Cius and Sako sauteed garlic, wilted spinach and mixed ricotta for baked ziti Thursday afternoon, as the Family and Consumer Sciences classroom filled with the chocolatey aroma of the brownies they had made earlier.
They are just two of the students who have participated in Food for Thought, a program teacher Kate Paraggio started at the school last year “in an effort to provide a positive and empowering experience for students,” an explanation of the program said.
“Middle school is a challenging time for a lot of kids due to all of the changes they experience. It is especially difficult for many students at our school because more than 40 percent of our population is eligible for free and reduced lunch. Food for Thought was developed to combat some of this stress.”
Every week, two students meet with Paraggio and Brandi Dutton, another teacher, to make a nutritious meal. They generally meet on Fridays so that the students can take something home to not only share with their families, but also to get them through the weekend in case they don’t have enough food at home.
The program is funded by a donation from the school’s Parent Teacher Organization and supported by the Elm Street food pantry, as well as the school’s FCS program.
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