By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Instead of serving and preparing breakfast and lunch for Helena Intermediate School students like they do each day, the Child Nutrition Program Staff at HIS had a brunch prepared for them to honor all the hard work and dedication they put in each day.

Brenda Garner, child nutrition program manager, has been with the school since it opened 14 years ago.

When asked what her favorite part of her job was, she simply replied “the kids.”

“We feel like we got a treat and we got food that we didn’t have to prepare,” said Garner. “It’s like we got to go out to eat for lunch.”

Students in grades third through fifth made signs and posters with thank you messages for the staff’s hard work.

The lunchroom was decorated for St. Patrick’s Day with all the notes and cards from the students hanging on the wall as well.

“The kids always do a great job making them cards and they’re so cute to read them,” said CNP Area Manager Jaime Guess.

The rest of the HIS cafeteria staff consists of Carol Hardaway, Carol Fields, Mary Ann Stephens, Alesher Wooley, Lisa Mcilwain and Sheryl Flack.