Washington School combined two ongoing programs to provide an opportunity for School Readiness and Kindergarten students to learn about citizenship through the voting process, using the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) and the Citizenship Pillar of the Respect Counts Program.
Mrs. Denice Oliver, Principal at Washington School, directs the Respect Counts Program, where students learn to show respect for all, how to be good citizens, practice responsibility, and show care for others. “Respect Counts” is an often-quoted phrase at Washington School as children learn to do “the safe thing, the kind thing, and to do their best work.” Weekly character words and student assemblies throughout the year provide learning opportunities in this area.
Emily Scheresky, Crookston Public School’s Food Service Director, is continuing the implementation of the FFVP, which serves a new fruit or vegetable to students three times each week. The FFVP is funded by the US Department of Agriculture and is administered by the Minnesota Department of Education. The main goal of the FFVP is to increase the fruit and vegetable consumption of elementary school children and to provide nutrition education to children.
Bringing the programs together on Election Day, Tuesday, November 7th, Washington School students voted on some of the food they had tried from the FFVP. The ballot showed these candidates for the election: Pomegranates, Pears, Corn, and Moon Drop Grapes.
Moon Drop Grapes received the most votes with 80 votes, Pears got second with 27 votes, Corn got third with 24 votes, and Pomegranates got fourth with 21 votes.
Students used the privacy of a voting booth to make their selection on the ballot, place the ballot in the box, and then wear an “I Voted” sticker.
