Photo courtesy Erika Rolling

By Erika Rolling

Student Coffee Shop

Success brewed at Cup of Joe’s

Jun 1, 2022 | 11:45 AM

With a variety of hot drinks on the menu, Cup of Joe’s in St. Joseph Catholic High School is officially up and running for students and staff to enjoy.

Hot chocolate, french vanilla, cappuccino, and other beverages are served at the coffee shop inside the school and made by students in the Inclusive Education and Life Skills programs.

Victoria Baker, a Life Skills teacher at St. Joe’s says the grand opening on Tuesday morning was amazing.

“The kids were super excited to showcase all the work they put into making this happen.”

“Guests from Grande Prairie and District Catholic School Division’s central office, board members, the Assistant Superintendant, Director of Special Education as well as Fr. Leo English lead a service to bless our work,” Baker noted on the grand opening of the coffee shop.

The program for Inclusive Education students to learn valuable life and job skills has been in the works since October and is now fully open for those inside St. Joe’s to enjoy.

“The kids were a little hesitant at first but once they saw it come together, they got really excited. They even have come in on their days off to serve coffee to teachers on PD days.”

Baker says the students getting their specialty drinks at school “appreciate having a Cup of Joe here in the morning as they don’t have to stop somewhere else before going to class.”

The coffee beans are locally sourced and roasted in Grande Prairie at Wapiti Bean Co., which is also a community partner for the program alongside Coffee Gal and Water Express.