By Chelsea Lim, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Grade 11___
May 16, 2011
With the start of STAR Testing and the desire to maximize student performance on this state-wide exam, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School devised an innovative way to alleviate student hunger pangs while encouraging them to take the test seriously.
On April 26-28, Peninsula’s school administrators, ASB, and Japanese, Chinese, and Korean Parent Groups joined together to provide more than 3,000 free breakfasts for the students and faculty members. From 7 A.M. each day, parent volunteers assembled to prepare and serve free meals, ranging from breakfast burritos to pizza bagels and from fresh fruit to granola bars.
Mitzi Cress, the proud Principal of Peninsula, stated, “We cannot stress enough the importance of this testing. Our school’s ranking and reputation with colleges are tied to the STAR test results. This year, we are shooting for an API of 900! To get there, a good night’s rest and a healthy breakfast are [crucial] for our students.”
First administered in 1998, the California Standardized Testing Assessment Report Program (STAR) is a standardized exam that evaluates student academic achievement and ensures that schools meet State Requirements.
“We did this last year for one day, and it was so successful that we decided to go full throttle for all three days,” Roberta Shreevs, Cafeteria Manager of Peninsula, explained. “You know, when students are skipping breakfast, they’re coming to school lacking energy and glucose to stimulate their brain cells. By providing breakfast for our students, we hope that they will have more brain power and not get hungry while testing.”
Though any free breakfast would sound enticing, there was a catch: the school encouraged students to arrive at least thirty minutes early, ensuring that they would not only have time to enjoy breakfast, but also would be on time for the examination. Though students typically skip breakfast in exchange for a few additional minutes of sleep, more than 1,100 Panthers woke up to get their hands on their favorite meals.
In preparation for the four hours of testing ahead of them, Panthers lined up in the bustling cafeteria, excited to satiate their stomachs and stimulate their brains with a healthy meal.
“This entire week, I actually entered class on a full stomach,” Christine Skari, a junior, stated. “I loved their Egg muffins! Shh, don’t tell anyone, but I went back and got seconds!”
Encouraged by the support and coordinated efforts of the parents and school administration, the Panther students put their best foot forward, working diligently on their tests in pursuit of the coveted 900. As the smells of the breakfasts wafted across the room, so did the sentiments of appreciation among the Panther students.
