THE BISTRO IS BACK!

By ELIZABETH ALLEGRO

ELIZABETH ALLEGRO FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY

Everyone recognizes the warm feeling and sweet smells that fill the hallways on Friday mornings at Washingtonville High School. When the aroma of cinnamon buns and breakfast burritos float throughout the school, students and teachers alike flock to room 160 where they know they will be greeted by the hardworking students who run the Breakfast Bistro.

The Breakfast Bistro is a tradition that began during the 2009-10 school year and has been welcomed and continued every year since. Mrs. Angelillo, lovingly known by most students as Mrs. A, explained that the Breakfast Bistro was modeled after a program similar in nature to one developed at Minisink High School.  “It was created to give our students vocational training and skills they could use in the future.”  Aspects of the program include culinary skills, socializing and taking orders, as well as  working a register, which are helpful learning tools for the motivated students of the Aspire classroom. 

Wildly popular among the students and staff of WHS, the Bistro has tons of customers each week, but many wonder what the money earned is used for.   The profits are used to continue running the Bistro and all of the excess revenue is money well spent.  For all of their hard work and dedication, the students are rewarded with field trips to places like restaurants, and the movies. Just recently, the kids and a few teachers took a field trip to Betty’s. This year in particular,  profits will also be put towards the Food Pantry and the Food for Kids Backpack Program.  

The Washingtonville students and faculty love the Bistro.  Mrs. A expressed that her favorite part of the program is the interaction of her students with the rest of the building and community. “It's how relationships and friendships are made.”  Mrs. Wakham agreed by saying that “we are all there for the same reason; to support one another.  Our cohesiveness as a school community is so evident when you’re at the Bistro!”  

The food draws in the crowd and the cheerful environment keeps them coming. Student Meaghan King expressed,  “I love the Breakfast Bistro because it brings a smile to my face when I smell the sweet cinnamon buns.”

The Breakfast Bistro is a beloved and appreciated part of Washingtonville High School and will be up and running for the remainder of the year and, hopefully, for years to come.  If you can, be sure to check it out next Friday!