Patrons line up at student-run L.I.N.K.S. café

by Gail Bernstein and Anna Gualtieri

L.I.N.K.S. High School students in the Pre-work training and DEFIS work skills classes are on a mission: To provide students and staff the chance to delight in a positive, friendly and delectable experience. 

The vision of a café and gift shop is now a reality, where the students have become entrepreneurs and are reaping the benefits. They are acquiring important life skills as they navigate the essentials of running a business and discovering their strengths, interests and talents. Experimenting with the various jobs associated with running a café, they are learning to hone skills in the areas of money math, cooking, food preparation and hygiene, customer service, sales, shopping in-store and online, kitchen safety as well as all the associated soft skills. A specific team is dedicated to recycling and composting coffee pods, in effort to manage waste responsibly. 

An entrepreneurship class developed the website. 

The café is open twice a week, and students and staff have been lining up to enjoy bagels, grilled cheese sandwiches, croissants, hot chocolate, coffee, tea and other special items. 

Students in various classes are selling their handmade wares including gift cards, bracelets, ornaments and more. Competency-based Approach to Social Participation students have been proud to be in charge of displaying positivity quotes for all to reflect on. 

The learning goals of the café extend to both the employees and customers. Teachers use the café as a tool to teach their students the skills required to become customers, including speaking French.

The hardworking students are excited to spend the profits on exploring the city over two days. Their skillset continues to grow as they must plan out an itinerary, budget accordingly, learn to prioritize and how to pack lightly. All involved are increasing their independence, self-esteem, motivation to learn and feeling a part of the L.I.N.K.S. family. 

 Gail Bernstein is a DÉFIS Work Skills teacher and Anna Gualtieri is a teacher in the Work Oriented Training Pathway program, both with the English Montreal School Board.