by Jen Oemig
CHELMSFORD – Parker Perk Café has officially opened for the season, serving up hot and iced coffee, tea, cappuccino, hot chocolate and a variety of baked goods to the Parker Middle School community in Chelmsford.
The makeshift café, set up in a corner of the Parker Middle School cafeteria, is open to faculty and staff on most Friday mornings from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. and is operated by students in Parker’s Life Skills class.
While the coffee and atmosphere are great, the purpose of Parker Perk Café is to teach real-world skills such as communication, literacy, measurements and math, as well as fine motor skills.
The Life Skills students serve as hosts, cashiers and waitstaff, and also man a delivery cart that goes around to classrooms for those unable to dine-in.
“Our mission is to help these students find ways to make meaningful connections with others, and it’s just amazing,” said Kristiana Kurth, Speech-Language Pathologist at Parker Middle School. “Seeing them form those connections and being able to use all their skills in a meaningful way is incredibly rewarding. We could sit in the classroom and count money or greet each other, but this is an amazing way for them to be part of the school community.”
Parker Perk Café mornings also serve as a great time for faculty and staff to sit down and enjoy coffee and conversation with their colleagues.
“Teachers love it,” Kurth said. “They order drinks for each other. They come in and order for their entire group.”
Alexandra Hansbury, grade 5 and 6 PAVE teacher at Parker Middle School, said the patrons are incredibly generous, as well, which helps sustain the café.
“Most everyone donates extra money or tips,” she said. “That all goes back into the program.”
Originally started about seven or eight years ago, the café was originally operated by the school’s New England Center for Children (NECC) students.
Following COVID, the Life Skills class was started and Parker Perk Café naturally evolved to include those students.
This fall is the first time peers from Parker’s Best Buddies organization, which was launched last schoolyear, are also getting involved.
“They’re paired up with the Life Skills students doing jobs, and it’s going really well,” said Kurth, adding that other students have also showed interest in helping out.
Though the operation seems rather simple, Kurth said Parker Perk Café wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of local businesses that helped out by donating equipment.
Parker’s Parent-Teacher Organization has also played a huge role in making sure the café has everything it needs to stay up and running.
“We’re incredibly grateful for them,” Kurth said.
