Sean Stavins, Nick Gattuso and Gabriel Vazquez are all fifth-graders at Roy Elementary School, and all three boys were at Taste of Mannheim on Sept. 7.
The event was at Mannheim Middle School.
The self-described “best friends” said they were attending Taste of Mannheim since they will be sixth-graders next year.
“I want to join everything at Mannheim Middle School,” Stavins said. “I want to join softball and basketball.”
Taste of Mannheim was a festival for students, prospective students and their families to learn more about the school and the extracurricular activities it has to offer, according to teacher and event co-organizer Cassie Barreto.
Barreto said 550 people were in attendance, including students and families that will feed into Mannheim Middle School such as Roy, Scott and Westdale elementary schools.
“We started Taste of Mannheim last year to build a stronger community,” she said. “We want the students to be involved with their school and education.”
Students and families were given a map of the school and were invited to walk from different classrooms to learn more about academics. In the school’s gymnasium, clubs and sports sponsors had booths set up to talk to students and give more information about the school. People in attendance were also given raffle tickets to win prizes.
“Taste of Mannheim allows students to get more information about clubs that they didn’t think they would join,” Barreto said.
As for Stavins, Gattuso and Vazquez, the three boys were excited to get more information on all of the sports the school has to offer. However, they admitted they were nervous about starting middle school next year.
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“I heard that middle school is harder,” Stavins said.
Teachers Andria Barry and Jamie Reinke are the two cross-country coaches at Mannheim. They said they brought the sport to Mannheim 10 years ago and it has grown immensely.
“This year, we’re up to 70 students,” Reinke said. “We’re the only no-cut sport. Any kid can come out and do it, no matter their ability.”
Sixth-grade students Victoria Magda and Gabby Kaczowska said their first few weeks of middle school have been exciting.
“It’s pretty fun switching classes and not staying in one class all the time,” Magda said.
“It was hard to get used to Mannheim at first, but now it’s much better,” Kaczowska said. “What I like the most about Taste of Mannheim is the raffles.”
Barreto said the main goal of Taste of Mannheim was being able to converse with parents and getting to know them on a more social level.
“We have a lot to offer,” she said. “Mannheim is a great school.”
Maryann Pisano is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.