What better way than to start the morning off with coffee and donuts? Well, OH staff would say the better way is to have those items delivered by some of OH’s most kind-hearted students.
Many of the students in OH’s special education program deliver coffee and donuts to teachers every Tuesday and Friday during first period and bring joy to the school day, and it has brought benefits to the students, too.
“It’s fun because I get to do jobs,” said OH senior Evan Bates, a student who participates in the Cup of Happiness program.
Jobs range from preparing to serve products to actually providing them to customers, all while practicing interpersonal skills.
“We have seen students grow in their confidence. We’ve seen students grow in their ability to advocate,” said OH Cup of Happiness coordinator Elizabeth Augustine, who also serves as a special education teacher.
“We’ve seen students grow in their ability to work with others, to problem solve, and to be able to think on their feet. It’s been so rewarding to see them have fun doing it,” Augustine added. “And also, the response that we get back from staff has been so well received.”
This program is unique to OH and allows the special education students to be more than just students, but to be a part of something bigger and form a student staff of working contributors to their school.
“Cup of Happiness is an opportunity to practice and learn… essential work readiness skills in a safe place. And we like doing it because it makes staff happy,” said Augustine.
The growth that Cup of Happiness provides goes both ways: the students get to experience a distinctive type of exposure, but the staff has the opportunity to learn as well. There are some teachers who sign up to receive donuts every single time, or at least once a week.
For example, OH Fine Arts Department Chair Michael Skura is a faithful member of the Cup of Happiness club, getting donuts and coffee each time.
“It gives me a chance to interact with a student population I don’t see all the time,” Skura said. “I love to teach them the three S’s in shaking hands: Shake, squeeze, and stare.”
Teachers have grown to love it, as have the students who participate. OH provides this opportunity to offer work readiness programs for special education students.
There are two types of programs: one focuses on getting exposure to outside jobs at businesses like Culver’s, Lions Concrete, and Meijer. The other focuses on work readiness skills around the school, which includes this famous Cup of Happiness program.
The students get to take on big roles while brightening up the mood around OH. In the beginning of class, they enthusiastically label the cups, fill them up, and arrange the cups and donuts on the cart.
“It’s so rewarding because it just brings joy to the staff and the students feel appreciated and recognized and honored as well,” Augustine said.
To OH, Cup of Happiness does not just spread positivity and provide a learning experience; it fosters a feeling of community that lingers throughout the whole school, staff and students alike.
“It brings the community together, it creates empathy, and provides a point of connection,” Skura said.
Altogether, the feeling that Cup of Happiness provides has extended to all of the staff and students. It is truly what the name says it is: a special breakfast that grants happiness to OH.
“It brings a smile to my face,” said Skura simply.
Hi! I am Stephanie Mayorga, a staff reporter and Spanish Section Editor for 42Fifty. I am a Junior and am excited for my first year in 42Fifty! You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name on the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication!
