THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 10, 1995 TAG: 9511080209
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02B EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Morgan Suthon and Natalie Allen are second-grade classmates at Kempsville Elementary School, in Gina Kinert's class. And one of the things they're learning in school, they said, is the value of good behavior in the cafeteria.
``If you're good, you get a green sticker,'' said Natalie.
``You get yellow, if you're kind of bad,'' said Morgan.
``But if you're completely out of hand, you get red,'' said Natalie.
Their interest in dining-room comportment is driven by an ulterior motive, albeit a positive one. The best behaved class among the first-, second- and third-graders at the school will be treated to a visit to the Italian Oven in Loehmann's Plaza in January.
The winners will not only get out of school for a while, they will also get to make and eat their own pizzas. Fourth- and fifth-graders are competing for a similar outing.
The two groups will make another outing to the restaurant at the end of the school year, too, principal Gene Gregory said.
The pizza party is part of the business education Adopt-A-School program between the school and the restaurant. It came together fortuitously.
Veronica Davis teaches first-graders at Kempsville Meadows and works part-time at the restaurant. She also serves on the school's Adopt-A-School committee.
``I thought the restaurant would be good because it's a family and child-centered place,'' she said.
That notion led Davis to approach her boss at the restaurant, manager Sandy Shea, and fourth-grade teacher Frank Gillikin, the Adopt-A-School coordinator.
Tables at the Italian Oven come complete with crayons, coloring mats and pasta necklaces. Children can also color in the ``Use Your Noodle'' sheets. A clown appears every Wednesday night. The Italian Oven donates used crayons to Beach schools.
Besides the pizza-making excursion, Kempsville Meadows students will have another incentive. Every student who reads six books can enjoy an entree from the Italian Oven children's menu.
``The students read the book and have their teacher initial a form to verify it,'' said Gregory. The students can illustrate one of the books and have their work of art exhibited on the restaurant's walls.
``Our owner (Bill Lopcsak) feels strongly about the family and educational values,'' said Shea. ``In fact, he ate at an Italian Oven in Northern Virginia and was so impressed he gave up his law practice and bought into the operation.''
The educators at Kempsville Meadows find the partnership beneficial as well as fun. The children can learn as they enjoy pizza and pasta.
``They'll learn about business,'' said Davis. ``And we're teaching them about the nutritional food pyramid.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by CHARLIE MEADS
Sandy Shea, center, watches as Morgan Suthon, left, and Natalie
Allen update a cafeteria behavior chart.
The Italian Oven restaurant, managed by Sandy Shea, will host a
make-and-eat-your-own pizza party for Kempsville Elementary
students.
by CNB