Written by Jaylyn Hamilton
Elementary students can often be rowdy and unmannered at the dinner table, especially when they are younger. Karen Libka, food director for Salem Community Schools, has noticed that sometimes kindergarteners come in and don’t know how to behave when eating. This year, she decided to take time and teach these students the rules and proper conduct while in the cafeteria.
“I've actually wanted to do this for a few years, but just didn't have the time or the help to do it,” said Libka.
She started this program this semester after Brittany Nicholson was hired as operations manager for the School Nutrition Program.
“This year things came together,” Libka said, adding that when she talked with Nicholson about the idea, she was excited about it, too.
Libka plans to continue doing this program from now on with future kindergarten classes.
At lunch time, she takes a group of kindergarteners and teaches the individual groups how to be calm and use manners at the table. She works with them for a week, eating with them everyday. While they are practicing manners, they are also learning what the different food groups are.
“We talk about the five food groups and point out each day the foods they are eating, what food group they are in and how they are healthy for them,” Libka said.
The more they practice, she and her assistants notice small changes in the kindergarteners' behavior. Therefore, the kindergarteners get rewarded with different things as they complete each day. They get things like stickers, books and more. On the very last day, they get to go to the big freezer in the café, pick out ice cream, add toppings and enjoy their special treat.
“Before we go into the big freezer and through the kitchen, we talk to them about the hard work the school nutrition staff does to make meals possible for them,” Libka said.
She hopes the program teaches them not only proper manners while eating, but also about the food they eat and the work that goes into making it for them.