Special needs students learn soft skills through Irmo High’s Sting Deli
February 21, 2018
Special needs students in Joyce Moran’s class at Irmo High School are learning what it takes to be successful and work hard by running the school’s Sting Deli.
Working the school’s Sting Deli, students have the opportunity to prepare salads, baked potatoes, sandwiches, cookies and more three Fridays out of each month. The food is available to purchase by the Irmo High staff and the opportunity helps the students build invaluable life skills that help them both in the classroom and in the real world.
Irmo High School Student Kelli Grooms wrapping cookies with help from a teacher
“Our students are learning so many skills, but the most important ones are what we call ‘soft skills,’” said Moran. “They are learning to follow directions, stay on task, work as a team, ask for help and use manners in addition to all of the food preparation and communication skills they develop. Along with soft skills, the students are incorporating what they learn in the classroom as well. They use math skills and reading skills to measure, count, read recipes and read out the orders.”
In existence for 20 years now, Moran brought the idea of a student-operated restaurant with her from her time working in New Hampshire in a similar program. The students use a fully functional DHEC kitchen. They typically prepare about 45 meals each time and have a chance to work different stations.
“On Deli day, the students are assigned tasks such as preparing the lettuce, heating the potatoes, making croissants, wrapping cookies, filling the orders, washing the dishes and delivering the meals,” said Moran. “Once students have mastered a particular job they are assigned a new one.”
Irmo High students Elijah Ramos and Kelli Grooms say they love getting to help with the Sting Deli. “I enjoy it because it’s fun and we get to make everything ourselves,” said Ramos. Grooms added, “My favorite part is making and wrapping the cookies for all of our teachers.”
Because of their experiences in the Sting Deli, Moran says a lot of her students have shown interest in careers in the food service industry. “I have former students who now work at local restaurants and even have one that has her own food blog so it’s definitely peaked interest in our students,” said Moran.
Irmo High Assistant Principal Willie Olawsky says the students are being prepared for life after high school. “The Sting Deli is a wonderful way for our students to learn food preparation and feed our faculty and staff. The students learn responsibilities which will carry over into real world experiences.”
In addition to operating the Sting Deli, Moran’s students also cater for a local church once a month, make quick breads for a local coffee shop and have a holiday sweet shop for staff during the month of December.
