USD 265 Goddard Public Schools -

Students and parents gathered in the cafeteria at Amelia Earhart Elementary School for a special "Perfect Attendance Pancake Breakfast." Earhart Principal Marney Hay had organized the event to recognize students with perfect attendance in the second quarter, enlisting help from Goddard High School (GHS) Culinary Arts students led by instructor Kassie Campidilli. The breakfast served dual purposes: rewarding elementary students while giving the high school culinary students practical experience. “I’m so excited to come to school every day,” said Aspen Hovey, 2nd Grader at Earhart, explaining why having good attendance mattered to her. “Our teachers are kind and make everything fun."


While this project was a fun treat for the elementary students, rewarding excellent attendance, it was also an opportunity for the high school students to showcase the skills they had spent the semester building. The GHS students set up their workspace methodically and began to organize their workflow, as the Earhart kitchen staff provided guidance. Real-world scenarios help students in courses like Culinary Arts prepare for the industry that awaits them, should they choose to pursue a career in a field like food and beverage or restaurant management after graduation. One unanticipated challenge that the student chefs had to overcome together was electrical issues at the elementary school. Through teamwork and by applying the problem-solving strategies they had learned in Campidilli’s class, they overcame the problem and had pancakes cooked up in no time. 


The breakfast builders began their day setting up stations across the cafeteria. From beverage stations stocked with orange juice, coffee, and water to cooking and prep stations filled with ingredients, cookware, and supplies - the novice cooks juggled the task of bringing this to life with help from their teacher and Earhart kitchen staff. Any professional in the food industry knows that the key to success is teamwork, and these high school students got that experience first-hand by having to pitch in and put their respective skills to work together. Demonstrating techniques perfected in Campidilli’s culinary classroom at the high school, students kept a watchful eye on the breakfast items to ensure they were cooked to perfection. GHS junior Alanie Florio commented, “It’s very important to see that our hard work pays off, and I just want future high school students to know that prioritizing work first will lead to success. Rewarding good attendance is smart. Learning and retaining information is so much easier when you don’t miss school.”


“Agreed! It’s important to always put your best foot forward,” said Maddie Johnson, another GHS junior in the Culinary Arts class. Steam rose from the griddles as voices echoed through the gym. The high school students, who had shown up that morning looking uncertain about spending their morning cooking for young students and their parents, found their stride flipping pancakes and catering to everyone enjoying the breakfast.


As the last pancake was flipped and the final plate was served, a sense of accomplishment settled over the group. The high school students, exhausted but exhilarated, realized they had not only mastered the art of pancake making, but also the art of connecting with their community. They had transformed a simple breakfast into a memorable experience, a small gesture of recognition for the younger students' hard work and dedication. “My advice would be to do what you need to do to succeed, you’re on your own path,” GHS junior Charlotte Hickey said. “Projects like this make you feel good, working with a good team and showing responsibility - being the best you can be to serve others.” The high school students, their aprons now bearing the marks of a successful culinary adventure, packed up their supplies, leaving behind a lingering aroma of maple syrup and the feeling of shared accomplishment. They had learned a valuable lesson, one that extended far beyond the realm of culinary arts: the joy of giving back and the power of a shared meal.