Food and Fellowship

What may seem like an ordinary happening, is actually a strategically special occurrence at Inspiration View Elementary School. On Wednesday, the second grade teachers ate lunch together. 

Photo: IVES second grade teachers Megan McGuire, Sarah Oppelaar, Nicole Fauver and Nicole Croney

 

“Through data received from the D49 VoW Survey, Marzano's High Reliability Schools Survey, and our school specific surveys we learned that our teacher teams greatly value time together and wish they had more time just to simply talk and deepen friendship,” said Pam Holloman, IVES Principal. 

From those findings the Teacher Lunch Connection idea was born. 

“The beauty of the lunch is that it doesn't require them to come in early or stay late, only to simply stop and enjoy a meal of their choice with friends,” Holloman said. “We wanted to organize something that would give them time together around something that brings joy and nurtures relationships.”

Throughout the year, each team of teachers gets to pick a day and what food they want to eat. Lunches are paid for by donations from families and businesses. The only caveat, the team has to eat together. 

This week, the second grade team had Mexican food delivered as they gathered in Mollie Fauver’s classroom. 

“It’s good for us because it brings us together in a fun kind of way,” Fauver said. “We aren’t focused on what is happening in our classrooms.”

Like most teams across the district, they have tried to spend more time together at work, but it’s not easy for all four of them to have the same free time. They have also made plans to socialize after work with dinners and holiday events. 

“It’s nice to be able to schedule this and take the time to just hangout,” Megan McGuire said. 

“Relationships are critical and we hope they gain the camaraderie of team and friendship through sharing a special meal together,” Holloman said.

While the teachers gather and fellowship, their students are at lunch and recess. 

“This is an uninterrupted time for us,” Fauver said. “We’re off limits. The office is taking care of anything that comes up.”

Holloman said, “We hope that our teachers feel valued, recognized and celebrated through these lunches. It is a small way to let our staff know how much we, the admin team, and our community, value all they do and who they are as amazing individuals.”