WOODBRIDGE, Va. — It’s a café in a high school in Woodbridge that serves breakfast and pastries to students, faculty, and school employees each morning.
The bistro located inside Freedom High School is student run and offers an escape from the trapping of other area restaurants.
More in a press release:
The Freedom High School Bistro Café and Bakery is the brainchild of department chair Marilyn Austin. She is the first to admit that its success stems from the hard work of students and staff. Appreciative customers—school employees who are most often teachers—describe the ambiance in the Café as warm and inviting, with soothing music on a Lifescapes CD playing in the background.
Students also serve breakfast pastries and coffee off a cart or provide room service to faculty from 7:30-8:30 a.m. each morning. Chicken chili is one of the favorites on the soup and salad menu. “It is truly fabulous,” says Myrna Nolla-Horner, a transition specialist in the Special Education Department.
Sarah Melendy, testing coordinator, who often joins school counselors Erin Mayer and Mike Deabler for lunch, says, “The mood [students] create makes it a little escape.”
“It’s just great,” says Deabler. “There are no phones; no one is knocking on doors. We love it.” He likes the chicken Caesar salad.
A nominal fee is charged to offset the cost of food purchases. Profits go toward student supplies and educational and vocational field trips. All food is purchased “ready-made;” students assemble the food ingredients, following high standards of food preparation that are required in any restaurant.
The other half of the large classroom provides space where students learn and practice independent living skills. It contains a sink, kitchen appliances including a dishwasher, cupboards, a Murphy bed, larger storage cabinets, and washer and dryer. In the end, their experiences will help these students move confidently into the world beyond high school. It’s a “can’t miss” recipe for success.
Recent Stories
Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors easily approved the fiscal year 2025 budget with a few changes on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, to take effect on July 1.
School officials in Prince William County say Antisemitic symbols were found painted on the side of Coles Elementary and Benton Middle schools near Woodbridge.
Manassas City Council held a public hearing on the city’s budget, as residents once again are facing the prospect of paying more in taxes.
On April 22, 2024, at approximately 2:16 a.m., the Manassas City Police Department responded to a 911 call for shots fired in the 9100 block of Winterset Drive.
To celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week (May 6-10, 2024), Clean Air Partners is working with A Few Cool Hardware Stores to exchange DC, Maryland and Virginia residents’ gas-powered lawnmowers, trimmers, and leaf blowers at select Ace Hardware locations in the region. DMV residents who turn in their gas-powered lawn tools will receive a FREE Ego Power+ replacement including batteries and chargers, while supplies last.
Compared to gas, electric lawn equipment can reduce emissions, noise pollution, health risks and maintenance costs and time. The program aims to remove about a hundred gas-powered polluting tools from yards in the greater Baltimore-Washington region.
The exchanges will take place the weekends of May 17-19, 2024, and May 31-June 2, 2024, at A Few Cool Hardware Stores network of employee-owned Ace Hardware stores in the DC and Baltimore metro areas. To participate and get your free Ego Power+ lawn tool, sign up at https://qrco.de/CAPExchange to reserve your tool and select your trade-in date and location.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges? Do stress and anxiety seem to dominate your thoughts? At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand that navigating mental health can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Our team of compassionate therapists is here to guide you on your journey toward inner peace and emotional well-being. With a client-centered approach, we tailor our therapy sessions to meet your unique needs and goals. Whether you’re struggling with depression, coping with trauma, or simply seeking personal growth, we provide a safe and supportive space for healing and growth.
Embark on a path of self-discovery with our comprehensive range of therapy services, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, and holistic approaches. Our experienced therapists are dedicated to helping you cultivate resilience, develop coping skills, and foster a greater sense of self-awareness.
Free Irish Music Concert
Welcoming Spring with music from the Emerald Isle, the New Dominion Choraliers offer a FREE concert on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City.
Joined by Legacy Brass and members of Old
Spring Ceili: An Irish Music Festival
The New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County and McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance invite you to join them at our Ceili, a grand celebration of Irish music and dance.
A gathering of performance groups throughout Prince William County
