High school students attend Commissioners’ School Nutrition
“Providing nutritious meals for a healthy diet, body, and
School
mind.”
Commissioners’ School students learn about the community
Touring the Gastonia
Fire Department’s
Station No. 1 was more
than a fun field trip for
Josseline Vega, who is
a sophomore at Hunter
Huss High School this
year.
With a group
of students from
the Gaston County
Commissioners’ School
of Excellence (CSE),
Vega met with Gastonia
fire chief Phil Welch,
climbed to the top of a ladder truck and tried lifting a “Jaws of Life”
tool. Afterward, Vega found herself looking at a possible career: “Now
I’m interested in being a firefighter,” she said.
If Vega heads to college or firefighting school and then returns
to work in Gastonia, the Commissioners’ School of Excellence will
have achieved one of its goals: preparing high school students for
leadership and service in Gaston County.
Now in its 30th year, CSE is a summer enrichment program funded
by the Gaston County Commissioners and directed and supervised by
Gaston County Schools.
During a two-week span from June 14-26, a group of 60 rising
sophomores representing Gaston County high schools took up
residence at Belmont Abbey College and spent their days learning in
the classroom and around the community.
In groups divided by career interests such as medical, legal or
environmental, the students toured places as diverse as Gaston
Hospice, Tony’s Ice Cream, the Gaston County landfill and area
museums. They met with community leaders and discussed current
events, served as jurors in teen court and volunteered at Holy Angels
in Belmont.
The students also had fun. They enjoyed a kickball tournament
and pool party, went to a Gastonia Grizzlies baseball game, and also
played a life-size version of “Clue” at Stowe Manor with teachers and
students dressed up as game characters.
Cynthia Garcia, a student at Gaston Early College High School,
said she learned from her experience that “Gaston County is better
than what it seems. There are so many more opportunities than what
you originally may think of.”
April Moore, a student at Stuart W. Cramer High School, agreed:
“There’s a lot of things in the county I didn’t know about.” Moore was
part of the “Movers and Shakers” group that met with leaders in the
community, including Superintendent of Schools W. Jeffrey Booker.
Commissioners’ School is intended to teach students about
what Gaston County has to offer, give them a glimpse of how local
government works and stress the importance of becoming a local
leader.
“This whole experience is to expose the students to how the
community works,” said Bethany Jennings, choral director at Stuart
W. Cramer, who was the teacher for the “Movers and Shakers” group.
“It’s really important for them to pay attention to what’s going on
around them.”
6 • Sept/Oct 2015 • Parent Teacher Magazine
Good nutrition is a key component of student success and
achievement in the classroom. Consequently, the goal of the School
Nutrition Department is to provide appealing, nutritious, healthy, and
well-balanced meals to our students daily. Our customers may choose
from a variety of entrees, whole grain-rich foods, fruits, vegetables,
and one-percent or skim milk. This variety is essential to properly
supply our body’s many nutrient needs. Fresh fruit is available daily,
and seasonal purchases of locally grown produce are coordinated
through the N.C. Department of Agriculture and GAP certified
farmers. Nutritional information for all menu items is available from
the Cafeteria Manager, School Nurse, or School N