Kingsley, PA – On Tuesday, December 4, 2018, faculty, staff, administration, students and retirees of the Mountain View School District celebrated Family & Consumer Sciences Day – the national celebration that educates families about the importance of preparing healthy meals and “dining in” together. In an effort to encourage students and their families to prepare and eat a healthy meal together at home, nine hundred two (902) individuals in both the high school and the elementary school buildings shared a home style breakfast together. The breakfast was prepared by the district’s hard working and dedicated cafeteria staff.
Karen Voigt, Superintendent; Dr. Christopher Lake, Elementary Principal; Dr. Christine Plonski-Sezer, Board of Education; Mrs. Erin Kiryluk, Food Service Director-Nutrition Group; Mrs. Melody Haley, school nurse; Dr. Elaine Chichura, Family and Consumer Sciences teacher; Diana Slick, Counselor for At-Risk; and, Lena Penny, student representative planned this district wide breakfast.
Students and adults shared breakfast while having an opportunity to socialize outside of the traditional classroom setting. Students remarked that they liked how the teachers shared a meal with them. Another was heard saying that the “Dine In” project helps to bring the faculty, staff, and students together in a more positive and relaxed environment. While a high school teacher remarked how they enjoyed the experience of having everyone together. They said they thought that it helps to create a better relationship with the staff and the students.
In addition to sharing breakfast in school, individuals were encouraged to join in a national campaign sponsored by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Individuals showed their support for the “Dining In” campaign by committing to “Dining In” on the AAFCS web site. Their commitment to the project appeared on an interactive map on the web site. This year a total of 2,896 individuals living within the Mountain View School District “committed to dining in” at home during the week of December 3rd. That is an increase of 1,669 over the number of individuals committing to share a family meal last year. That is more than double the number of individuals that committed to sharing a family meal at home in 2017. In 2014, our first year celebrating “Dine In”, we started with 189 individuals eating a family dinner at home.
Overall AAFCS has received more than 400,000 commitments to “Dining In” since the first FCS Day in 2014. With the numerous benefits to families preparing and sharing meals together, “Dining In” in school or at home calls attention to something simple that families can do to be healthier. “We are proud to take part in this important initiative,” Chichura said.
December 3rd was chosen as Family & Consumer Sciences Day to honor AAFCS Founder Ellen Swallow Richards, first female graduate of MIT.