Munchin’ at the luncheon

During B lunch on June 3, Chris Zuniga, 12, along with his classmates, serve teachers lunch, so they can experience what it is like to host a food service event. “It feels really good and cool to be able to make this food for the teachers,” Zuniga stated. “I also feel great that we can bring them joy.”

Irania Quintero, Staff Writer
June 16, 2015

On Wed., Jun. 3, Downey High School’s Creative Foods class and their teacher, Ms. Diane Villa, hosted the annual teacher luncheon, in room A-203, in order to give the students an experience in a food service event. Teachers on campus are often tied up in their work, from grading papers to making sure their students get the help they need, but the annual luncheon allowed time to mingle and bond in a different setting.

As the Creative Foods instructor, Villa looks forward to working with her students to create an environment that teaches students and respites staff from stress. This year, Villa and her students cooked vegan enchiladas and baked vegan raspberry cupcakes.

“It give the students a real life experience that helps them decide whether or not they are serious about pursuing a career in culinary arts,” Villa said. “Both the students and the teachers love the experience.”

Not only did Villa have the opportunity to provide a unique experience for her students and coworkers, but she was also able to make them feel welcomed and comfortable. Dean of Students Ms. Gladys Velazquez was enthused to have been able to sit down and relax for the time being.

“I experienced a rare opportunity to sit for a minute to socialize with my coworkers; these moments are rare and far-between,” Velazquez said. “My favorite part was that the staff luncheon included the gentlemen who help keep DHS clean from ARC.”

The students who took part in the luncheon had jobs that included hosting, cooking, and waiting on the tables to make sure no staff member was missing anything throughout their lunch.

For Jose Orozco, 12, the experience helped him improve his “people skills,” which meant that he was able to come out of his shell of shyness and kindly approach people he has never seen or met.

“I was nervous because I thought I would embarrass myself in front of the staff,” Orozco said. “It was a great experience, and I’m glad I was able to keep calm and do my job.”

The real world awaits and Villa was glad to have been able to give her students a taste of what the real world in culinary arts is like. Anyone interested in being a part of the Creative Foods course can contact Ms. Villa in room A-203 for more information. The next teacher luncheon hosted by the Creative Foods students will take place at the end of the 2015-2016 school year.

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About the Contributors

Irania Quintero, Staff Writer

As a first year staff writer, senior Irania Quintero joined The Downey Legend in search of new experiences and opportunities. “I joined Newspaper because it gives me a chance to explore and build upon my passion for writing,” Quintero said. “It is indeed a new environment for me but a challenge worth taking on.” She has a passion for writing and hopes that with being a part of the staff she’ll expand her knowledge on different writing styles, improve her own writing, and get a feel for what she plans to do in the future. “Great writing to me is writing that makes the reader feel like he or she is a part of the experience or event described,” Quintero stated. “My ultimate goal is to deliver the same feeling to readers as many writers have done for me.” As a writer for The Downey Legend, Quintero will be in charge of pitching new story ideas and meeting deadlines. The job of a writer may get stressful and tedious at times but with Quintero’s passion for writing and undeniable reliability, she’ll take this job on without the slightest of difficulty.

Aside from being a writer for The Downey Legend, Quintero enjoys writing poetry, reading books by Nicholas Sparks, watching the Angels during their baseball season, and cooking and/or baking in her spare time. She also says that her favorite music varies from John Legend, Kanye West, The XX, to different alternative bands. Quintero also shared that she’s great with puns and that she has a positive vibe about herself at all times. “There’s almost always a smile on my face no matter what my mood is,” Quintero said. After high school she plans to attend a four-year-university, her top choice being San Francisco State University, and eventually become a journalist. Quintero has the right mind set and motivation to help her accomplish her dreams and succeed in her near future as well as in her current position on The Downey Legend.

Darla Sanchez, Student Life Section Editor

As a first year staff member of The Downey Legend, photographer Darla Sanchez has many goals to make her last year at Downey High School a memorable one. Sanchez was persuaded not only by her friends to join, but also by a previous staff member. She enjoys taking photos and decided to become a photographer. “I want to capture the essence of the photo,” Sanchez said. “I want to really bring the meaning of the picture to life.” She also wants to accomplish many academic goals such as: getting better at sign language, passing her English class with a B or higher and finally graduating. Although Sanchez is nervous about senior year, she is willing to work hard to reach her goals.

During her down time, Sanchez enjoys baking. “I love to try new things, that’s why I started baking,” Sanchez said. “I love to get creative when I experiment with new desserts; it relaxes me.” Sanchez also loves listening to music. She is currently obsessed with Paramore and One Direction. She loves playing sports, especially softball and track. Sanchez is open to new things and wants her senior year to be the best. With that said she plans on not only making memories but also striving to make the best of her time here at The Downey Legend.