MESMS Empowers Students with Real-Life Skills

Mildred E. Strang Middle School’s Family & Consumer Sciences program is taking education beyond the textbooks and empowering students with practical, real-life skills.

Recently, the program was highlighted at a Board of Education meeting, showcasing the students’ remarkable achievements. From organizing a Holiday Market and café to designing an award-winning food truck, these students showcased their talents and demonstrated the invaluable lessons they have learned.

Mrs. Gannon, a Family & Consumer Science teacher, introduced the presentations, emphasizing that “everything that we do lends itself to real-life skills.”

One inspiring presentation was made by Mrs. Skrelja, whose Life Skills students shared their success story of the Holiday Market and Café 309. The students explained the various stages they followed, from planning and creating to promoting, preparing, and selling.

During the Holiday Market, the students made and sold beautiful hand-crafted items, earning over $400 in a single day. With the funds raised, they invested in equipment to expand their school store and enhance their in-class cooking program.

Another remarkable project called Café 309 was led by Mr. Ypsilantis, a career exploration teacher. The students — Dania, Davi, Eric, Malachi, Matthew, and Michael — were introduced to various aspects of the culinary industry through discussions and videos. They served food and drinks to staff and students, gaining hands-on experience in cooking and food service.

The students actively participated in every aspect of the project, including food preparation, menu design, and serving. Their delectable selection of treats was well-received, with a cookie recipe from Mrs. Gannon being the most popular item.

Dania shared her excitement, saying, "I felt happy and excited because I like meeting new people and because they were buying the things we made."

Matthew added, "I would like to run more stores because they're fun and they feel like real life." The Café 309 project not only honed their culinary skills but also provided a valuable glimpse into the world of entrepreneurship and customer service.

Presenting next were the three Golden Spoon recipients — Caidence, AutumnAngel, and Ben — whose food truck design wowed staff judges. The project involved students conceptualizing and designing their own food truck, selecting a theme, mascot, and slogan. They even arranged commercial-grade equipment inside the truck, created t-shirts for the workers, and designed a captivating promotional flyer.

Additionally, the students prepared a mouthwatering food sample, which was evaluated by a panel of judges. The students were awarded the Golden Spoon, recognizing their outstanding achievement in the project.

Principal Marie Horowitz commended the Family and Consumer Science program for bringing academics to life and creating an engaging learning environment. These projects equip students with skills in teamwork, communication, business, marketing, culinary arts, and more.