Elysian Charter School Has Fallen In Love With Broccoli

Elysian Charter School needs your vote.

The fifth grade of the school has been selected as a finalist in a YouTube video competition, sponsored by the Farm To School Network. The school won the competition last year, and was rewarded $1,000. 

The competition is supposed to make students think about food, and what it means to them. In the midst of a national debate about healthy lunches, this initiative fits right in. 

"It's a very, very big issue," said the charter school's Director Carol Stock. Stock has worked at Elysian for four years, but has worked in education for 40 years, she said. Before this, she was the principal of an elementary school on Manhattan. 

All 32 students of the fifth grade—which is made up of two classes of 16—participated in the video, which was produced by music teacher Aram Rubenstein Gillis, who also wrote the song. 

"It's really cute, the kids are all in it," said Elysian Charter School's Food Service Director Susan Gilbertson. "They're having a blast." Gilbertson urged all parents and other Hoboken residents to cast a vote before April 9.

Last year Elysian won the contest with a song titled: "Who Put That Burger On Your Plate?" 

If the school wins the contest for the second year in a row, Gilbertson said, she'd like to use the $1,000 to install new sinks in the school. The sinks could be used to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, she said.

Elysian Charter School has two seperate locations this past year, but will be housed in only one building next year. The school has a small kitchen area with a fridge, but all the meals are delivered, Gilbertson said. 

Stock said she wasn't sure yet on what the money would be spent, because installing new sinks would probably be more expensive than $1,000.

Last year Elysian Charter School received a grant to provide the children with fresh fruits and vegetables. This year, however, the school didn't receive that grant because it doesn't qualify as a low-income school in order to receive that grant, Stock said.

You can watch the video here. You have until April 9 to vote.