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Robinwood renews Thanksgiving tradition
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Robinwood fourth-graders looked happy as they received their first spoonful at the Nov. 18 Thanksgiving Feast.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Fourth grade pals Tracey Jiang (left), Sydney Jones, Laurna Maughn, and Ali Williams smiled as they enjoyed their Thanksgiving feast together.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .The organized, smooth-running feast had Robinwood parent volunteers doling out big spoonful of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and other Thanksgiving favorites.
By SARAH FOOR
When the teachers and parents of the fourth-grade students at Robinwood Lane Elementary decided to bring back their tradition of hosting a Thanksgiving feast, they took the meaning of “feast” to heart.
Organized and orchestrated by PTA member Stephanie Reagan, the Nov. 18 feast included every Thanksgiving favorite in abundance, including heaps of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls and vegetables, and an impressive table of desserts.
The celebration tied into the social studies lessons of fourth-grade teachers Jeanette Tamulonis and Jan Zorman, who taught their students about the lives of Native Americans and Pilgrims and their celebration of the first Thanksgiving.
Although the feast was on pause for five years, the teachers appreciate Reagan bringing back the event because it offers a unique cultural opportunity.
“Many of our students might not celebrate Thanksgiving, whether it’s because they have a busy family or it may not be a part of their culture. In our fourth-grade class, we have many ‘English as a Second Language’ students who have never celebrated this holiday. For all the students, I think it gives them a chance to try different foods and discover something new,” said Tamulonis of the celebration.
An organized assembly line of Robinwood parents doled out spoonfuls of home-cooked Thanksgiving favorites, as teachers, students, and even principal Don Robinson, joined in on the feast.