Café and Kitchen
Food is fundamental to thriving minds, making them ready for
success in learning.
CCUSD aims to support parents by building good eating habits early, by having a strong nutrition curriculum and by placing great importance on both teacher and student wellness. Because multiuse, large assembly spaces are a vital part of the learning model, Culver City USD is adopting a two-building approach for elementary campuses. One multi-purpose Cafe will support dining and nutrition, as well as before, during and after school learning; and a separate Multi-Purpose building will support large assemblies, performing arts and after school programs.
Looking to the future, from early childhood onward, students will grow their own fruits and vegetables and learn how to cook. Beyond understanding the benefits of healthy food, these activities foster cooperation and communication. Currently the central kitchen at Culver City High School provides meals district-wide, including programs for early learners run by the Office of Child Development (OCD). Given the unique demands of food service for this group, a new kitchen for the new OCD building on the Farragut Elementary School campus is strongly desired.
Increasing dining participation across the district, especially for breakfast, is critical at the elementary school level. There is also a desire to support brunch (mid-morning) and supper (after school) at the middle and high school levels as the school day evolves.
The Why
At the middle and high school levels, there is a desire to increase dining participation greatly. Lunch service for teachers no longer exists. Current dining spaces are uninviting and make participation challenging. Make the middle and high school Cafe experience both dynamic and inviting by giving students more choice, by giving them seating variety and zones like modern restaurants. Consider enhancing the environment with display and sound; using sports, music videos and live events creates a lively atmosphere to increase student participation. By making the Cafe more inviting, teachers will be encouraged to participate.
Uses
Dining
Dining activities focus on the middle of the day, but also support meals at other times, including breakfast, brunch and supper. In the future: breakfast may expand to support families needing food assistance, or to support families dropping off students early. Supper may expand to support more students in extracurriculars, clubs or sports, and for those who would otherwise eat late.
Multiple Learning Styles
Supports multiple learning activities in addition to club and extracurricular activities with an emphasis on group collaboration. Create opportunities for specialized learning by adding a culinary lab and/or garden, or by placing health sciences and fitness studios near the Café at upper grade levels.
Events
Large group presentations will occur both outside of school hours and during the school day.
Key Concepts
Relationships
LEGEND
Considerations
Right-Sized
Right-size the Café to support approximately one-third of the total student population, providing acoustics, sound and projection systems to support gatherings of this size.
Dining Experience
Break down scale of large Café space with varying furniture options including a variety of table shapes, booths, high-top tables, linear counter space at perimeter, and differing ceiling heights. Natural daylight, views of nature and direct access to outdoor dining create a healthy environment for learning and socializing. Optimize acoustics, lighting, window shading devices, sound, and projection systems for all uses listed above.
Community Use
As appropriate, provide sink and/or kitchenette, projection or digital display to support community gatherings.