Brookside Brew Crew Builds Connections

Brookside Elementary School’s Brew Crew is proving that sometimes the smallest ideas have the biggest impact.

Designed for students in Mrs. LiCalzi and Mrs. Vaglica’s classes, the Brew Crew gives students the opportunity to run a fully operational beverage cart, serving coffee, tea, and hot chocolate to staff each Friday morning.

Students rotate weekly through roles like collecting orders, preparing drinks, and making deliveries. Along the way, they gain valuable skills such as counting money, sequencing tasks, and writing thank-you notes. At the same time, the program fosters essential social-emotional learning skills, helping students build confidence, practice teamwork, and form meaningful connections with staff members across the school.

Funded by a District Innovation Grant (iGrant), the Brew Crew has become an invaluable part of Brookside’s community and truly exemplifies #TheYorktownDifference!