Elizabeth Forward senior citizen event beloved holiday tradition

Students eagerly serve their guests breakfast in the cafeteria and entertain them in the auditorium.

Jenn Codeluppi / Mon Valley Independent Elizabeth Forward High School senior Kaylee Ludwick serves breakfast Tuesday to Bernie Bernadowski. At left is Bryna Scheuerle.

Jenn Codeluppi / Mon Valley Independent Elizabeth Forward High School senior Jordan Vasko poses for a photo with her grandparents, Thomas and JoAnne Cain, at the annual breakfast.

The Elizabeth Forward School District continued a 38-year tradition Tuesday with its Senior Citizen and Retired Persons Breakfast.

About 50 National Honor Society members served breakfast to more than 175 senior citizens in the high school cafeteria.

The menu included scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, home-fried potatoes, orange juice and coffee. “We are very pleased that we are able to keep the tradition going,” National Honor Society Sponsor Joseph McManus said. “It is a way for us to give back to the community for everything that they give to the school district.”

High school art students, aided by their counterparts from other district schools, decorated the cafeteria in a winter wonderland theme.

McManus, in his 12th year as sponsor, said second-graders from Central, Greenock and William Penn elementary schools made decorations for each guest.

“It is districtwide,” McManus said of the annual effort.

High school students in Spanish and French classes sang Christmas carols.

After breakfast, the guests moved to the auditorium for performances by the high school choir, wind ensemble and orchestra, eighth-grade honors choir and second-graders.

“This demonstrates the commitment of our school district to the residents of the community,” Superintendent Dr. Bart Rocco said. “Our students are outstanding, and our National Honor Society students do an awesome job, with the help of their advisor, Mr. McManus, to put this program together.

“This is a way for us to give back and celebrate the season, and we just really believe that it is one of the great things we do for our community.”

Attending her first holiday breakfast, Doreen Clark, 74, of Elizabeth Township said she was amazed by the event and the students’ kindness. “There is so much negative publicity about young people,” Clark said. “To see what they are doing today is great.”

Don Kuhns, 91, of Elizabeth Township has attended the event for a quarter century.

“It’s very festive,” he said. “You get to see the children perform, and you get to see neighbors that you maybe only get to see once a year.

“It’s just a good thing to go to this time of year.”

The students look forward to the event.

“I think it’s awesome that everyone is coming out here to enjoy breakfast with us and that we are able to serve them breakfast, which puts a smile on our face and puts a smile on their faces, too,” said senior Jake Maringo, National Honor Society President.

“I think it is extremely important to bring everyone together, at least one time a year. I don’t see why we couldn’t do this more throughout the year.”

NHS member Hunter Sinay said he likes to help people.

“It’s a lot more than just having them come in. It’s keeping it going, and giving back to the school and the community,” he said of the tradition.

Sinay said it is important to maintain good relationships with the senior citizens and all residents in the municipalities that make up the district.

The annual breakfast helps that relationship, he added.

“Rather than just being the school or a group, there are faces,” Sinay said. “They come in and see us, see the school and see what we are doing.”

McManus said the breakfast is perfectly timed.

“It’s the holidays, and the students get to give back,” McManus said. “I think that the students enjoy doing this because it is their way of saying thank you.”