Lunch tables covered with tablecloths held vases of flowers arranged by Pagosa Peak Open School students on Friday, April 8. The first-through-third grade students had transformed the lobby into a dining room for 100 important guests, who filed in to share a meal and hear the culmination of student projects celebrating local heroes and healthy eating.
The students in Jen Sarkis’s 2nd and 3rd grade class focused on concepts around planning a large scale meal through this project called “Breaking Bread in our Community.” For nearly two months, students worked on budgeting, menu selection, food allergies, healthy food choices and balanced meals. They visited a local restaurant and invited experts such as the school’s food service team, Carl Hayduke and Joey Wychesit, in order to learn more about how to plan and prepare healthy meals within a budget.
“We decided as a class that the final product would be to honor community heroes at an event at our school,” Sarkis said. “When we learned that Ms. Bruno’s Class was studying community heroes, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity for our classes to work together.”
Firefighters, police officers, search and rescue members, waste management crew, Humane Society workers, grandparents, parents, nurses, farmers, veterinarians, artists, bakers, doctors and more were recognized by Kelle Bruno’s 1st and 2nd grade students who had been studying what it means to be a hero. Students shared their gratitude before the nearly 100 guests dove into tacos, salad and dessert.
“Our Community Heroes project started with a look at famous heroes including Malala Yousafzai, Cesar Chavez, Ruby Bridges, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Fred Rogers,” Bruno said. “We examined the character traits that defined them as heroes; as well as things that influenced their work such as their personal struggles and core values.”
From here the students considered the heroes in their lives: the people of Pagosa Springs who support them and their community each day. A meal to honor these local heroes made perfect sense, and the collaboration between the two classes began. A quick discussion and planning lead to further collaboration with the Archuleta Food Coalition, who helped PPOS fund this meal. “It was a perfect partnership,” Bruno said. “The Food Coalition is a big part of our community and has created multiple events to get our community together. We’re grateful for their contribution to this event with PPOS.”
Pagosa Peak Open School is a tuition-free public school open to all Archuleta County families. The educational model is built upon Project-Based Learning, a student-centered pedagogy that involves a dynamic classroom approach, through which students can acquire a deeper understanding through active exploration of real-world challenges and problems. Students in all classes at PPOS engage in multiple projects throughout the year; looking for ways to influence their own community, create positive change and be heroes in their own way.
Emily Murphy is School Director at Pagosa Peak Open School, the first District-authorized charter school in Archuleta County. Prior to her appointment as School Director, Emily filled various roles at PPOS including Project-Based Learning advisor, instructional coach, and assistant director.