“From the best of our current recollection, this started in the mid-1970s,” said Heidi Huber-Stein, who made a presentation at this year’s dinner, held at Riverside Intermediate School on December 11. “It was at first a Thanksgiving feast, cooked by the parents of fourth-graders and their teachers. Don Tassie, the principal at Klager for many years, and Bart Bartels are given credit for starting the dinner. Jane Raus was another fourth grade teacher who was involved in the first years.”

At the time, the Klager Elementary School “kitchen” was a tiny space; little more than a hallway wide, it included a sink, a regular kitchen stove, and a refrigerator, with limited counter space. So, room mothers would deliver frozen turkeys to parent volunteers who would then cook the turkeys in their homes. The turkeys would be brought back to the school to be carved. Parents also baked pies at home, while teachers mixed up the dressing for the coleslaw at home. Green beans were done in slow cookers right in the fourth grade classrooms.

“Students helped fund the whole project by bringing in 50 cents each to cover expenses,” Huber-Stein added.

The fourth graders would peel the potatoes and carrots, led by Mr. & Mrs. Tad and Esther Kuyda, parents of  teacher Mary Kuyda-Shaw. The Kuydas also helped carve turkeys in the tiny kitchen.

“I remember one year they came to visit me at school, and Mr. Tassie told them they should come to the dinner,” said Shaw. “They said they didn’t live in the district (at the time), but they’d be glad to come and help out.”

And so a tradition began. Mr. & Mrs Kuyda became surrogate grandparents as they helped and chatted with hundreds of Klager kids over the next 20 or so years, earning “Turkey Carver” and “Potato Peeler” shirts to wear as they helped out. Eventually, the Kuydas moved to Freedom Township and became official residents of the Manchester school district, so they had even more of a reason to attend.

Shaw, who spent her entire teaching career (from 1970-2000) as a third-grade teacher at Klager, has many good memories of those years with her parents as such an integral part of the dinner. But, as memories tend to do, some years stand out more clearly than others. One year in particular, she recalls, on the day that they were scheduled to peel potatoes and carrots, a snow day was called.

“Many of the teachers and parents met at the Methodist Church to peel the vegetables and carve the turkeys,” she said. “We didn’t have the kids to help, of course, but we got the job done!” And the meal went on as scheduled the next day.

After Mr. Kudya passed away in 1996, Mrs. Kuyda came back for one more dinner, but as a spectator this time rather than an official participant on the food-prep crew.

“Eventually, the event became a Christmas celebration,” Huber-Stein said. “Food preparation moved to the kitchen of the Manchester United Methodist Church. I imagine there was some frustration with the Klager kitchen.” An understatement to be sure!

As the years went on, the whole school, not just the fourth grade, became more involved. Entertainment was added through the music program, guided by Mrs. Kay Miller and then by Mrs. Sandy Graff, with each grade singing two or three songs.

The gym, which was also the cafeteria, was used as classrooms gathered to decorate the paper tablecloths. Classroom teachers also spent time making decorations for the hallways.

“The event was used to connect the students with grandparents and the seniors of the community,” Huber-Stein concluded. “Practicing manners and being good hosts are still important skills for our students to practice! The dinner is also a way to thank the local senior citizens for their continued support of Manchester Community Schools.”

Ms. Huber-Stein presented the history of the Senior Luncheon

The 5th and 6th grade bands, led by Mr. Throneberry, performed.

3rd and 4th grade classes performed, led by Mr. Schoendorff