Bonsack Elementary School
Roanoke County, VA
Kathy Stackpole, Nutrition Manager
540-562-3900 x42040
We have taken an active approach in teaching our students healthy habits by offering a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. Our system, the Roanoke County School Nutrition Services, continues to lead the way in revamping its menu based on a healthier eating lifestyle to address the rising concerns of childhood obesity.
RoKo, our mascot and Marlene Garman understand what it takes to “Teach Healthy Habits” at Bonsack
We are going bananas to bring home the message of filling the lunch tray with wonderful fruit choices. Bonsack Elementary has Buddy Banana leading the way to help students choose from fresh whole fruit, as well as a nice selection of fresh cut up fruit & veggies on the service line every day. We are going that extra mile to present a colorful display for healthier eating.
Buddy Banana (Kathy Stackpole) getting focused Buddy Banana getting line ready
Buddy has many friends at Bonsack Buddy getting some “love” from a student
The teachers are also getting involved to help promote eating more fruit and vegetables. Joy Watson & Kari Sullivan, teachers, are great advocates for the healthy offerings and they help promote student participation. We have found involving the whole school community is advantageous in growing our school nutrition program here at Bonsack Elementary. We have become more diligent in making the community in which we serve more aware of our program. We have gone into the classrooms and talked about the new “My Plate” food guide. We speak at PTA events. We believe in educating the community about the benefits of our program.
Kari Sullivan, Teacher Supporter/Advocate Joy Watson, Teacher, “friend” of Buddy
We have showcased our program to the students with more than Buddy Banana; we have even had a visit from the “Jolly Green Bean”. She visited during “Wild About Fruit & Veggies Week”. She reminded the students and staff to go green by eating green leafy veggies and to eat yellow or orange veggies to keep their motors revving throughout the day. “Mini” Banana Buddy was there to lend a hand. The “cast of characters”/staff are introduced below.
Marlene Garman & Sharron McKenna A Jolly Green Bean, aka, Kathy Stackpole Karen Marsh & Jessie Plunkett
The Serving Environment is always upbeat and friendly at Bonsack.