East Valley schools observe school lunch week

CHICKEN NUGGETS and smiley-face potatoes greeted East Valley schoolchildren on Tuesday to mark National School Lunch Week. The celebratory lunch also included alphabet vanilla cookies, apple quarters, a fruit cup and milk in chocolate, strawberry or regular flavors.

Many East Valley district schools gave out bookmarks with hot lunches this week and held drawings for children to win a few teddy bears under the theme, “School Lunch is Instrumental.” The activities all pointed to the importance of good midday meal.

Trent Elementary kitchen manager Sherry Johnson said students were excited about this week’s program emphasizing nutritious food. She had two classrooms create posters with the instrumental lunch theme, including those of Melanie Delaney and Debbie Clift. Some posters are displayed in Trent’s lunchroom.

“We had them use our healthy food products and make the food into an instrument (for the posters). We had some really cute ideas,” Johnson said. “The posters are adorable.”

On Thursday, she planned to hold a drawing for students taking hot lunches to win three teddy bears that were on display in the lunchroom. The school also gave out “School Lunch is Instrumental” bookmarks showing musical instrument designs.

“Our hot lunch program is very nutritious. This is one of the highest count (schools) of reduced or free lunches” in the district, Johnson added.

Trent Elementary serves an average of about 150 to 160 breakfasts, with about three-fourths of them free or reduced cost, according to the school. “I serve about 350 lunches a day with ECEAP (preschool). About 75 to 80 percent are free or reduced cost.”

Debra Howard, East Valley School District assistant superintendent of operations, echoed the importance of school lunches for children.

“We’re trying to get across the idea that school lunches are important,” Howard said. “Eating well makes a difference. Protein is key.” The district served 13,649 breakfasts in September, or an average daily amount of 650, and 60,100 lunches, or an average daily number of 2,862.

Both figures are higher than a year ago by about 1,000, Howard said, although the district’s enrollment has dropped and elementary lunch prices were raised to $1.75. Howard did not have a current total for the district’s overall number of free or reduced-cost lunches served.

Explorer Scouts host fund-raiser today

Several East Valley High School students will hold a fund-raising garage sale today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 22619 E. Trent Ave. in Otis Orchards.

About 30 students are raising money for a November 2006 trip to Athens, Greece, following the completion of a major research and book writing project.

The students go as members of Explorer Scout Troop 503, and also as students of Julie Seipp, who teaches honors humanities and Advanced Placement European history at EV. Seipp has students research a European city, write a fictional book based on that site and then travel to the location.

Mack Rife, the Explorers group president, said the Corbin Senior Center sponsors the troop, and membership in Explorers makes it possible to go on an international trip.

College-planning sessions scheduled

East Valley High School will hold two sessions on college planning for parents and students. The first, on Oct. 25 in the school’s library, is scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and is on preparing a college portfolio. On Nov. 15, a second session is planned for going over college financial planning.

Both meetings are open to any EVHS student. For more information, call the school at 927-3200.

Dance group will perform

A California dance company is scheduled to perform and teach about its art form next week in two Central Valley schools.

The Inland Northwest Dance Association is hosting Savage Jazz Dance Company, which plans to perform an educational program, “Learning About and Through Dance,” at Sunrise Elementary School and Adams Elementary School Friday.

WVHS arts and crafts fair Oct. 29

The annual arts and crafts fair sponsored by the West Valley High School marching band and auxiliary is scheduled Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the school.

Admission is free. In addition to the arts and crafts, there will be a bake sale, games for all ages and lunch available.

The Eagle band has been selected to march in the 2006 Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, D.C.