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A feast of gratitude at Hinsdale Central
Julie May and Paul Woods, science teachers at Hinsdale Central, enjoy the holiday breakfast the school's PTO provided Dec. 20 to show its appreciation for the school's faculty and staff. | Kimberly Fornek—Sun-Times Media
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Updated: January 28, 2013 6:24AM
HINSDALE — The Hinsdale Central Parent Teacher Organization said thank you to the high school staff Thurday with a holiday buffet.
A huge table filled with crepes, sausage and other breakfast foods, plus homemade cookies, pastries and breads welcomed the guests.
“It’s an unbelievable amount of food,” said Kerry Sheehan, who works in Central’s library and math department.
“This is great,” said Joyce Powell, District 86’s director of student services.
The PTO has been treating the Hinsdale Central teachers, staff and administrators to a lavish holiday breakfast for at least 15 years.
“It has evolved,” said PTO President Maria Pierce. “Every year it gets more beautiful.”
That’s due to the combined effort of parent volunteers, help from school employees and students, and donations from local businesses.
“It’s creative minds working together,” said parent Fatima Hussain.
Students from the school orchestra and the Madrigal singing group performed for the group.
“It’s a great way for the PTO parents to thank the teachers and staff for everything they do for our students and for making Hinsdale Central a great school,” Pierce said.
Lourdes Beard and Kathy Bergholz, who chaired the event, and Patricia Nelson, who was in charge of decorations, transformed the school’s conference room into a festive banquet room, decorated with evergreen boughs, white snowflakes, giant Christmas bulbs and silver ornaments hanging from turquoise ribbons.
“We are lucky we have some incredibly talented PTO members who are willing to volunteer their time,” Pierce said. They arrived at 5 a.m. to start setting up the buffet.
Beard’s daughter, a senior at Central, has made a decorative cake for the event since she was a freshman. Her chocolate cake last week was covered with white fondant to resemble an igloo with little snowmen and penguins, all edible, surrounding it.
“The whole key is the relationship between the students, staff and parents,” Pierce said.
