Milton High School Coffee Club helps students, staff bond during morning chats
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Milton High School's Coffee Club provides an opportunity for staff and students to mix in a non-class setting. The club formed in November but already draws between 60 and 100 students, plus school staff. 'It's pretty neat,' Activities Director Brian Hammil said. 'It's one of those things that's special because it's really nothing special—it’s just people standing around talking and having coffee together.'
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Staff and students crowd into a meeting of the Milton High School Coffee Club before school.
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Alex Hokinson, third from left, makes the rounds after arriving at a Coffee Club meeting. Hokinson, who helped form the club, was voted club president. 'I just show up and drink coffee,' she said of leading the club. 'It's really not hard.'
MILTON — Milton High School's newest club is such a big hit that it's blown fuses in the building.
But hey, when you've got more than 60 students, teachers and staff plugging in for a hot cup of Joe, it can cause a power surge in more ways than one.
Staff and students are still ironing out details such as electrical distribution and what blend of ingredients makes the perfect mocha, but one thing's certain: Everyone seems to dig Coffee Club.
The new school club meets every Friday in the special education room at Milton High School from 7:15 a.m. until the first bell.
It's as straightforward as sounds: coffee, cocoa, tea and a morning chat with friends—dozens and dozens of them.
Special education teacher Brianna Smith said the club has proven to be a mixer for students of all backgrounds and social strata. Even teachers and staff say they've met new students and broken down barriers through the club.
The idea came up earlier this school year after one of Smith's students, freshman Alex Hokinson, 15, had tried joining a few school clubs. Hokinson was frustrated because none seemed like a good fit.
Hokinson has developmental delays linked to a chronic illness in her early childhood, including the anxiety disorder selective mutism. The disorder affects her ability to speak during certain situations, carry a conversation or interact socially with others.
Seeking a solution for Hokinson's club dilemma and her social challenges, Smith probed Hokinson's interests and got inside her comfort zone. Hokinson said she likes coffee. Heck, Smith does, too. And so the idea was born.
Hokinson and Smith presented school administration a pitch for Coffee Club, complete with a logo and posters. The concept is simple: Everyone at school is welcome for free coffee and friendship.
Activities Director Brian Hammil said he approved the club without thinking twice.
"It's pretty neat," Hammil said. "It's one of those things that's special because it's really nothing special—it's just people standing around talking and having coffee together."
The club began in November, but already it draws between 60 and 100 students of all backgrounds, plus school staff, who come and go from the special education room before school on Fridays.
Some grab a cup and go, but most hang around the room to hold a coffee klatsch on anything from music to gossip to plans for Saturday night hangouts.
Club members even have their own unique mugs, and one student draws a new "Coffee Club" mural on the classroom chalkboard every week.
Smith chose the special education room for club because it has a kitchen that can double as triple-barrel coffeemaker station. She said the other perk is that the room is small. When it gets crowded during Coffee Club, there's no room for cliques to form.
"It encourages rubbing elbows and bumping into people and talking to people you don't know. I think the crowding is good. It's part of the uniqueness," Smith said.
Matthew Winters, a senior at the high school, joined Coffee Club after he heard an intercom announcement about it.
"It's a nice way to ease into Friday. It's a great idea. I've talked to people I've recognized for years who I've never talked to before. It's different faces every time. Even with teachers who come here, there's less of a student-teacher boundary. It's kind of cool," Winters said.
Hokinson was voted as president of Coffee Club. Her mother, Allison Hokinson, said the club has been a huge boost for her daughter.
"Alex needs measures to push her into situations that help her with her social fear. This has made a world of difference," Allison Hokinson said. "Since she was named club president, I don't think there's any other time in her life when she has felt so much connection to anything."
During a recent Coffee Club morning, Hokinson chatted up two upperclassman girls about the shirts they had on for a school "ugly sweater" contest. Her demeanor was breezy and whimsical—not uptight.
It was Friday morning, and she and two new friends already had dinner plans set for Saturday night at Applebee's.
Hokinson said her duties as club president aren't taxing.
"I just show up and drink coffee," she said, sipping mocha with marshmallows. "It's really not hard."
The club's coffee is free; district parents donate it along with cocoa, tea, creamer and specialty syrups. Students help to make the coffee and clean up before school starts.
Robert Witt, a student who has Down syndrome, was voted last year's Milton High School prom king. This year, you could call him the Duke of Java.
Witt's an officer in Coffee Club and a bona fide coffee lover. His teachers say he's developed two new interests through the club: chitchat and conversation.
Witt took a gulp of black coffee from a huge ceramic Christmas mug.
"This is my first club, ever," he said. "It's the best club ever."
Jan 3, 2012 at 1:04 p.m.
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tlover, it's one thing for a company not to allow upper management to "fraternize" with other employees, but an entirely different thing for you to refer to those under you as "underlings". Wow, you must think you're special.
Jan 1, 2012 at 10:03 a.m.
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jvlleis86ed -- really? how inappropriate can you get! This story is about a great thing happening in Milton. It builds the students' self-confidence in social situations and also builds a rapport between the students and staff at school. A win-win all the way around. How you, tlover and no can turn this into something negative is beyond comprehension!
Jan 1, 2012 at 6:32 a.m.
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Go to Gal for Child Protective Services
Autumn Knudtson
Autumn.Knudtson@wisconsin.gov
608 261 3804
Jan 1, 2012 at 4:52 a.m.
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Do they hand out the ADHD medication with the black coffee?
Jan 1, 2012 at 4:30 a.m.
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What Christian group is donating to this? Save your religious meetings for the church.
Dec 31, 2011 at 4:13 p.m.
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My daughter goes to the coffee club, the worst things that have come out of it is she broke one mug and then lost my favorite mug. Glad she enjoys that time at school with this group since some other group of little devils like to torment her during the day.
Dec 31, 2011 at 12:19 p.m.
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Kudos to the teachers of Milton and to the students. As for as reading some of the entries into this blog..well it shows you can't please everyone... Why are so many people so negative? The say goes -- you use more muscle to frown then to smile :-)
Dec 30, 2011 at 5:55 p.m.
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Speaking about Milton.....What was the result in the arson incidents that took place a while ago? A house on Nelson Dr and a motorhome were set fire. Never did hear any more about that
Dec 30, 2011 at 5:14 p.m.
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It's a good thing when teachers can show kids how to care because sometimes that might be the only place they are shown that.
Dec 30, 2011 at 5:06 p.m.
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Getting to know their students IS part of their actual work!!! It just happens to be one of the extra duties that teachers are not paid for, but (lucky for all of us) are still willing to do because they are good, compassionate people. And, tlover, thank goodness you are NOT a teacher!! These teachers should be praised for going the extra mile!! I am happy to have my tax dollars support the extra electricity; good grief, "no." I would hate to send my children to schools run by the likes of "no" and "tlover."
Dec 30, 2011 at 2:28 p.m.
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Are these the same teachers who moan and groan about how they don't have time to do all their actual work and need more pay etc. etc. etc., yet here they are, goofing around on school grounds using taxpayer's electricity and who knows what else?
Dec 30, 2011 at 12:53 p.m.
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Tlover, wow, just WOW. You are a piece of work. The teachers and students are in the School, not out at a frat party or bar hanging out! you are paranoid beyond belief. You are the one I would be worried about having children around.
Dec 30, 2011 at 12:27 p.m.
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Tlover, do you transport back to 1950 every morning? May I please visit and see the typewriters? Seriously, it's a well known fact that the 'us vs them' mentality doesn't work when you're all supposed to be on the same team.
Let's remember too that this club was started for the benefit of a student. Time and again, Milton High School proves itself to be ahead of the game in compassion and ingenuity. Congrats to all at MHS!!
Dec 30, 2011 at 12:21 p.m.
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Heh. "Underlings". Someone has control issues.
Dec 30, 2011 at 11:46 a.m.
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Where I work upper management is not allowed to fraternize with lower level employees. Most companies have similar policies for obvious reasons, so I'm surprised this seems to be news to everyone. As for teachers socializing on their free time w/children that are not their own - strange & asking for trouble. I guess I'm just not as trusting as most of you. To each his own.
Dec 30, 2011 at 11:29 a.m.
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By the way, good story!
Dec 30, 2011 at 11:29 a.m.
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Yeah, Rocky, glad tlover isn't my boss. My boss would never refer to me as "his underling". He's much too decent and classy for that. Yeesh!
Dec 30, 2011 at 11:06 a.m.
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Glad to see my hometown high school starting fun clubs. Wish we would have had that back in the day.
Dec 30, 2011 at 10:19 a.m.
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Yeah - Tlover- wouldn't want dem underlings gettin all uppity now and thinkin they got the same rights as their masters.
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I pity the salve you disguise as an employee. Your 18th century attitude is deplorable.
Dec 30, 2011 at 10:06 a.m.
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Wow, tlover. I bet your "underlings" love working for you...
Take a break from the paranoia and you'll find life is much more enjoyable.
Dec 30, 2011 at 9:58 a.m.
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Dialogue and communication is good.
I get what you mean Tlove.
For some kids, this might be the only opportunity to have a dialogue.
Dec 30, 2011 at 9:25 a.m.
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I am a firm believer in boundaries. I am in a position of power at my work & I do not socialize w/the underlings - inappropriate. I think this is great for kids, but I question whenever adults want to hang & socialize with children. That's what they are - children. One Jerry Sandusky & one Mary Kay Letourneau are one too many. I'm sick of hearing about how people in these positions exploit children & here's a perfect opportunity for it to start. I'm not saying this is occurring here, but again - weird to me that adults want to spend their free time socializing with children.
Dec 30, 2011 at 9:21 a.m.
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Maybe these kids are "socializing" with their teachers because they don't feel comfortable talking to their parents? I wouldn't question the boundaries too much since it's on school property and in a rather controlled environment. School guidelines and rules apply, I'm sure.
As for teachers being teachers and not friends, this coffee group may be offering up an opportunity to discuss classroom topics and help teachers be more approachable to students. There could also be opportunity for teachers to mentor or offer advice in a relaxed setting.
Teachers CAN be a friend in the right situation and could make all the difference in a student's everyday life. I'd rather teachers spend time getting to know their students rather than staying sequestered in the staff room wondering how to get through to their students. This is a good thing so stop whining about it.
Dec 30, 2011 at 9:03 a.m.
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What a great idea!
Dec 30, 2011 at 8:02 a.m.
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Love this!
Dec 30, 2011 at 7:54 a.m.
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My senior year in HS, a few friends and myself would sit in one of our teachers rooms for about 45 minutes before the first class, watch ESPN, and talk sports. It was very enjoyable and a great way to start the morning.
Dec 30, 2011 at 6:10 a.m.
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Maybe some of you "nay-sayers" would benefit from a coffee clutch such as this. Perhaps you could work on your social skills!
My most favorite teachers were quite sociable and they were also the teachers I learned the most from. When you like someone, you are more apt to value their opinion and pay better attention to what they say. How could this POSSIBLY be a negative?
And for students struggling to "fit in" this is such a boost to their self-esteem. Remember, not ALL students are jocks!
Dec 29, 2011 at 11:14 p.m.
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"I'd rather have that time at home with my child."
Then have coffee with them before they go to school and quit complaining.
"Seems quite odd & inappropriate to me."
And it's because of fools who write stuff like this that teachers can never win. My condolences, teachers. Please keep up the great work.
Dec 29, 2011 at 10:21 p.m.
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I think this is great! If we hire people who we believe are responsible and capable enough to educate our children, we ought not have to question their professional judgement and capability in navigating a conversation with our children. We expect so much of our teachers. Building these relationships is crucial. I applaud those teachers who are willing to take these extra steps for students! I am sure there is no compensation for their time. This is just another example of the selfless work our educators do, and the obvious need the children in our community have for positive adult time and attention.
Dec 29, 2011 at 10 p.m.
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tlover...really? Bonding and making realtionships is great! Kids need to see and understand that "the staff" are real people too. I had some awesome teachers when I was a kid that I still see out and about and talk to. How is a coffee conversation between 2 people odd and inappropriate?
Great story!!!
Dec 29, 2011 at 8:25 p.m.
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Are you kidding me? Breaking down barriers allows teachers to get to know students better and ultimately teach better. I'm sure they're not hanging out on weekends. This is a positive story about a school bringing different people together. Isn't that life? Why does every upbeat story have to have some idiot say otherwise? Good grief, what grade did you get in human relations?! Never mind, I think I know. Hats off, Gazette for writing about this.
Dec 29, 2011 at 8:09 p.m.
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There is a need for boundaries & my concern is that teachers should not be socializing with students. They are suppose to be teachers, not friends. I think this is fine for students, but I question the level of staff participation. Seems quite odd & inappropriate to me.
Dec 29, 2011 at 6:31 p.m.
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seems like a good idea....depends on what the conversations are about.......I'd rather have that time at home with my child.
Dec 29, 2011 at 5:38 p.m.
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We used to be able to smoke cigarettes with our coffee when I was at Craig High School.
I'm just sayin'...
Dec 29, 2011 at 5:26 p.m.
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24me..agreed, .we need to celebrate the positives!
Dec 29, 2011 at 5:04 p.m.
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This is a wonderful idea. A chance for students and teachers to talk and help students build on social skills. Sometimes the simple and least expensive ideas are the best. This makes me proud of our Milton students and teachers. Way to go!
Dec 29, 2011 at 4:22 p.m.
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you said it donna. it is so much easier to work as a team when you spend time out of the box.
Dec 29, 2011 at 4:21 p.m.
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What a neat idea! Congrats to the students and teachers!
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