Are you being served? Proud staff and students of Fridays Café.

Café experience provides sense of achievement

By Leeanda Smith

Kingsgrove North High School operates Fridays Café as part of its in-school work experience program, providing a functional transition from school to open work placement.

Fridays Café has been operating since 1998 and was initiated by staff in the Special Education Department of the school.

The coordinators' report states "students have greatly enjoyed working in the café and many have developed skills, conduct and a real sense of achievement and pride in a job 'well-done'" and that the flexible structure of the program has allowed students to develop "higher order thinking skills necessary for community living, further education and training, employment and everyday life".

Fridays Café has been recognised with a Director-General's Award for Excellence in Education.

For more information about the program contact support head teacher Angie Vourdousi or principal Helen Wyatt.

Leeanda Smith is a City Organiser.

For further information

September 2007 contents