Editor, Commonwealth:
I attended St. Francis School from 1964 to 1969 in the third through the eighth grade. I have many fond memories of St. Francis, especially attending midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. My grandmother would travel from Clarksdale just in time to get us to Mass. We were inspired to love God and care about others.
I now work at the Mississippi State University Extension Service as a nutrition educator. I have had the opportunity over the past eight years to teach nutrition education at St. Francis School with various grade levels. The students are respectful, challenging, inquisitive, articulate, engaging and tech-savvy.
Just recently I conducted a food demonstration and tasting with the kindergarten class. The class prepared a recipe called the “Four Food Group Funny Face.” Peanut butter was used to smooth over a graham cracker square, shredded cheddar cheese was used for the hair, green peas for the eyes, a grape half for the nose, and raisins were used to make the mouth. After the tasting, the kindergarten students made suggestions on other food items that could be used in the recipe as a substitute for the peanut butter — for example, cream cheese or whipped cream. The students also shared with me some of the recipes they have prepared with the help of their teacher, Sister Kathleen Murphy.
St. Francis School is a place I would recommend to any parent or grandparent with children in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. The principal, Jackie Lewis, as well as the teachers and other staff do a great job of providing a wholesome and safe learning environment for each student.
Jennifer J. Wiley
Nutrition Educator
Leflore County Extension Service
Greenwood
