Students Saying ‘Yum’ Over Smoothies

The Rochester Memorial School breakfast program is still in its infancy, but Food Service Director Jill Henesey said the chocolate chip whole grain muffins and fresh assortment of yummy smoothies have quickly made the RMS breakfast program number one in participation in the entire ORR school district.

Currently 58 students are enrolled in the program. Forty-two participated in the program at the start of September, and Principal Derek Medeiros said 49 students were eating breakfast as of the beginning of October.

“It’s almost like we’ve had the program in place for three or four years,” Medeiros told the Rochester School Committee on October 1. “We’re pretty excited about the different choices.”

Students have two options for a breakfast combo. The first option is a grain, such as a muffin or one of the school’s own homemade breads, including cinnamon or banana bread, cereal, and a smoothie. Option B is a grain, cheese, a fruit, juice, and milk.

The smoothies – in assorted flavors consisting of fruit, yogurt, and milk – are the hot item, said Medeiros, but the kitchen currently has only a household-size blender to make them, and it grows increasingly difficult to keep up with the demand.

Henesey said she has applied for a grant through the New England Dairy & Food Council to purchase more industrial-style equipment to expand on the smoothies, to make more and to add more variety to the smoothie menu and “capture the children’s excitement.”

Blenders of the capacity Henesey is seeking cost around $3,000.

The goal is to have 100 students every morning eating breakfast, which is served at 8:30 am just after the busses arrive – something Medeiros said has become consistent and punctual since coordinating with the school bus transportation company.

In other business, administrators and educators are excited about a new energizing element added to the school routine at RMS as part of the district’s social/emotional strategic goal.

Teachers and students are now participating regularly in what Superintendent Doug White introduced as “energizers,” activities to get students out of their seats and moving to stimulate them mentally and physically.

“There’s a point in the day when you can really see the kids mellowing out,” said Medeiros.

Assistant Superintendent Elise Frangos said staff members have also been using the energizer technique during staff meetings and trainings.

“It’s not only getting us oxygenated through movement, but we’re getting to know each other,” said Frangos.

Medeiros also announced the dates for the school’s designated no-homework nights, part of the district-wide “stress-free nights” created to give one night off each month to families in all three towns. These no-homework nights, said Medeiros, are aimed at alleviating student and parent stress at home and will be aligned with the stress-free nights at Old Rochester Regional Junior and High Schools, as well.

The stress-free night dates are October 22, November 19, December 15, January 12, February 9, March 22, April 14, May 12, and June 1.

During the School Committee meeting, the committee approved a number of budget transfers totaling $191,000, moving money from certain line items in the budget to other line items.

The next meeting of the Rochester School Committee is scheduled for November 5 at 6:30 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

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