Marnie Luxford was looking for a way to enhance the communication and vocational skills of Tahoe Lake Elementary special education students. Along with Kelsee Bensley, she applied for an Excellence in Education grant to purchase a food and beverage cart to be operated by special education staff and students.
The grant was approved in the amount of $2,142, which funded a lemonade/hot chocolate cart, compost bin, decor, pitchers, coffee pot, compostable coffee pods for teacher orders, compostable hot chocolate pods, visual aids and resources, monthly recipes related to curriculum to expand culinary experience and related skills, and more.
The project falls under the grant categories of Life Skills & Health, Literacy, and Mathematics & Science.
This stand is managed by students from the Special Day Class (SDC), Resource Specialist Program (RSP), and speech therapy programs, with guidance from their educators.
The food and beverage cart project provides significant benefits to students with special needs, who make up 18-20% of Tahoe Lake Elementary’s population. By running the stand, these students will gain real-world communication, social, and language skills, along with functional and vocational abilities. This hands-on experience allows them to participate actively in school-wide events while also working towards individual goals outlined in their Individualized Education Programs.
The initiative promotes a positive view of special education students as capable members of the school community. General education students also benefit by earning ‘cub cards’ for drinks, which align with the School-Wide Positive Behavior Support program. This encourages students to meet school-wide expectations and exhibit positive character traits.
Moreover, the project supports the school’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Students who bring their reusable water bottles or cups will receive discounts, while a limited number of compostable cups will be available for purchase. The initiative includes education on composting, in line with Tahoe Lake’s science-based curriculum.
The beverage cart operates seasonally, offering lemonade during spring and summer activities, and hot chocolate in the fall and winter months.
Excellence in Education is thrilled to support this project that empowers resource students by providing them with valuable communication, social, and vocational skills.