Mar. 16--Students piled into Westwood Middle School's cafeteria last week, circling a buffet station. Each one grabbed a tray and scooped up eggs, sausage and toast.
Some even picked up orange and pineapple slices or yogurt.
The students were having breakfast before heading off to class. Last week was National School Breakfast Week.
"They get a well-balanced breakfast," Judy Lemmon said.
Lemmon is the manager of the Westwood cafeteria and is also the longest-serving cook in Monongalia County Schools. She began working in August 1974, and Lemmon said she continues because she enjoys being around the kids.
By eating breakfast, the students are more alert and ready to learn, Lemmon said. Seventhgrade science teacher Janet Brock said she notices a difference when students eat breakfast.
"The kids that don't eat seem lethargic," Brock said.
Brock said she would like to see more students eating breakfast before they go to class.
Though, she added, if the entire 400-student population ate at the school, they would probably need to do it in shifts, like they do for lunch.
Breakfast is served to roughly 100 kids at Westwood every morning, Lemmon said. Students get their choice of various breakfast foods. Some of the items offered on a given day, in addition to the aforementioned, include pancakes, oatmeal and French toast.
On an average day, more than 2,400 breakfasts are served to its 10,500 students in all Mon County schools, said Karen Ghiardi, coordinator of Nutritional Services. They have already served 246,606 early morning meals this year.
When students eat breakfast it helps them in the classroom, Ghiardi said.
"In order to function properly, they need to have proper nutrition," Ghiardi said.
If students aren't eating at school, Ghiardi said she hopes they are eating breakfast before they come to the building.
Morgantown High School is running a pilot program for a grab-and-go breakfast, which is popular, according to Ghiardi. Students can pick up a brown-bag breakfast between first and second period. The meal consists of different items each day, such as cereal, granola or yogurt.
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