8 February 2020 • www.baker5j.org
School menus now
available through
phone app
This month, the menu for Baker
schools will be available on the
app Choosi (KidsChoose, Inc).
Users will need to select “Baker Sd
5J, OR” and the individual school
(choose from Brooklyn, Haines,
South Baker, Baker Middle School,
and Baker High School).
Menus are also available online
at www.baker5j.org/apps/pages/
foodservice. Meal costs and other
nutrition-related news can also be
found on that web page.
Bulldog Pride
Baker School District Staff: editor
Lisa Jacoby: writer, photographer, designer
School board: Chris Hawkins, Katie Lamb,
Kevin Cassidy, Andrew Bryan,
Julie Huntington
It is the policy of the Baker Board of Educa-
tion and School District that there will be no
discrimination or harassment on the grounds of
race, color, sex, marital status, sexual orienta-
tion, religion, national origin, age or disability in
any educational programs, activities or employ-
ment. Persons having questions about equal op-
portunity and nondiscrimination should contact
the Su- perintendent at the Baker School District
Office at 2090 4th Street, Baker City, OR. 97814
, Phone (541) 524-2260. All Career and Technical
Education (CTE) programs in this school district
are open to all students. The District will take
steps to assure that the lack of English language
skills will not be a barrier to admission and par-
ticipation in CTE programs. •Section 504 Com-
pliance Officer, Special Education Director, 2090
4th Street, Baker City, OR. (541) 524-2260. •Title
II Coordinator, Director of Curriculum, 2090
4th Street, (541) 524-2260. •Title IX Coordina-
tor, Special Education Director, 2090 4th Street,
Baker City, OR 97814 (541) 524-2260
Bulldog Pride
Greetings from the kitchen
‘She’s one of the greatest people I’ve met.’
F
or sixth-grader Reggie Anderson, a
day started in the kitchen in a good
day indeed.
That’s where he gets to see Alita Aren-
dell, who has been the head cook at South
Baker Intermediate School for seven
years.
When asked to describe Arendell, An-
derson keeps it simple: “Really kind.”
“We’ve been good friends since fourth
grade. Just seeing her and talking to her is
one of the best things,” he said. “She’s one
of the greatest people I’ve ever met.”
And he’s not the only one who seeks
out Arendell on occasion. In seven years,
she’s met a lot of students serving break-
fast and lunch every school day.
Some of those youngsters have rough
days and can benefit from a little time
with a caring adult. To fill this need, Aren-
dell has slowly decorated the kitchen cup-
boards with positive sayings or reminders
of how to behave. When a child shows up,
she’ll encourage him or her to read each
one out loud.
A sample: I don’t always have to get my
own way; I am strong; I can do anything;
I will respect myself; I will tell the truth
always.
“They’ll read these, and sometimes we
talk about them,” Arendell said. “It gives
them a chance to read aloud and interact
with an adult.”
One of the important ones is simply
“Strong Heart.”
“They all need a strong heart,” she said.
Sometimes these interactions lead to other
topics. “You hear how their day went, how
their weekend was,” said Darcy McCau-
ley, who also cooks at South Baker.
“And sometimes they just want to know
what we’re cooking,” Arendell said with
a smile.
She will retire at the end of this school
year.
“I’m going to miss her since it’s my last
year here and her last year here,” Ander-
son said. “It’s so nice knowing someone
like her.”
Alita Arendell, right, and Darcy McCauley staff the kitchen at South Baker Inter-
mediate School. Arendell has decorated the cupboards with words of encourage-
ment. When she sees a student having a rough day, she invites them in to read
these positive words aloud. See examples in the photos below.