Students to Practice Spanish and Manners at ‘El Restaurante Bay Haven’

In a unique experience blending language learning and etiquette, the cafeteria at Bay Haven School of Basics Plus will be transformed into “El Restaurante Bay Haven” from 11 am -2pm, Friday, Feb. 18.

According to the school district, all students in grades K-5 will order their lunch in Spanish, and Spanish-speaking parent volunteers will act as servers.

“This is the first time we have held this event at Bay Haven,” said Spanish teacher Jaime Viera. “We’re excited to see all of our students participate. The focus will not just be on their language skills, but also on their use of good table manners.”

In a subsequent event, various classes at the school will compete to be named the group with the best manners in the lunchroom. The winning class will take a field trip to Mi Tierra, a Sarasota restaurant featuring Columbian and Cuban cuisine, a district release said. The activities are made possible through a grant from the Frank E. Duckwall Foundation.