High Schoolers Preach The Gospel Of Good Nutrition To Young Students
Melanie LaRoque didn’t dare carry the knives, herself. But the 16-year-old confidently led a room full of fourth-graders in a discussion about nutrition. Go figure.
“I’ve learned so much about kids. To get kids to pay attention, you have to have fun - and be serious,” said LaRoque.
The dark-haired junior at West Valley High School is in her second year of teaching elementary students about nutrition. The program, called Healthy Foods and Choices Too, is sponsored by Tidyman’s.
LaRoque, who cut a finger the last time she was presenting the program, started out her presentation at Orchard Center Elementary School with this introduction:
“Hi. My name is Melanie and I’m a junior. My favorite food is spaghetti and my new food is lobster.”
She and fellow West Valley students, Gail Nesbitt, Johni Nicholson and Sumer Johnson talked with Rodger Grass’ fourth-grade class about the food pyramid, the benefits of each type of food and just how much a serving might be.
“Does anybody know why grains, the largest food category, are the best for your body?” asked Nicholson.
“Here’s a food label that you would find on the side of a cereal box, or anything you would buy in a store. Can anybody tell me how many calories in a serving?” LaRoque said.
But the most fun came after LaRoque and her team used those sharp knives to dice up papaya, a daikon radish, yellow and green peppers, pineapple and a turnip. Each student got a taste.
The less-common foods were unfamiliar to the high school students, never mind the fourth-graders. Peppers seemed spicy to them; turnip rated a “yuck” from more than one.
But by the end of the morning, plenty of the kids agreed that papaya was pretty tasty. And one student, Scott Eklund, described the mild daikon radish perfectly: “Tastes like water. Water with a crunch.”
Skyview and Keytronic
Skyview Elementary School and Keytronic joined forces this week, in a ceremony making the two official business partners.
The relationship, through the Partners Program of the Greater Spokane Area, is designed to help teachers learn what skills are needed in the business world, and to expose students to the business world.
Every shoe helps
Third-grade teacher Susan Stannaway at Orchard Center Elementary and her class collected 200 pairs of shoes and 600 pieces of clothing for Rwandan refugees in Africa.
The shoes and clothing have been donated to Catholic Relief Services.
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MEMO: If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a Valley school or about the achievements of Valley students, teachers or school staff, please let us know at the Valley Voice, 13208 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 99216. Call: 927-2166. Fax: 927-2175.