Otondo students get free meal from Panda Express

Otondo Elementary School seems to have found a route to children's minds through their stomachs.
 
"It's our AIMS preparation kickoff and we want to make sure you understand that good eating helps you become better students for learning, so we invited Panda Express to come feed you some of your favorite foods," Anna Weatherbee, Otondo fourth-grade teacher, said.
 
This was the second year the Yuma Palms Panda Express has sponsored a lunch for Otondo, and this time, 275 fourth- and fifth-grade students were treated to a meal of chicken with orange sauce, chow mein, fried rice and fortune cookies at the school. The event was aimed at prompting students to eat well during the lead-up to the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards test given next month.
 
"We all know a nutritious diet helps students to perform better academically," Weatherbee said.
 
The AIMS tests are an important assessment tool, she said, because it acknowledges the skills students have already attained. AIMS also indicates to teachers which core subjects are of particular concern and may need to be reviewed.
 
It also assists teachers in recognizing the aptitude of individual learners, she added.
 
Otondo students were also thrilled to make a new friend with the Panda Express mascot, the Panda Bear who, in the school spirit of homecoming day, jogged between the gauntlet of Otondo cafeteria tables slapping high-fives, fist bumping and hugging excited students, who were clearly delighted in the bear.
 
Grace Beal, 10,  was one of the fourth-grade students pleased to press flesh to paw with the Panda Bear mascot and gave the Panda Express lunch a thumbs-up too.
 
"I really liked the noodles because they got a lot of flavor in therm," Grace said.
 
Grace also said she is trying to prepare for AIMS by putting in extra time on her homework and she added she felt confident she would do well on the exam.
 
But Olivia Gardner, 10, fellow 4th grade student said she was getting nervous about the Approaching AIMS exam.
 
"I don't know if I'll pass but I think I'll make it," Olivia said.
 
Olivia also said that the chow mein was her favorite part of lunch because of all the vegetables, even though it did not include her favorite, tomatoes.
 
Yet Olivia seemed to enjoy her fortune cookie just as much and said her fortune read: "To reach distance places you must take the first step." She said it was a good omen for her to return to Japan ,where she spent three years.
 
Panda Express, owned by Andrew and Peggy Cherng, operates 1,300 restaurants from Tokyo to Puerto Rico with two locations in Yuma and a new branch opening at the 32nd Street WalMart lot soon, said Onjira Ciresi, Yuma Palms branch manager.
 
"We enjoy providing lunch for the students because it helps out the community and we want to get involved the the schools," Ciresi said.
 
The Panda Cares program also collaborates with Yuma schools to help raise funds and donates 20 percent of the proceeds to schools, Ciresi said. Last week at Desert View Academy, they raised enough to contribute $267 to the school.
 
In addition, Panda Cares programs initiate activities coordinated with PTOs to organize games aimed to help improve academic achievement of students, Ciresi said.
 
"We're here to give out to the community," Ciresi said. "We welcome any other schools who want to participate to get involved with our events."

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William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.