- April 24, 2024
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Carlos Rivera-Virella, Daniel Jordan, Lynette Monahan, and Jaycee Mitchell put the finishing touches on the yams for dinner. Photo Jacque Estes
Mariana Rivera helps her son Carlos, prepare food for the family Thanksgiving dinner at OKES on Monday, Nov. 23. Photo Jacque Estes
Rondal Proctor sprinkles sugar on top of the sweet potatoes as Jaycee Mitchel watches. Photo Jacque Estes
T.J. Brown places marshmallows on the sweet potatoes. Photo Jacque Estes
Cierra Miller and Daniel Jordon cut vegetables for the salad they served at their family Thanksgiving dinner at OKES on Monday, Nov. 23. Photo Jacque Estes
Sandra Sanderson and Morgan Sanderson squeeze icing onto cupcakes for the family Thanksgiving dinner at OKES on Monday, Nov. 23. Photo Jacque Estes
D.J. Douglas puts the finishing touches on the sweet potatoes. Photo Jacque Estes
Daytona State College student teacher, Tara Cieri, got into the spirit of the holiday by wearing a pilgrim outfit as she helped the students prepare their Thanksgiving feast on Monday, Nov. 23. Photo Jacque Estes
Even Bunny E. Rabbit, official kale tester, got a special Thanksgiving treat. Photo Jacque Estes
One hallway at Old Kings Elementary smelled like grandma’s house on Thanksgiving. The aroma of turkey, ham, potatoes, and green bean salad wafted from Lynette Monahan’s ESE classroom.
But it wasn’t Thursday, it was Monday, Nov. 23, and the students were working on one of their life skills projects – making a Thanksgiving dinner for their families.
“Life skills are part of our curriculum,” Monahan said. “Making a turkey is a big job and if it wasn’t for these two women, we wouldn’t be having this,” Monahan said referring to moms, Sandra Sanderson and Debbie Verilla.
“This is the best day ever.” student Jacyee Mitchell
The two mothers of students in the classroom, along with donations from other parents and Monahan, brought the ingredients for the meal from store to table, and put the family event together in just a few short days.
Monahan said with the help of the parents, her student teacher Tara Cieri and her paraprofessionals, Martha Company and Tracey Hodges, along with a donation of a turkey from Harris Grocery and a gift card for the ham from Walmart in Palm Coast, the meal she wanted her children to create became a reality.
“It was important to have this meal because everyone has Thanksgiving with their families,” Monahan said. “This class is a family too. It was a chance for everybody to get together and get to know each other.”
For Daytona State College student Cieri, who dressed in pilgrim garb for the occasion, it was a chance to do some learning herself.
“I would like to be an elementary school teacher,” Cieri said. “I am in the ESE class to learn how to work with different kinds of students.”
The tables were set for 35-40 dinner guests, including parents, siblings and some OKES staff. Off to the side, another member of the class, Bunny E Rabbit enjoyed some kale added to his bowl by one of the students.
“This is the best day ever,” student Jacyee Mitchell told everyone.
