Maxi’s First Grade Special becomes a beloved annual tradition
June 12, 2025 | By Sandy Yusen | Correspondent
As the weather warms and the school year winds down, a now-yearly tradition returns: Brookside Primary School’s first-grade pilgrimage to Maxi’s Restaurant for breakfast.
The feel-good event began two years ago, when Brookside teacher Amy Bryant and her colleagues dreamed up the field trip as a fun way to celebrate the end of the year. Her husband, and Maxi’s owner Tom Bryant, offered to host. Since then, more than 120 students have enjoyed the Maxi’s First Grade Special on the house.
This year, Maxi’s served 51 first-grade students over three days last week. Teachers Pam Menz, Amber Kennedy, and Tina Clark each led their classes to safely navigate the short walk from school to the restaurant.
On Friday, 17 students filed in, climbed onto Maxi’s bar stools, and swiveled with excitement. Like clockwork, the unflappable staff served plates piled high with scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon and sausage, a pancake with maple syrup, an orange slice, and a choice of orange juice or hot chocolate.
When asked about their favorite part of the visit, student Hadley Ward said without hesitation, “the food!” – her smile matching the sparkle threaded through her hair. Logan Bouchard, who proudly noted that this was his 26th visit to Maxi’s, chimed in with his favorite: “the hot chocolate!”
Teacher Amber Kennedy displayed impressive calm and patience, taking quick bites of her own breakfast while weaving around the young diners to answer their questions, help with utensils, and manage bathroom runs.
Kennedy explained that the field trip serves as an educational experience for students. “We learn a lot about the classroom community and bringing the classroom into the community,” she said.
Before the visit, Kennedy says, students practice using manners, being respectful, and sitting patiently. They also walk to the restaurant and sit with different classmates. At restaurants, she explains, students tend to be with their families and have more adult supervision. But here, she says, “They learn to be independent.”
On Friday morning, many of Maxi’s regular customers were understanding, even if their regular seat at the bar was temporarily occupied by a 6-year-old. Brent Curtis, who lives in Montpelier and works for WDEV, appreciated the lively scene. “These young people are so well-behaved and they’re having so much fun,” he remarked.
Waterbury resident Pam Slayton, a Maxi’s regular and former daycare provider, added, “They act better than adults!”
Meanwhile, Tom Bryant doesn’t blink at the challenge of serving 17 hungry 6-year-olds at once. “The thing that’s funny is that it’s so easy for us,” he said. Weekend crowds often stretch out the door. “The cost is small compared to what we get out of it in return.”
That return includes dozens of satisfied customers like Hadley Ward, who proclaimed, “I’m going to convince my family to come back because I love it so much!”