Imagine being the new student to a small suburban school where everyone has known each other since Kindergarten. It can be difficult for new students to fit in and even more challenging to find their way. To help our new students adjust, we have started a new tradition, the “NewComers Breakfast”. All new students are invited to a special breakfast at the beginning of the year of eggs, bacon, and sausage, hash browns, and crumb cake, all cooked by students in our self-contained special education program.

In our second year of the breakfast, everyone left feeling incredibly upbeat about the experience. New students were introduced to several key adults in the building and learned valuable information about their new school community. The administrators gave a welcome, and teachers gave overviews of school programs while students ate their meal. The adults mingled and ate with students to build meaningful student-teacher connections. The event was a heartwarming way to build a positive and supportive school climate.

For our special education students who cooked the meal, this was an authentic learning experience that engaged students in real life problem-based learning. Students experienced the entire process of cooking for a large group. Initially, students met with me to decide on a menu and food costs. We collaborated together on all aspects of the breakfast such as, the cost of store bought vs. bakery bagels, as well as other authentic issues that might arise when cooking for a large group. Teachers in the program worked with students on sorting out all details from napkins to condiments to ensure that all aspects of the meal were prepared and completed with quality. Students received an abundance of compliments on their cooking, which increased their confidence and enthusiasm for school and learning. These students learned necessary job skills that can guide them into future careers.

But, most of all, this event was a success because it was focused on building a sense of community within our school. All students need personal attention, and this event enabled new students to feel special and make connections with students and adults alike. These new students now have names to go with faces, and people in the school that they can seek out in case they need support. Everything is less overwhelming than it was before the breakfast. Furthermore, both groups of students feel more comfortable and more confident about their school experience, which is our ultimate goal recognized.

In the past ten years, STEM has become the avenue for success in 21st-century schools. However, educators cannot diminish the role of community building in schools or the role that authentic hand on experiences such as, cooking and catering, can do to prepare our students for the future.  We need to spend more time training students who are challenged by advanced science and math, to have the interpersonal and job skills necessary to find careers in a very technology focused culture.  Our NewComers Breakfast was a model activity to do just that! Our students created a useful and appreciated product that was valued by our entire school community. There is no better authentic learning!  Our schools are full of creative opportunities where students can gain satisfaction and learn real life skills without having to take a paper and pencil test or design a STEM project. Most importantly, these experiences can leave everyone feeling more gratified and uplifted about their school community.