School Cafeteria Provides New Experience

Students socialize, exercise more independence

 Most people probably don’t reminisce about their middle school lunch period. The students at Masera Middle School, however, have a different story to tell. For them, lunch was usually taken in their instructional classrooms at their desks. Now, in a new school building, they’re enjoying lunch in a cafeteria along with all its experiences.

Masera Middle School is an ESBOCES building on Udall Road in West Islip that serves students with special education needs in grades five through eight. The school opened in September to meet the growing need in the region for additional space.

This is the first time these students are eating together in a cafeteria and having the opportunity to socialize with so many classmates. Said Principal Kai Watkins, “Students were very excited for this. They’re excited to wait on line, they’re excited to make lunch choices. A few students came to me to talk about the menu items -- they want pepperoni on the pizza.”

To familiarize students with their new school and build anticipation, social stories were mailed home over the summer, which featured pictures of the playground, the school, and the cafeteria. “When students arrived at school, they were already excited because they had been looking at these pictures for a month or so,” explained Watkins.

The lunch menu was also included in that mailing so staff could obtain feedback from parents/guardians about student preferences.

During the beginning of the year students sat in the cafeteria with their class, but the goal is for them to socialize with other students they meet or already know, and a cafeteria offers that opportunity.

“We are encouraging relationship building. We are encouraging friendships. We are providing the whole middle school experience,” said Watkins.