Lufkin Middle School students adorned bow ties and blazers at Logan’s Roadhouse last week as the ‘Dress for Success’ club learned restaurant etiquette and dined on buttered rolls they rolled out themselves.
The ‘Dress for Success’ club is made up of eighth-grade students, 25 boys and 25 girls. The students signed up for the club during Club Rush week at Lufkin Middle School.
Harmony Calvin said she heard from eighth graders last year that it was a good club. The school provides the blazers and bowties and arranges for the students to have out-of-class experiences at restaurants or places of business to give them opportunities they would not typically have. Harmony is involved in volleyball and cheerleading and wants to be a Marine medic.
“We had lots of fun,” Harmony said. “We were given advice about being ready and being prepared.”
Carlos Cordero
Carlos Cordero enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen. He wants to be a flight attendant one day and enjoys playing alto saxophone in the band. He likes the ‘Dress for Success’ club because he gets to wear a suit jacket.
“I’ve learned that the way you dress describes everything about you; you’re responsible, confident, and important,” Carlos said.
Lufkin Middle School teachers Victoria Ross and Tracey Mitchell head up the club and agree that putting on that jacket makes a difference in the students’ confidence and behavior.
“Look the part, act the part,” Ross, eighth grade Language Arts teacher, said. “College might not be for everyone, and I want to expose these students to the workforce and restaurant etiquette, customer service. That’s important because they will be out in public.”
“We had no negative behavior,” said Mitchell, eighth grade Science teacher. “The wait staff said they’ve never seen students this age so well behaved.”
Haylee Slack enjoyed the time eating at Logan’s Roadhouse with her friends.
“We took lots of photos and had fun,” she said. “We learned about getting ready for a job in the future.”
Haylee plays soccer and wants to be a teacher one day. Ms. Ross, her English teacher, encouraged her to join the club and she’s glad she did.
Vivianna Solis
Vivianna Solis wants to be a therapist and a baker one day. She loved getting to make Logan’s famous rolls.
“We got to serve and pass out food,” said Vivianna. “We got to cut out the dough, roll it out and bake it. They taught us common courtesy.”
She explained how they were taught to roll out the rolls and form them like baby blankets so they will be delicious.
Logan’s Roadhouse General Manager Melissa Cheney invited the students and did a presentation on workforce introduction.
“She taught the students how to walk in, pick up an application, bring it back, interview, restaurant etiquette, how to tip, how to serve, the importance of the dish washer, entry level positions and fed them lunch,” said Mitchell. “She worked her way up from being a server.”
“This club teaches self worth and how to carry yourself every day,” he said.
Harmony said that the club teaches the Panther Way – positive, prepared, productive, polite and patient.
The next outing will be at Cici’s Pizza where the students will learn pizza prep and how to always dress for success.