Students in the Canyon Vista Middle School Functional Academic Classroom (FAC) begin each Friday morning by helping prepare breakfast orders as part of Mustang Cafe — an FAC run breakfast delivery service for teachers.
Teachers are invited to submit orders for breakfast, which consist of coffee, breakfast tacos and sweet baked goods. FAC teachers complete most of the cooking in the classroom kitchenette, then invite students to help prepare delivery bags and coffee.
“We wanted to start Mustang Cafe to give our students an opportunity to go around our campus and have conversations with teachers,” said Jacqueline Slaughter, Canyon Vista FAC teacher. “It’s rewarding to see them interact with their peers and teachers each week as they improve their communication skills.”
Once deliveries are completed, students are tasked with counting the money and then get to eat breakfast as a class to celebrate another successful week.
“Mustang Cafe is fun and makes people happy,” said Taleia Wong, Canyon Vista eighth-grade student. “We have tacos and sometimes homemade pop tarts. We deliver to the teachers and say ‘Good Morning, here’s your breakfast.’”
Mustang Cafe, which began with $17 in the FAC budget, has turned into a major revenue generator for the program and has allowed the class to participate in five field trips this year. The class has had the opportunity to visit the Bullock State History Museum, the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, Alamo Drafthouse and the mall to complete holiday shopping for their families in this year alone.
“Mustang Cafe is a great way to start a Friday morning,” Canyon Vista Principal Nicole Hagerty said. “It’s nice to give the Canyon Vista community the opportunity to interact with our FAC classroom as they practice communication and vocational skills.”
