The WaiKai Cafe Journey - 2015

In 2015 Mrs Raewyn Hamilton and the students of Room 14 embarked on a learning journey.  This journey was to culminate in the opening of a student run cafe at Waimahia Intermediate.

The enterprise was begun by allowing the students to participate in experiences that involved learning about entrepreneurship, financial literacy and the world of work.

Every Friday the students participated in learning experiences that invoved them in investigating, planning and creating a business model for a cafe.  Some students were involved in learning specific skills and knowledge with the specialist teachers.

Ray Stock - Materials Technology: Design and creating of equipemt for a cafe e.g. food trays.
Nitika Chandra - Visual Art: Graphic design - menu, logo, signage and advertising.
Julie Nicolaai - Food Technology - Food trials and menus

The remainder of the students in room 14 participated in authentic learning about business management: hospitality careers, student surveys, profit and loss analysis, visits to cafes to see how they operate, health and safety in the food industry, cafe furniture and equipmment etc.

The year invoved the students in various activities to allow them to experience how to plan, cost and run food enterprises e.g. Whanau Day food stall and a Market day.

In Term 3 the 'Cafe Team' (Specialsit teachers, Mrs Hamilton and Mrs Chandra with Room 14 students) were able to: design the cafe space, purchase equipment, advertise cafe jobs & train the selected student staff and decide on & trial a selection of food items in order for the cafe to open in Term 4.  We are a Health promoting School and this has always been the main focus when deciding on the food available for our students to purchase at the cafe.

The WaiKai cafe was formally opened at the end of October 2015 with many of the invited guests astounded at the skill and expertise our students demonstrated and in awe of the wonderful food available - all prepared by our students. Throughout Term 4 2015 WaiKai Cafe has been open for the school community every Friday.  It has been a long journey but the learning experiences for the students have been invaluable. This has been authentic, real world learning!  It was fantastic to see students develop skills and show potential in areas that would never have been seen in a traditional learning environment.

2016 will see a new expansion phase in the development of the cafe. The Room 14 students and the whole school community will be involved in expanding and refining our cafe enterprise. We always DREAM BIG, AIM HIGH and WORK HARD to achieve our goals at Waimahia Intermediate School.
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WAIKAI is only open on a Friday.  Hot coffee, hot chocolate and other yummy treats are avaliable.  Come in and try our goodies fridays from 10.45 till 1.30.