In order to offer students a healthy breakfast and a cool place to hang out, the ‘Rise and Shine Café’ program has started once again at Riverside Secondary by Home Economics teacher, Ms. Jessica McDiarmid and Riverside’s Youth Worker, Bonnie Angstadt.
The Rise and Shine Café is a program that takes place every Tuesday and Thursday morning in the foods room to provide students at Riverside with a healthy breakfast and an opportunity to connect with others. It keeps students feeling their best and gives them a chance to learn all that they need. “Breakfast can help our brains work better and gives us the energy so we don’t feel so empty on the inside,” said Bonnie. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day since it prepares the body for the rest of the day. Many students can feel rushed in the morning getting ready to school and sometimes that means skipping breakfast to make it to school on time. Another benefit to the cafe is the chance to meet new people. 
The Rise and Shine Cafe was started when McDiarmid decided to work together with Bonnie and the Riverside PAC. She got to start the program from the PAC’s funds and she feels very passionate about it. “I feel it’s a great gathering of people to get to know; new peers and students get to start off their day with some positive interaction,” said McDiarmid. The program welcomes everyone which gives students a chance to meet new students in the morning who they might not normally not meet in their classes. “It so exciting to have people come out and spend time together; it makes me feel almost like the school is a home; it’s awesome, I love it,” said Bonnie. The Cafe is free of charge for everyone and all are encouraged to come down to the foods room to enjoy tea, hot chocolate, oatmeal and toast that can be served with peanut butter, cream cheese or Nutella – plus many other goodies.
