Students and grandparents fill the cafeteria at the Spanish Immersion School on Thursday.
Threatening weather turned a cookout into an indoor picnic Thursday at the Spanish Immersion School, but it didn’t dissuade an overflow crowd.
It was the first in a series of elementary school cookouts sponsored by the Mansfield City Schools food service department.
Principal Gabe Costa expanded the lunch by inviting grandparents and making it part of the school’s Cinco de Mayo celebration. Lots of grandparents showed up to join students at each of the four serving times. Most were seated in the cafeteria but extra tables were set up in the library.
Food service manager Jane Fortman said 140 grandparents and 160 children were served lunches of hamburgers, baked beans, fresh fruit, fruit slushies and milk.
Four students won prizes in a random drawing. Prizes include a basketball, two soccer balls and a top-of-the-line jump rope.
The prizes were acquired by Fortman and assistant food service manager Lauren Ellsworth by using rebates earned from food service vendors during the year.
Remaining cookout dates include:
May 12 – Sherman (indoor picnic)
May 17 – Woodland
May 19 – Prospect