Bellwood fifth graders learn to mind their manners
By Joan Tupponce CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Bellwood Elementary School students Brenna Ansbro (center) and Taylor Grady practice the proper way to shake hands while Evan Gilliland (left) looks on. Laura Tolbert, a fifth grade teacher at Bellwood, has developed a program over the last three years called "Lunch Date with Our Future" that teaches students etiquette.

Some students celebrate the end of the school year by having a class party, but Laura Tolbert's students went a step further. They ended their year with a formal sit-down lunch at Salisbury Country Club.

The luncheon was part of the "Lunch Date with Our Future" program that Tolbert initiated in her fifth grade Bellwood Elementary class. She's been developing the program over the last three years.

"I discovered that the kids weren't eating with their families at home," she said. "We started doing a sandwich lunch every month. We would bring in things to make sandwiches and have lunch together."

Tolbert quickly realized that her students didn't know how to interact with adults while dining. "I wanted them to be able to do that and also to learn about manners," she said.

Tifanie Edwards demonstrates the correct way to hold utensils during a sit-down lunch.

Instead of sandwiches, Tolbert started making lasagna and serving it during the lunches. "I invited my friends and family and asked them to dress in business attire," she explained. "I taught the students how to introduce themselves and how to start conversations. The students got to eat and practice their manners."

Tolbert sent proper manner sheets to the participating adults, so they could brush up on their manners before meeting the students. Based on the program's success, Tolbert received a $5,000 MCD Award, which will help her expand the program to the entire fifth grade at Bellwood.

The yearly MCD Awards for Initiative and Innovation in Educational Practices are given to encourage the creation of new instructional strategies by employees of Chesterfield County Public Schools. Money for the awards comes from the Chesterfield Public Education Foundation. Since 1997, the foundation has awarded a total of $191,105 to 51 MCD projects.

"[For the awards] we look for new and creative ideas in terms of instruction or how the school system does business," explained Jane Carlson, executive director of the foundation. "We have citizens in the community as well as some of our board members on the selection committee. [Tolbert's program] was a creative and innovative way to work on promoting self-confidence and pride for our fifth graders."

Tolbert received the grant last April for the 2006-07 school year. This year, Tolbert will work with approximately 70 students. The program will kick off with members from Protocol Experts of Virginia teaching fifth graders their "Minding Your Manners" course.

"The children also learn about elegance, learning to dress nicely and holding their heads up higher," Tolbert said. "The pride that they show is carried over into their other schoolwork. The quality of their work has improved, and they show respect toward one another. One girl told me that this has boosted her confidence."

Tolbert is as proud of her students as they are of themselves.

"I'm very excited," she said. "If they sit down to dinner with their family and remember one thing [they have learned in the program], I will feel proud that I was able to give that experience to them."