Here’s the answer to those cold winter mornings – Westlake’s very own student-run café Golden Swan!
Each Tuesday and Thursday until Term 4, our Food Technology/Hospitality students hone their barista skills, whipping up a range of specialty coffees and delicious hot chocolates for staff and students.
Pictured above on their very first morning of business were Year 12 students (from left) Tessa Guthrie, Pepa Waller and Tyla Grauman. Students run the entire café – organising everything from mastering the coffee machine, providing customer service (including loyalty cards) and taking payment which includes using the EFTPOS machine and handling cash. It’s brilliant work experience for any student wanting a part-time job in a café.
TIC of Hospitality, Louise Clouston, says it’s wonderful to have the café open again, after its sudden closure in August last year when New Zealand went into lockdown. “We love being able to offer this training to our students,” she says. “They really benefit from their participation and the café is a lovely place to gather on those cold winter mornings. Each year around 20 students complete a barista course in the school holidays, and then running Golden Swan provides hands-on experience in running a café.” We ask for feedback from our customers, and it’s always well received.”
Staff and Year 13 students can purchase a range of coffees and our Year 9-12 students can buy themselves a frothy hot chocolate. The café is open from 7.45 – 8.45am on Tuesdays and Thursday during term time. Prices are just $3.50 per coffee (50c extra for specialty milks) and $3 for hot chocolate. You can save yourself 50c on any purchase by bringing your own keep cup.