West Essex Students Host Breakfast for 225 Local Seniors

More than 225 West Essex area senior citizens feasted on a delicious breakfast prepared by West Essex High School culinary students and enjoyed performances by instrumental and choral music groups and the dance team on Dec. 17 at West Essex High School.

The annual event was a big hit with area seniors who raved about the food and the entertainment.

The culinary students prepared a homemade breakfast of a breakfast casserole with eggs, red peppers and broccoli, fruit salad, blueberry coffee cake, crumb cake and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. The culinary students also baked holiday cookies and presented each senior citizen with a gift bag of cookies when they left.

“This is such a nice gesture by the school,” Eileen Connolly of West Caldwell as she enjoyed her breakfast said. “I have enjoyed coming to the breakfasts here for three years now.”

“The young people are so wonderful and welcoming,” Jean McNally of West Caldwell added.

“It’s nice to invite the seniors to West Essex, especially over the holidays,” sophomore Justine Gonnella of Roseland expressed.

West Essex High School sophomore Jade Mendola said she enjoyed making and serving breakfast to the seniors.

During breakfast, the West Essex High School Dance Team and the Boys’ and Girls’ a capella vocal groups performed for the seniors.

Afterwards, the seniors moved to the High School Auditorium where the larger choral and instrumental groups performed. The music included holiday classics including “Sleigh Ride” and other tunes.

Who’s Who in the Photo Gallery

1) West Essex High School senior Peter Pollio of Roseland and junior Joe Perrone of Fairfield chat with Crane’s Mill activities director Meredith Wu and residents Anita Goodwyn and Sarajane Giere.

2) West Essex High School Principal Gary Suda welcomes senior citizens to the breakfast.

3) Seniors Desiree Russo of Fairfield, left, and Bridgette Pheloung of Essex Fells, talk to seniors Jean McNally and Eileen Connolly of West Caldwell at the West Essex High School Senior Citizen breakfast.

4) West Essex High School junior Taylor Albanese of Fairfield talks to Joe Piel of West Caldwell, the first principal at West Essex Regional High School.

5) West Essex High School sophomores Jade Mendola and Justine Gonnella, both of Roseland, decorate the tables with poinsettias for the senior citizen breakfast.

6) The West Essex High School girls acappela group “The Chordettes” sing a holiday song for the seniors.

7) The West Essex High School Dance Team in action.

8) The West Essex High School Dance Team finishes one of their numbers for the seniors.

9) Members of the West Essex High School chorale perform at the breakfast.

10) The WEHS Orchestra performs.

11) The WEHA chorale performs.

Photos courtesy of Allison Freeman

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