Photo provided Transition To Work students, pictured from left, Katie Anderson, Tim Miller and Hannah Hendrix are gaining on-the-job experience as they work in the dish room at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School. The seniors began in March and will continue through the end of the school year as they gain work-based learning hours and lab credit for the program.

BLOOMINGDALE – Transition To Work students at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School are gaining some on-the-job experience by working in the school cafeteria.

Seniors Tim Miller, Katie Anderson and Hannah Hendrix began working at the facility’s dish room on March 23 and are tasked with washing trays and utensils during the three lunch periods. They work for roughly two hours each day and will continue through the end of the school year.

TTW instructor Jennifer Davis said her students have primarily completed in-house jobs but she hopes to have them out in the community in the future.

“We hope to start in the fall, but so far they have filled 2,000 Easter eggs and 80 treat bags for the Mingo Knights of Columbus and they work on the Caring Closet and food pantry in school that provides to students in need,” Davis added. “The Caring Closet provides personal care items, clothes and shoes and the pantry has non-perishable food items to take home every weekend. The TTW students keep them stocked, plus they fill the school pop machines two to three times a week and collect the money to turn into the treasurer.”

In addition, the program operates the Soaring Eagle Café and supplies popcorn, cookies and slushies at lunchtime as well as an in-house laundry service for the school. Students receive work-based learning hours and a lab grade for the TTW program.

The students said they were getting acclimated to their duties.

“We’re learning the basics of cafeteria management,” Miller added.

Hendrix explained their tasks included washing and stacking trays and utensils and handling trash duties, while Anderson said she was learning a lot on the job. Meanwhile, they will train this year’s juniors to take over the dish room during the next school year.