Students at Barkley Elementary who operated the school’s coffee cart received a reward for their efforts this June—McDonald’s Happy Meals, provided as a treat to mark the end of the school year.
The coffee cart program gave students the opportunity to develop and practice functional life skills throughout the year. As part of their responsibilities, students learned how to handle money, manage tasks, and interact with staff in a professional setting.
Supervised by Barkley’s occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy teams, the program aimed to support student growth in communication, mobility and social development. The initiative allowed students to take part in a consistent routine that reinforced responsibility and workplace behaviors.
Staff members across the building supported the program by ordering drinks and interacting with students as customers. Their involvement helped create real-world experiences in a school environment.
The OT, PT and speech team at Barkley expressed appreciation to all faculty and staff who contributed to the coffee cart throughout the year.