “Work-Based Learning bridges the gap between the classroom and the real world.” This year will be something special as the C.A.F.E. could potentially become an important part of Central’s history, as more students will be working on it this year, and better things are being developed, especially organization and much better marketing.
