Boys English I class hosts Valentine's Day luncheon

Story by Katy Murphy   
On Valentine’s Day, the all boys’ freshman English I class hosted a luncheon in the amphitheater. 
  
This year an experimental same-gender class was put on the shoulders of PHS English teacher, Janet Newton. 

Students await their food. Photo by Katy Murphy

  
“Working with the boys has been beyond a pleasure.  They are good kids, very energetic,” stated Newton.
  
The idea for the luncheon arose one day when the boys were being particularly “squirrelly” during class.  Newton threatened that she would have to teach the class some manners and then invite girls in to prove they had learned them.  Their response was unexpected to Newton.
  
“They got very excited. ‘Cool!  When?  Let’s do it!’ they said. And so it began,” Newton commented.
  
The help to make this meal a success was found in many different places.  The ProStart program’s students, a culinary arts class that awards students with a certificate after completion, prepared the food for the occasion including three courses.  All students involved took this event seriously. 
  
Another branch of PHS involved in the luncheon was the music department.  Julia Rizzi was the student coordinator for this branch.  She played piano while there was also a trio of flutists accompanying her to add to the sophisticated atmosphere of the afternoon.
  
Newton’s class of boys did a unit on etiquette.  During the luncheon, the boys were graded on their use of the etiquette they learned and how they displayed good poise.  They learned how to behave in a formal setting, including, but not limited to the treatment of their female opposite, adequate dress, utensil usage, good posture and proper conversation at the table.
  
Formal dress was a controversial mannerism.  Before the event, there were costumes borrowed from the drama department, band uniforms were utilized and dusty suits were recovered from many depths at home to be worn at the luncheon.  Most of the boys disliked dressing up for the occasion.
  
“My least favorite part was dressing up,” noted freshman Doug Meyer.  “I couldn’t even stretch.”
  
“Yeah, and I don’t like ties,” added freshman Austin Meyer, both who attended the luncheon.
  
Another crucial entity of the event was the invited girls.
  
“Before, it never dawned on me that this would be an issue,” commented Newton.  “I had to remind the boys that once an invitation was given, they couldn’t take it back… Some boys were pretty shy about asking a girl to come, too.”
  
Boys were advised to simply bring a friend so that it would not be awkward, but each boy was required to have a date as part of their grade.  Formal invitations were ordered and the boys then proceeded to hand them out to their desired girls.
  
“The girls were my favorite part,” added Meyer.
  
“It was fun.  Our manners were very good,” asserted freshman Forrest Bayne.
  
Many of the dates stated that the event exceeded their expectations and that they had a good time.  Most of the girls wore their homecoming dresses or a nice skirt.
  
“I didn’t really know what to expect at first but it was really nice,” said freshman Kait Shepard.
  
After the event, Newton was very satisfied with the outcome.
  
“The most rewarding part was to see [the boys] step up to expectations—meeting and exceeding them.  They all had dates and got dressed.  They were nervous at first but I was proud of the etiquette they displayed and how they followed through with it all,” stated Newton.