The Park Avenue Elementary School cafeteria received a minor makeover yesterday with the unveiling of a new name.
As a way to build school spirit, Pomptonian Food Service and Park Avenue School counselor Lori Goldman asked each homeroom to come up with a name for the school’s cafeteria. However, no school contest would be complete, without an educational factor.
“The contest did not only build school spirit but it was held around election season so students got a lesson in the voting process,” said Patricia O’Keefe, Interim Principal of the Park Avenue Elementary School.
After each homeroom provided a suggestion, three names were selected to be finalists. Students were then asked to cast their vote by circling their favorite name on the ballot. Once all votes were counted, students learned that the cafeteria would be renamed the Eagle Eatery.
On Wednesday, parents, staff and Park Avenue students came down to the Eagle Eatery for a ribbon cutting celebration. Lauren Bilicki’s second grade class was the homeroom that came up with the winning name and so they were awarded prizes and a special snack for their creativity. Luke Lichardi, one of Bilicki’s students, was selected to cut the ribbon; it was his eighth birthday on Wednesday.
According to Goldman, since the mascot for Park Avenue is the Eagles, the cafeteria will only be called the Eagle Eatery while Park Avenue Elementary students eat there. Jason Baumbach, area director of Pomptonian Food Service, explained that there are plans to hold a similar contest for students in the Freehold Intermediate School.