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Keyshia Denisse

On Nov. 7th, teachers picked students to have lunch with, who exemplified the four pillars of a Trojan.

On Nov. 7, UHS held its first Spirit Lunch of the year. The Spirit Lunch allows teachers to invite up to two students who demonstrate the UHS Pillars of Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, and Compassion. This tradition enables students and teachers to connect more personally. 

Teachers focus not only on students’ academic performances for their nominations but also on their personalities and mindsets. 

“I look for students who work well with other people, collaborate and they want to step out of their comfort zone,” English teacher Mr. Sam Leong said. “I also look for students who are trying to connect and get to know me as a teacher without being afraid of asking me for help.” 

Students believe this is a valuable opportunity to be recognized for their hard work while bonding with their teachers in a one-on-one environment. 

“It was great to see all the teachers together in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for the students,¨ sophomore Kioni Niebla said. “I think it’s important for students to be able to have strong connections with teachers, and this allows them to understand how much their teachers appreciate them.”

UHS holds two Spirit Lunches every year, allowing teachers to invite more students they appreciate for their efforts. 

“It’s tough for teachers because there really are so many kids that deserve recognition,” Mr. Leong said. “There are so many aspects in which kids excel, making it difficult for us to recognize all the students who go above and beyond.”

For students, lunch is a way to know that their teachers acknowledge how hard they have worked throughout the year. 

“School is, of course, very stressful for most of us, and sometimes we don’t see ourselves getting any recognition for the endless work . . . throughout the year,” sophomore Parmida Ghashghaei said. “I think these lunches are helpful for students feeling overwhelmed by school and just a really interesting way to get students and teachers to connect outside of a classroom setting.”

The second Spirit Lunch will be held in the second semester, and each teacher will be allowed to nominate students from any of their classes.