Andover's EXCEL Students Run Snack Shack, Attend Weekly Cooking Club

ANDOVER, MA — Friday was an exciting day at Andover's High Plane Elementary School for a group of students, teachers and administrators.

Members of the school's Excel program, for students diagnosed with complex learning profiles, operated Snack Shack.

A few times a year, the students sell donuts and juice to customers of the Snack Shack. The activity, which is overseen by HPE staff and peer mentors, gives the students a chance to improve their math, reading and social skills.

"Snack Shack incorporates many different school skills in a truly functional and meaningful way," Scott Waller, an EXCEL special education teacher told Patch. "Students love seeing and engaging with all the different teachers that come in to buy a treat. It's their time to shine, they are running the show, and the teachers are their customers. "

Snack Shack is just one of the multiple food-related learning activities for EXCEL students. Every week the students also participate in Cooking Club, where they follow different recipes and make different food.

"The hard-working students and staff of EXCEL make the program what it is — an amazing place for kids to learn and grow in the classroom and community," Waller said.