TAR HEEL — Three eighth-graders shared their day with wife of Gov. Roy Cooper at Tar Heel Middle School, giving Kristin Cooper an inside glimpse into their take on school food and their prospects of the future.
Cooper’s visit was part of a visit to several schools. She later was a guest of Bladen Early College High School, West Bladen High School and East Bladen High School.
Tar Heel Principal Teresa Coleman shared her experience with breakfast in the classroom.
“Tar Heel Middle is the highest for breakfast of the middle schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor during the afternoon roundtable. “We know that to the first lady, childhood hunger is a big issue for her.”
“We encourage our students to eat breakfast,” Coleman said. “We know that’s how they need to get their days started. We do have some of those students that come to school that don’t get that breakfast at home.
“Our kids will eat parts of it. They might not eat all three parts of it but they do get it and eat what they want. That’s always good.”
There have been some barriers, like extra trash for the custodians, but they have managed to work around it.
“We do a hot bag and a cold bag,” she said. “We found that to be most efficient. Last year we ran in through the cafeteria, and the kids wouldn’t stand there in line. So we took the line away.
“They enjoy it and like the variety.”
“What kind of things do you like?” asked Cooper.
Like most kids the answer was quick and unanimous — pizza. And it didn’t take the kids long to ask why they couldn’t have pizza every day.
“You’ve got to have variety,” said Amy Stanley, the school district’s director of child nutrition.
“Pizza every other day maybe,” quipped Cooper, drawing a laugh from the students.
“We might can work on pizza every other day,” Stanley said. “It is a challenge to find the individually wrapped product.”
“Hey, but the planning would be easier,” said Cooper.
LeNya Harrell said she liked the sausage biscuit and asked for maybe eggs in their biscuit.
“I like strawberries,” said Kennedy Carroll.
Unfortunately they don’t have access to strawberries all the time Stanley said, but they will be getting some in the next few weeks.
“Maybe you need a school trip out to pick some,” said Cooper.
Some said they don’t like the cereal bars. The chocolate crisp ones were not the favorite of Brandon Marroquin, but others said they liked them.
“Are you all going on to the same high school?” Cooper asked.
The students responded affirmatively.
“At least you will know all the people there,” Cooper said. “It won’t be as bad as you think. I’m sure you will do just fine.”
“Have any of you thought of any particular programs you are interested in when you get to high school?” asked Taylor.
All three said they wanted to play sports.
“I want to go into nursing,” Harrell said.
Principal Teresa Coleman (left) took Kristin Cooper, wife of Gov. Roy Cooper, around to classrooms to interact with the students Tuesday.
The marquee was ready to welcome the wife of North Carolina’s governor.
Three students participated in a panel with Kristin Cooper about their experiences in the school. From left are LeNya Harrell, Cooper, Kennedy Carroll and Brandon Marroquin.
Kristin Cooper (second from left) is joined for a discussion on food and nutrition by Principal Teresa Coleman and Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor (rear, right) by students (from left), Kennedy Carroll, LeNya Harrell and Brandon Marroquin.
Kristin Cooper (foreground left) is joined for a discussion on food and nutrition by (from left) Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor, Brandon Marroquin, LeNya Harrell and Kennedy Carroll. Not pictured to Taylor’s right is Principal Teresa Coleman.