Phillips ‘Community Cafe’ hosts more than 700

More than 750 people from the Phillips Avenue Elementary School community attended a pancake breakfast hosted by the administration, teachers and staff at Phillips Avenue on today. Breakfast was made by Phillips Avenue teachers and staff, and members of the Riverhead administration helped with the serving.

“It’s really nice to see the whole community come out,” said Lois Etzel, Riverhead Schools assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, who was serving pancakes and sausages to Phillips Avenue children and their families.

Phillips Avenue principal Debra Rodgers said she was very pleased by the turnout for this annual event, almost double the amount that attended last year’s pre-Thanksgiving breakfast.

“This is just one event that helps reinforce the importance of community in the educational process, and is also the school’s way of thanking the Phillips Avenue community for their involvement,” Rodgers said.

Community members greeted one another, read the inspirational messages placed on the tables, watched a slideshow, took time to color a turkey and enjoyed pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee.

In a short presentation, Rodgers offered her own note of “thanksgiving” to those businesses and organizations in the community who helped sponsor the breakfast, and encouraged everyone to look for those things in their lives that they can be thankful for at this time of the year.

“It’s a really nice event,” said one mom as she shepherded three little girls to the car. “We had some great pancakes, and I came out with one less kid. My son met up with and went home to play with one of his friends.”

Source: Riverhead Central School District news release issued Nov. 21, 2012

Photos courtesy of Riverhead Central School District

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