The scent of coffee wafting through the hallways comes from the Skills and Sips coffee cart run by the students of the Life Skills class. The coffee cart is a student-run business at Arcata High that intends to help the students engage with the school and develop skills to make and sell coffee.
The coffee is made using a Keurig machine and ordered using Google Forms. There are options for black coffee for $1.00 or coffee with creamer for $1.50. The students deliver the coffee during the first three periods of the day. Due to school regulations, the coffee is currently only being sold to staff, but the hope is to sell it to students in the future.
Aliyah Cline, a special education teacher created the cart. “The idea for the coffee cart came from observing a gap in our community’s supportive vocational programs for adults with disabilities,” Cline said. “This experience inspired me to create a meaningful vocational placement for students who need diverse support and practice in real-world skills.”
The life skills program is a class for students who need more support to help them successfully manage daily life. The goal is to teach students independence, functional math, vocational skills, communication skills, budgeting, and problem-solving. The coffee cart helps expand these skills, specifically vocational skills, customer service, money management, teamwork, and communication, with a bonus of hands-on experience.
When asked about the coffee cart’s goals, Cline said, “I’m creating the coffee cart to give students a meaningful way to practice their skills in a fun, low-pressure environment while contributing to the school community.” She continued, “It’s also a great way for the school to interact with the life skills program and see the students’ progress.”
The students running the cart all have positive experiences with it. They have been enjoying it, especially pouring the coffee and delivering it to the staff. Kylie Sutherland, one of the students helping with the cart, said she likes pushing the cart, helping people, and walking around campus to deliver the coffee. “It’s fun to get out of class, and walk around,” Sutherland said. “I like seeing what other classes are doing.” She also likes learning how to make coffee and get it to the customers on time.
Cline is hoping to use the earnings to cover the costs of the equipment with enough money left over to celebrate with her students. “This gives the students a tangible goal to work toward and teaches them the importance of budgeting, saving, and celebrating their achievements.”
