We are so very fortunate to have fallen upon such an incredible job experience as Longhorn.  The main managers we work with are Jerry and Dave.  Dave is the general manager at the Lilburn site.  Any time you can tell them thank you for the work they've done with our class, I would appreciate you doing so.  

When we arrive at Longhorn on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the students immediately get on task.  They do all the preparations to open the restaurant.  In the beginning, we were folding silverware and portioning vegetables, cheese and meats.  The restaurant has certain amounts that they put in small baggies to expedite cooking meals during the day.  The students had to measure the cheese, for instance, using a food scale. This is a great skill needed in any restaurant business.  This year, our duties have greatly increased.  Now, we also set up all the tables, chairs and menus on the tables.  The students work behind the bar to set up the to-go stand which includes wiping down everything, proportioning sour cream and butter, putting nuts on the bar, filling the ice cooler, and mixing sweet and sour sauce.  This is all done independently.  One student makes sweet and unsweetened tea and then fills pitchers for the waitresses.  Another student uses the lemon cutting machine to slice lemons and prepare them as wedges for tea.  Someone must also fill the salt shakers and organize the sugar and sweet and low packets on the tables.  Longhorn has a certain way they set up the tables and our students follow their instructions very well. 

When these tasks are complete, the students will occasionally wash windows or sweep floors.  Recently, we started having one junior student stay behind from 11:30 until 12:45 and actually work with customers at the hostess station.  This student is alternated week to week so they all get this experience.  During this time, the student will sit customers, serve drinks (tea, water and soda) or bus tables.  They help the hostess in any way possible.  We feel this is invaluable experience since being a hostess is the entry level job at most restaurants.  These students will have already been trained in that position. 

We are so thankful for Longhorn and will be continuing our experience with them as long as the students have an opportunity to learn new skills. Social skills at work is a very important skill and this is emphasized every day also.