Geyserville Schools in the News
Celebrating ongoing support for our English LearnersGNTA’s new English class for Multilingual Students
In 2021 GNTA began its English program by offering a large adult evening class to community residents and parents of GNTA students. It was directed by Lynn Horowitz, a vineyard owner who had founded other non-profit ESL programs in Alexander Valley and Healdsburg.
After 2 years, the class reached it goal and progressed successfully from a beginner level to a low intermediate level of English, launching students toward furthering their education at the SRJC. The GNTA program has been sponsored by La Familia Sana in Cloverdale. Thanks to the continued sponsorship of La Familia Sana in Cloverdale, GNTA is now offering a small English class for middle and high school students who need extra support learning English as a second language. The class is taught by none other than Harley DellaBruna, the daughter of Nina DellaBruna, our wonderful Lead Cook (a special mother-daughter team loyal to GNTA!) Harley was a student at Geyserville High until 2018 and obtained her TESOL certificate to teach English in 2022. She served as the popular bilingual assistant of the lead teacher and is doing a great job this year on her own! 
Deborah Bertolucci--Superintendent Geyserville Schools, Food and Wine Award for
Farm-to-Community Leadership 
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Café Facts with Ms. Nina
🍎 In a one week span, Geyserville Schools go through a case of cucumbers, two cases of apples, and a case of bananas.
🍎 All Geyserville schools are moving towards ZERO Waste. The ends of lettuce and peels of oranges all go to some local sheep and chickens weekly. Bread ends that don't get used for sandwiches, get turned into croutons. Our paper boats and bowls we use are compostable. Students and staff are encouraged to use our compost and recycle bins before the landfill one. Containers for yogurt and sour cream go to either the shop or art classes to be repurposed and reused. We do have some packaging waste, however, any soiled products that can’t be recycled fit in two small cans. 🍎Part of the school food program is to buy American grown products and minimize offshore food purchasing. While that is the focus, some things have to come further depending on what’s happening in the growing regions due to unforeseen circumstances. 🍎 Our Scratch-Based food target is 40% and we are above that already! All Geyserville schools use the scratch cooking method, meaning the food is prepared with fresh ingredients so there are no preservatives or additives added. It also means healthier eating because all ingredients are scratch cooked from start to finish. For example, Ms. Nina cuts up fresh cucumbers instead of buying packaged ones. In fact, one of the only packaged veggies used at our Geyserville Schools are baby carrots. 🍎 Cafeteria staff are creative when it comes to getting students to eat the nutritious food presented to them at school. Lime and lemon wedges are offered with veggies to make food more appealing. They make “Protein Packs” and other cleverly named offerings to support a nutrient need. 🍎Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches are a favorite at GES! If a student really doesn’t want what is being offered that day, rather than seeing a student go without, Ms. Linda Love at GES kindly will often have a few sandwiches available. On a given day she usually makes about eight total sandwiches. If a student has a food allergy on file, sunflower seed butter and cheeseless pizza are alternatives for meal replacements. 🍎 Feeding our students is a team effort! Many are involved in making sure our students are set up for nutritional and academic success. From the school garden, Culinary program, Aeroponic/Tall Towers food system in the Science Lab, and of course, Cafeteria, we hit nutrition hands on. We also receive local support from groups like Geyserville Kiwanis. They have graciously donated sausage and eggs from their Pancake Breakfast fundraisers, which Ms. Nina turns into a school favorite~Breakfast Burritos. 🍎Students at Geyserville Schools have an impact on what food items are offered. In addition to food surveys, the cafeteria will try a new food item three times. If it isn’t a hit, they won’t serve it again. It appears our younger GES students are very vocal about their food opinions and with the older GNTA students, they hardly speak theirs. 🍎We are always happy to accept food donations from someone’s organic garden or organic trees! Please only contact via email only, Christina, our Manager of Food Services, at [email protected] to arrange food donations. Geyserville New Tech Career Technical Education in action.
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