Preschoolers give thanks
ZANESVILLE - The kids in Lisa Clark's preschool class at Zane Grey Elementary School have a lot to be thankful for, including cake, pizza, Mario Kart and Ninja Turtles.
Family is another thing they are thankful for, but not as much as those Ninja Turtles, of course.
"Oh, and dirt bike riding," said Renner Hittle, a 4-year-old who liked to slide in and out of his chair while sipping blue Kool-Aid.
Renner was among the young students who worked to prepare a homemade Thanksgiving meal, which parents were invited to attend Tuesday. What looked like a pot full of catered noodles and turkey had in fact been made by the preschool students during a culinary arts lesson in the lead-up to the annual day of thanks.
"We did it by putting a stick in the noodle stuff, and we rolled it, and the noodles grow the more you roll it," Renner said, getting up on his chair to demonstrate the process, waving his hands before ducking down again to take another sip of Kool-Aid.
In the 14 years since she began teaching at Zane Gray, Clark has been teaching her students a dual lesson each Thanksgiving: the importance of giving thanks coupled with a crash-course in cooking.
"We always like opportunities where the parents can come in and interact with their kids in the classroom," Clark said. "It's our way of telling the parents thank you for all they do."
This Thanksgiving in particular holds a special glow for Clark. Each year, she has worked hard to prepare something special for her students on Thanksgiving, but a few years ago her plans were put on hold when the news of her 11-year-old grandson's cancer diagnosis tore through any sense of holiday gratitude.
Just last week, however, the news came in that her grandson was now cancer-free.
"So I know for me, I personally have a lot to be thankful for this year," Clark said.
Meanwhile, her students were too wrapped up in the world of being children to worry themselves with the strains of adult life. That meant a lot of talking, smiling and eagerness before their Thanksgiving break.
Debbie Devour sat beside her son, Wesley, as he ate noodles.
"I'm thankful for my family," Wesley said before holding out his hands and pivoting as if he were driving a car. "And Wii," he added. "I'm thankful for Mario Kart!"
"Well," his mother said, "I guess family can't compete with Mario, can it?"
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