MORAN— Marmaton Valley High School FCCLA students are taking a stand for sitting down. For dinner that is. The students are promoting a healthier family environment with the Stand Up for Sitting Down to Dinner campaign.
Senior Payton Wilson said there has been a 33 percent decline nationally of families who dine together. The organization decided to take on family dining habits as their own project for an FCCLA STAR event. A STAR event stands for Students Taking Action with Recognition.
“To encourage students to eat with their families we challenged the elementary students to send photos of them eating or cooking with their families to an email address ,” sophomore Emily Plaschka said.
The students who sent in photos received a prize such as a movie pass or a cooking utensil. This semester the students will receive a free slushy coupon from the cafeteria when they send in a photo.
Wilson said the prizes have served as an incentive for the students.
Senior Ashley Cary said they are trying to publicize the importance of families eating together. Benefits for students include better grades, emotional health and learning better manners.
Cary and Wilson recently recorded a public service announcement at 101.5 KIKS radio station to remind families to eat together. The PSA will begin running Wednesday. The students will also have a staff member from the public health department come to the school to talk to students.
The group will present its STAR project this week at Iola High School during the FCCLA district meeting.
Students take a stand for sitting down
