Students find fancy reward at North Elementary

MOSES LAKE — Kimberly Yates sat in front of a stark white China plate while Principal Kelly Fredrick poured her a cup of chocolate milk.

It was her first time for “fancy lunch” at North Elementary School.

“I earned it by helping the librarian,” Yates, a fourth-grader, said. “I sharpened pencils and helped her put the books away.”

Yates is joined this Friday by fellow fourth-graders Ivan Garvylyvic and Lily Tun, and fifth-grader Julia Rojas.

Fancy lunch involves some fine china, silverware, a nice tablecloth, and most importantly Fredrick serving lunch and cleaning up.

“I think it’s funny that Mrs. Fredrick serves lunch,” Tun said.

And it’s one of many rewards for students at North.

“Any way to make students feel special and want to do the right thing when no one’s watching,” Fredrick said. “How cool is that, to have your principal pour your milk, to make you do good on the playground?”

As lunch is starting, Fredrick dims the lights, and gives the students a task for the day.

“Your job today is to thank four adults for teaching you, for loving you, for pushing you the right way,” she said.

Students at North who are “caught doing good,” to quote Fredrick, receive coupons, which then go into a big jar. Those who are picked get to choose which rewards they get — usually time with an adult, like playing a game at recess.

Or “fancy lunch.”

The china was gift to Fredrick from long-time Lakeview Elementary School teacher MaryLou Shoemate, and it gets to stay at school, carefully packed in a plastic box and used every Friday at “fancy lunch.”

For first-timers, Fredrick tells the kids that napkins go in laps and when they are finished, to put their forks upside down on their plates. And not to worry, she’ll take care of the dishes.

“JoAnn’s Fabrics donated the napkins,” Fredrick said. “This is a community project.”