Shortly after We Fight was created in December, 2021, Stephanie Slawnik pitched the idea of lunch-time mentors to connect with students during lunch.
The Lunch Buddies program was created and piloted at Traverse Heights Elementary and Central Grade School in 2022/23 to help:
- Ensure that all students are having fun and smiling during recess
- Encourage healthy eating (by modeling healthy eating) during lunch
- Build positive relationships and connections with community mentors
- Increase play, physical activity and movement during recess
- Decrease behavior issues in the cafeteria and on the playground
In the 2023/24 school year, Lunch Buddies expanded to all ten TCAPS elementary schools and both middle schools—East and West.
To date, 110+ community members have applied to become Lunch Buddies mentors.
Here are a few of their stories*.
* mentor profiles were originally published in TCAPS’ monthly Health& Wellbeing newsletter.
Linda Zeratsky
Linda is a TCAPS mom to Josie and Ava, a physician’s assistant (PA) at Bay Area Urology, and one of Central Grade Terrific Tuesdays’ wonderful mentors.
Linda grew up in northern Wisconsin, where she loved to jump rope in elementary school.
She’s bringing that passion to Central Grade this year and her jump rope station during recess is always the busiest.
Laura Otwell
Laura Otwell, a Detroit girl and graduate of Cass Tech High School, is a special human being who mentors at Traverse Heights for Marvelous Mondays.
She is the mom of three incredible girls (all TCAPS alumni). She is smart, kind, generous, and humble.
She is curious, thoughtful, empathetic and a long-time advocate for stronger, better-connected neighborhoods.
Molly Stanifer
This is Molly’s second year mentoring young Superstars during Terrific Tuesdays at Central Grade.
She is a parent of a student in Central Grade and the school is in her neighborhood.
Molly feels it’s important to find ways to connect and learn about who is part of this community.
“What better way to do it than incorporating recess or lunch with fun kids into my work week?”
Mickey Johnson
“I’ve done volunteering of various sorts and heard about the Lunch Buddies program.
I keep my eye out for the child who looks sort of “alone” and then go from there.
I am amazed at how welcoming and responsive children are to the attention of an adult they’ve just met.
It’s a beautiful thing, and I’m pleased to be there with and for them.”
Stephanie Slawnik
Born and raised under the aroma of cornflakes being made in Battle Creek, Stephanie later studied music at Interlochen and music and French at MSU.
She moved to Traverse City in 1998 and is an educator in Montessori/early childhood, creative arts, and ESL.
Stephanie is passionate about youth wellness, early literacy, rescue animals, and community engagement.
When she’s not helping out at Traverse Heights’ Marvelous Mondays, Stephanie spends her free time with a good book, having a laugh, on a beach, and making a mess in the kitchen.
Alex Eicher
Alex does not have a child at Blair Elementary School, but Alex believes in public education and wants to be a positive role model for kids to look up to.
This is Alex’s first year mentoring young Bobcats during THINK Thursdays at Blair. He enjoys having lunch together, and then going to recess and playing games outside.
“Seeing the kid’s faces light up when they make a snowman together is truly enjoyable.”
Jordan Boudreau
Jordan is a TCAPS father to Jordan, Catherine, Jeremiah, Judah, and John.
He is a doctorate-level Behavior Analyst and owner of Inspire Autism.
He enjoys helping kids make meaningful connections with peers and is able to do that as a Lunch Buddy!
“Thank you, TCAPS, for making this program a priority and showing your support for our kids and families.”
Justin Knapp
Justin grew up in Leelanau County and attended Glen Lake Community Schools.
He is also a Lunch Buddies mentor at Eastern for Wonderful Wednesdays.
“I have fond memories of volunteers, coaches, and mentors who guided me along when needed. I am a TCAPS dad, with both Evie and Will attending Eastern Elementary.
Mentoring at Eastern is a blast!
My name is Mr. Bald Guy or Mr. Justin. Depending on who you ask in the cafeteria, my age ranges from 1 to 200. During the limited time spent at Lunch Buddies, we exchange lots of high fives, exploding knuckles, and descriptive scenarios.
On the playground during recess, I cherish the time spent being the swing set push master. Messi or Ronaldo on the soccer pitch or the forever “IT” player in a game of tag.
Most importantly, I mentor for the smiles and positive interactions that it creates.”
Happy, smiley, active mentors playing with and alongside kids is a gold standard regarding school health & wellbeing system change.
Do you like to:
• play and have fun during recess?
• give big underdogs on the swings?
• have 1 hour at lunch 1x/week?
• help our kids succeed?
Lunch Buddies are now happening at all ten TCAPS elementary buildings and both middle schools.
The spring season begins the week of April 1st.
Apply to become a mentor today: tcaps.net/lunchbuddies
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