First Lady McAuliffe, Sen. Jeremy McPike serve breakfasts to Potomac High School students Sept. 29

Virginia’s First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe kicked off her campaign to fight child hunger at Potomac High School on Friday, Sept. 29.. She visited first with the cafeteria staff, enthusiastically thanking them for all of their hard work ensuring that students eat healthy, nutritious, and tasty food.

First Lady McAuliffe, accompanied by State Senator Jeremy McPike, served breakfast to students who stopped to get food between the first and second period of the day. Every PWCS high school offers this Second Chance Breakfast, which accounts for a part of the more than 21,000 breakfasts that are served Divisionwide.

First Lady McAuliffe lead a round table discussion with Senator McPike; Brianna Sewell, District Director for Rep. Gerald Connolly; School Board Vice Chair Ms. Lillie Jessie; Superintendent Dr. Steven Walts; members of the Potomac High School administration; members of the School Food and Nutrition Services staff; and four Potomac High School students who were invited to attend: Donovan Hinton, Maggie Kaysak, Lyndy Minitrez, and Magin Sanchez.

“We are here because Potomac High School does such an amazing job. And Prince William is doing an amazing job both academically and nutritionally,” said the first lady. “School meals are important every single day. I am here to announce that we are kicking off ‘The Day of Action’ across Virginia. Over 1,000 schools are serving free breakfast this morning – including here at Potomac,” she said.

The round table finished with a Q&A session that allowed the students to answer First Lady McAuliffe’s questions on the importance of breakfast and how it can be improved. All four of the students agreed that breakfast was the most important meal of the day by far, and appreciate that they have the option to get breakfast at school.

School Principal Michael Wright shared impressive statistics: “Before we offered Second Chance Breakfast two years ago, we were providing 400 breakfasts a day; now that number is up to 800.”

Potomac High School culinary arts students provided refreshments for guests and the Navy JROTC cadets greeted officials upon arrival.