Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Kids weigh options for years before making namesake food call
If you could choose one day’s school lunch menu with your name on it, what would it be?
Every spring seniors at Oakesdale school make the call, in a tradition going back before water came in bottles.
“Long before I was even born,” said Oakesdale Student Body President Jeffrey DeGon.
“It’s been going for 25 or 30 years,” said Darlene Gardner, head of food service.
“The seniors get their last meal.”
Each year, depending on the amount of kids in the graduating class, Gardner and staff gather official requests from each student for the menu which will carry their name that day. It shows up on the school calendar: “Jeffrey’s menu, Kaela’s menu, Rebekah’s Menu.”
This year’s class at Oakesdale has nine members.
The special menu days began in March and concluded May 1.
“Sometimes there is a class of 20, and it starts in February and goes to June,” said DeGon, who remembers being a little kid enthralled with what the big seniors chose for their menu days.
When it came to making his choice, for April 13, he wasn’t sure.
“I really couldn’t decide, when it came down to the wire, I thought of what we haven’t had in awhile,” said DeGon.
His choice: chickenwich with french fries, pomegranate fruit cup and carrots, cucumbers and cauliflowers. The last part was open to interpretation for Gardner and her staff, as DeGon designated the vegetable as flexible.
“I just said ‘a vegetable’,” he said.
Whatever a senior wants, the only rules are it has to be an existing menu item and include a fruit and vegetable.
For the last of 2012, Dani Jones chose chicken nuggets, whole wheat rolls, corn and a frozen juice bar with raspberry and blueberry.
Gardner said when the day arrives, word spreads of who’s on the slate.
“Everybody knows, especially if they have siblings,” she said. “The seniors are very appreciative. Sometimes they get together and make sure all of the good menus are covered, everybody’s favorites.”
As the little kids go through the line that day, and other days, they get to thinking.
“This is my favorite lunch, they say,” said Gardner. “I’m having this when I’m a senior. Okay, we’ll see if that changes.”
With summer approaching and more school years to come, there will be time for the young ones to think about it.
“It’s a great tradition and I hope it continues long after I’m gone,” said DeGon.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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