Students gather around the table for lunch, lessons

Nutrition, table manners part of focus

Students at Chartiers Valley Intermediate School have the opportunity to experience lunch in a new way this year.

Instead of eating in the main cafeteria, students who choose to take part in a new program called Kids Around the Table eat “cafe style” in a room adjacent to the cafeteria and are treated to “chef-inspired” meals.

This is the first year for the program, said Michelle Marker, director of programs for The Nutrition Group, the district’s food service provider. The Nutrition Group has similar programs in the Yough School District and Meyersdale School District in Somerset County.

Students can sign up for a two-week session of the lunchtime program, during which they are exposed to scratch-made cooking, farm-fresh foods and new recipes in a family-style dining environment.

In addition to getting youngsters to try new foods, Kids Around the Table teaches about serving sizes, food groups, food safety, table manners and table etiquette. It also develops students’ motor skills by having them pour, pass and serve food.

“The first time we did it, we maybe had 20 kids, but now we are at 48,” said Scott Hudak, a chef with The Nutrition Group who has created all of the recipes for the program.

Some of the meals served so far have been threecheese quesadillas on whole grain tortillas, barbecue chicken, volcanic meatloaf, chicken lo mein, vegetable pizza and taco boats. Students also get fresh fruits and vegetables.

Students rotate daily serving as table captain, bringing the food to the table and serving it to their fellow students.

“The kids are really engaged,” district superintendent Brian White said. “They talk about trying [the recipes] at home. It gives them a sense of responsibility at lunchtime” and a chance to talk and share with each other, he said.

A group of fourth-graders gave the cafe high marks.

Hunter Dolatowski said he likes sitting in the regular cafeteria but prefers the cafe “because you can get different food.”

“Lunch is my favorite class because I get to eat and I love to eat,” Hunter said with a laugh. He added that he had never tried vegetable pizza, which was served that day in the cafe, but he liked it.

“Eating here is my favorite part of the day,” said Cameron Hall, who noted that he liked serving the food in the cafe.

“We try to use a lot more manners than usual,” added Evan Grimes, who said his favorite meal had been the barbecue chicken.

Addison Varnish said her mom wanted her to sign up for Kids Around the Table.

“I’m kind of picky. My mom wanted me to try new foods,” she said.

The best part of the program, Janelle King said, is “you get to try new things and you get to eat with your friends.”

Upon completion of the program, students receive a certificate of achievement and a chef’s hat.

In his overview of a draft proposed budget for the 2017-18 school year, superintendent Patrick O’Toole on Tuesday said early projections call for a 0.8172-mill hike for a new property tax rate of 25.156 mills. The increase is the maximum millage increase permitted under the state’s Act 1 Index and the exceptions the district applied for due to escalating pension and special education costs. It would be the fourth year in a row with a property tax increase.Mr. O’Toole said the mandated Public School Employees Retirement System contribution is increasing from 30.03 percent of all district salaries to 32.57 percent next year.Budget presentations will take place at the board’s meetings on April 17 and 24 and May 8.The board voted 8-0, with member Louis Mafrice Jr. absent, to accept the recommendations of an ad hoc committee for capital projects totaling $16 million and authorized the continued design, development and construction documents for the proposed projects. The projects include a new eight-lane swimming pool, a multi-use complex at the high school stadium to include space for district and community use; and district administrative office space.The potential effect on property taxpayers is spread out over two years with a 0.15-mill increase in 2018-19 and a 0.16-mill tax increase in 2019-20. A general timetable calls for the start of construction in 2018. Chef Scott Hudak visits with fourth-graders Charlotte Winslow, left, and Chanel Paige at Chartiers Valley Intermediate School during the lunch program called Kids Around the Table,” which allows students to try new foods and learn about nutrition and table etiquette.

Cameron Hall, 10, a fourth-grader at Chartiers Valley Intermediate School, serves himself more salad during the Kids Around the Table lunchtime program. About 20 students took part when the program began this year, and that number has climbed to 48.