LIHU‘E — Children were excited because they could order their teachers around.
Or at least order food from them.
Parents were excited because school leaders would get a portion of proceeds from the evening’s food sales.
Wilcox Elementary School teachers were excited as they got a final orientation and briefing on the McDonald’s operation from Robert Ibia here Tuesday afternoon.
“This is our first time,” an excited teacher said as she surveyed the capacity of the Lihu‘e McDonald’s dining room in anticipation of the crowd she expected as school teachers and staff participated in a McTeachers Night fund-raising event that ran from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“We get 20 percent of what is sold during this time,” another teacher said, laughing as she watched other staffers practice the fine art of cheeseburger wrapping, something not in the everyday work routine for teachers.
“We were excited,” she said. “They came to ask us, and we thought it was a great idea.”
Teachers, administrators and others from the school manned the drive-through window, drink-dispensing machines, front counter, and burger assembly line, to their delight and the delight of their students and families.
More laughter broke out as other staffers practiced the art of French fry “watching,” or waiting until the beeper went off before (don’t forget to drain) unloading the basket of golden delicacies.
Keoni Ruiz of McDonald’s made sure Donovan Pegeder of Wilcox filled the containers to the brim.
Ibia, manager of the Lihu‘e McDonald’s, stopped his briefing long enough for the Wilcox staff to get pictures taken before resuming his instruction.
The teachers, meanwhile, began to get edgy about the experience as parents accompanied by their children began entering the door armed with little lavender slips.
“These (lavender slips) are to let the people know which class they come from,” a student offered. “I had to write over 200 of them. The class that has the most students here will have a (Big) Kids Meal party afterwards.”
