Fauquier High School’s (FHS) library has taken steps to ensure an open environment for all students to feel welcome. One of these steps was the opening of Thirsty Thursday. Thirsty Thursday was a way for librarian, Kathryn Davis, to “fundraise for our library, so [the library] can get more books, materials and supplies for our library.” However, the impact of Thirsty Thursday was greater than just fundraising. According to Davis, “[Thirsty Thursday] was a neat way to bring a sense of community to the students.”
Thirsty Thursday was highly valued by the whole student body and added a fresh layer of culture to our school. Unfortunately, administrators shut down Thirsty Thursday. According to Davis, “It was shut down for two reasons: you apparently can’t sell food and beverages when the cafeteria is open… and the other reason was that the nutritional value of the hot chocolate was seen as unhealthy.” Because the library sold hot chocolate during lunchtime, it was seen as being in competition with the cafeteria. Additionally, according to FHS principal, Dr. David Ferguson, the vending machines have been restricted for this same reason. He stated, “ [The vending machines] are on timers due to the nutritional values of the snacks, so they are available after school and during other activities, but not during the school day when our breakfast and lunches are sold.”
However, this isn’t the first time a fun aspect of our school has been shut down for these reasons. Michelle Green, Student Council Administration (SCA) advisor, also had her snack program shut down. Green had sold the snacks for 50 cents to any student who was looking for some extra food. The difference between Green’s and Davis’ organizations is that Green’s was originally started by her students. According to Green, “I would have kids come in here and they would be hungry. So they would set up a cabinet and they [put their own snacks] in there.” This was especially helpful for students who did not bring any additional food to school. Students would come into Green’s room and pay 50 cents of their money to Green’s donation jar. Green shared, “We had a donation cup that once it [was filled with money] I would go to Walmart and I would replenish [the cabinet] and buy granola bars and fruit snacks.” Green’s snack cabinet was entirely student-funded. So, when the administration shut down Green’s organization for “lack of nutritional value,” the question arose: “If students are paying of their own will and with their own money, why is the school shutting it down?”
Ferguson clarified, “The Library’s hot chocolate has been delayed by me due to the nutritional value of what is sold to students. Additionally, we were receiving notifications that students were leaving classrooms for other locations, but returning with hot chocolate.” Students leaving their classrooms for Thirsty Thursday became a serious problem that the administration had to take action on. Many students were lying to their teachers about why they were leaving class and were later found in the library. Thankfully Ferguson provided a potential solution for the library, stating, “If the library wants to have the hot chocolate bar with a hot cocoa mix that meets nutritional requirements we are certainly open to it.”
