Tara Elementary kindergartners serve up smiles at their own restaurant

Selah Ortiz, a Tara Elementary School kindergartner, was thrilled to put on a chef's coat and hat. 

She had applied to be a chef at the Banana Leaf Restaurant because she likes to make food and thought it would be fun to be a chef at the restaurant for its annual one-night run April 24 in the school's cafeteria.

Ortiz stood with pride as she grabbed a big spoon and served chicken adobo. 

Even more proud was Ortiz's mother, Natalie Ortiz, who watched her daughter serve up plate after plate for the restaurant's guests. 

Natalie Ortiz said the restaurant provided real-world experiences for her daughter to learn lessons in finances, communication and other life skills. 

Photo by Liz Ramos

Josephine Johnson's kindergarten class was responsible for all aspects of the restaurant including applying for their respective jobs, manning the register, helping to make the food served, serving the food and cleaning the tables. 

The restaurant experience allowed them to work on their writing skills through their applications, their speech skills through their personal introductions to the guests, their finance skills as they practiced making change and more. 

Photo by Liz Ramos

Lisa Jobst, the mother of kindergartner Isla Jobst, said she loved that the restaurant gave her daughter confidence and taught the class about teamwork.