DMA's Upper Elementary Class

Who are the Big Kids?
We are the upper elementary students at Downtown Montessori Academy.  We are in fourth through sixth grades (with one seventh grader this year.)

What is Big Kids Serving Food?
It is a restaurant.  We call it BKSF for short.  We serve a different meal every month.  We have a main dish, vegetables, bread or pasta, and dessert.

How does BKSF work?

• We have a parent meeting and sign up parent volunteers to help.
• We set up a healthy menu for each meal, and set the price.  This year it is $5.00.
• We set up a schedule for what has to be done for each meal.
• Before each meal we

                  put up advertising posters,

                  hand out order forms,

                  collect the forms and payment,

                  tabulate the orders,

                  make out the list of customers for each teacher,

                  make the shopping list for the parent shoppers, and

                  do necessary advance preparation.

• For each meal we

                        set up tables and chairs,

                        set the places with flatware and napkins,

                        prepare the meal,

                        check-in our customers,

                        give the customers their main dish,

                        serve the milk at their places,

                        give out seconds to all who want them,

                        serve the dessert, and

                        eat our own meal.

• After each meal we

                  bus the tables,

                  wash the dishes (We use as few disposables as we can.),

                  wash the tables and take them down,

                  put the chairs away,

                  clean the floors, and

                  clean the kitchen.

• The day after the meal we

                  reconcile the contents of the cash box,

                  count our income,

                  subtract our costs,

                  figure our profits,

                  add them in to get our new total profits, and

                  review the year to date to analyze our sales.             

When is BKSF in business?
BKSF serves hot lunch once a month.  This year it was on the first Monday of every month.  We held seven during the 2007-2008 school year.
We only run BKSF during our “Wisconsin” year.  This comes every three years in our curriculum.

Where is BKSF held?
We use the fellowship hall and kitchen of St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, to which our school building is connected. 

Why do we run BKSF?
We run BKSF to get business experience and raise money for field trips.  We take lots of field trips to places in Milwaukee and the metro area during the Wisconsin year, and at least one big trip farther out into the state.  This year we went to the Madison area.  These field trips cost a lot of money!  We pay for most of the field trips’ transportation, and all the costs of the big end-of-the-year trip out of BKSF profits.

How much money did BKSF raise this year?
Our total net profit was $1480.46. 

What are some of the things we learned about running a business?

• You must appeal to the majority of your customer base.
• Plan ahead!
• The customer is always right!
• A clean environment attracts more customers.
• Teamwork is easier work.
• Kids love milk.
• Taking breaks wastes time.  Time is of the essence!
• Print your order forms on an envelope so you can keep track of money easier.
• Be prepared for changes in your plan.
• Stack chairs the way the custodian taught us.
• Good advertising means more customers.
• Always include a vegetarian option.
• Put out extra order forms around the school.
• Convenience is key!