Marva Elder distributes more grapes to Prospect Elementary School students during lunch Thursday at Kingdom Grace Fellowship Church.
Chicken-and-cheese quesadillas topped the menu but there were a few requests for peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches.
Fifteen Prospect Elementary School students, selected as Students of the Month for April, enjoyed a special lunch Thursday at Kingdom Grace Fellowship Church on Reba Avenue diagonally opposite the school
The church hosts the monthly lunches as part of its ongoing support of Prospect.
Principal Kirsten DeVito said students are selected each month for their outstanding efforts in upholding Prospect’s “High 5” of behavior by being responsible, respectful, ready, safe and proud.
“Teachers nominate one student from their classrooms,” DeVito said. “Bus drivers nominate students. We also nominate students among our walkers and car riders who show good behavior while waiting in the gym for dismissal.”
Thursday’s lunch at the church was prepared and served by Marva Elder and Johnny McNeal. A buffet-style table offered chicken-and-cheese casadias, corn, fresh grapes and punch.
Most of the students munched away on the quesadillas, but the second student in line, a boy, balked at them. He smiled broadly and nodded when Elder offered to make him a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich.
As students moved along the serving line, McNeal called to Elder in the adjacent kitchen. “We need three more PBJs,” he said.
Students talked and laughed as they ate at tables on the church’s lower level.
“OK, where are my PBJ people?” Elder asked as she emerged from the kitchen. Four hands shot up. A few minutes later she walked among the tables to distribute more grapes and punch.
DeVito said students return from the monthly lunches with a book, a water bottle or some other small gift.
The church opens its doors to Prospect students for after-school activities too. Among them is Kidzone, a homework tutoring program staffed by volunteers from Berean Baptist Church. Kingdom Grace Fellowship Church also distributes school supplies and clothing to Prospect students at the start of the school year.
DeVito sums up the church’s support in a single sentence.
“They are wonderful,” she said.
Students of the Month for April include Ethan Thompson, Christarriyah Mills, Zephaniah Jefferson, Asani Buck, Hayden Lewis, Nasir Lanier, Katelyn Champion, Elaine Sherman, Andrew Brooks, Any'Onna Johnson, Cameron Fisher, Sonny Cuda, Aaniyah Harris, Josh Finley and Evangelina Vega-Gallaway.