North Florida Arts & Sciences Academy
Held FriendsGiving lunch for students and their families

Students, parents and teachers gathered in the auditorium at North Florida Arts & Sciences Academy for the FriendsGiving potluck luncheon where over 150 were in attendance. -SVT Photo

The FriendsGiving potluck feast was an overwhelming hit with students and their families. -SVT Photo

By Tami Stevenson

On the last day of school, before the Thanksgiving break, students and their families gathered in the auditorium at North Florida Arts & Sciences Academy, of Lake City, for a FriendsGiving potluck feast.

The V.I.P.’s (very involved parents) Kathryn Brandstrup and Michelle Belkin organized the arrangements for the FriendsGiving Potluck Lunch, while other V.I.P.’s brought a dish to pass and helped out serving the massive amount of delicious food that served over 150 people.

It was a great opportunity for students, teachers and parents to come together before the Thanksgiving break.

“We have a tradition at our school to provide a Thanksgiving Feast for our students and their families. This year was beyond successful with our highest attendance yet of close to 150 people.  We are so grateful to our V.I.P.’s for all their hard work in coordinating and organizing everything from the decorations to the food,” said Principal Tony Buzzella. 

“It is so important that our upcoming generation of young people know American history the way it really was, and that includes the importance of the national holiday known as Thanksgiving Day. George Washington commemorated this day for the purpose of being thankful first to our God for the gifts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. ‘FriendsGiving’ reminds us specifically to be thankful for all those in our lives that make up our individual worlds and not take anything for granted,” Buzzella added. 

“We are blessed beyond measure. Expressing thanks for the blessings bestowed on our country by Almighty God is an important part of the American experience that must be preserved.” He added, “That is the primary purpose for our annual celebration of Thanksgiving.”

1st Grader Wyatt Green, left, with 2nd Grader Sophia Sena stopped long enough for a picture. -SVT Photo

North Florida Arts & Sciences Academy V.I.P.’s (very involved parents) Kathryn Brandstrup, left, and Michelle Belkin organized the arrangements for the FriendsGiving potluck luncheon. -SVT Photo