Ronan High School reintroduces family, consumer sciences
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RONAN — High school students are serious when it comes to literature, calculus, chemistry and … well, sometimes, baking.
And don’t forget the espresso.
After a three-year absence, the Ronan School District has reinstituted a forgotten favorite, commonly referred to as family and consumer science to the modern student.
But there is more to “home ec” than baking these days.
There’s nutrition to learn about, relationships to study, good habits to form and an espresso machine to operate.
In order to help offset costs, the family and consumer science classes have started a coffee counter in their classroom. It opens before class starts each morning and serves faculty and students the Java that gets their day jumping.
“We make about $30 per day,” explained teacher Katie Umbriaco.
Formerly an English teacher, Umbriaco approached the school about reinstating the family and consumer sciences class.
She discovered her students were lacking in certain skills crucial to leading a healthy life post high school.
“In teaching English, (my students) were learning all these abstract things … but they can’t cook dinner or read directions.”
The old family and consumer sciences classroom lay undisturbed for the three years while the school district scoured the nation, looking for someone to teach the subject — until Umbriaco volunteered.
Umbriaco isn’t certified in family consumer sciences yet, but she agreed to take classes online to become qualified while she teaches the class in Ronan.
During class, she plays music while her students learn to measure, calculate costs and do dishes effectively.
“I thought it was really neat because at the parent-teacher conferences, I had parents tell me about their kids cooking and baking at home,” Umbriaco said.
She has even had some students develop interests in starting a bakery and attending culinary arts schools.
But her classes aren’t all about the kitchen.
On the other half of the room, is a classroom filled with tables. There’s a little niche lit by a lantern and shelves stacked with books and old typewriters — her office space.
The ambiance flows over to the classroom, where she compensates for a gloomy view with sheer material hanging over the fluorescent lights.
This is where Umbriaco teaches a second class, dealing primarily with life skills — how to write resumes, how to interview, and managing personal finances — to name a few.
And then there are the “Think it Over” baby dolls, that cry seven-12 times a day.
“The kids have to be responsible for the dolls for three days,” she explained. “It’s a big time commitment.”
But the students seem to be excited about that aspect of the class as well.
This year Umbriaco and her students have cooked cupcakes, apple dishes and are still working through a 50-pound bag of potatoes.
Grateful for all the donations from local gardens, Umbriaco and her students have high hopes for next year.
“I think the coffee business will grow and we can supplement our budget with that,” she said.
