For many students on campus, lunch time is the most enjoyable part of the school day. While some students may choose to eat in the quad, a vacant classroom or even off campus if they are an upperclassman, most have some sort of routine during the break.
For NPHS teachers Kasandra Livesey, Kristen Skaff and Caitlin Henningsen, lunch is a brief moment in the afternoon to alleviate mid-day stress and bond with each other. “I don’t remember what brought on our lunch [meetings], but ever since it started, it hasn’t stopped,” Skaff said.
Livesey also notes that though there have been various changes in the years, the core of their group has remained the same. “Other people have had lunch with us and came in,” Livesey said. “But, the three of us just have always been here.”
Over the years of sharing meals together, they have formed a friendship beyond being coworkers. “We’ve just been through a lot of milestones. [We] have [our] friends outside of work too but I think I spend more time with Mrs. Livesey and Mrs. Skaff than I do with any of my other friends,” Henningsen said. “That consistency of having lunch with the same people multiple days a week gives you continuity.”
Skaff adds that being able to relate to one another professionally has also positively impacted their friendship. “Teaching can be the kind of profession that’s hard to explain to people who are not teachers. […] It’s nice to have people who really understand what it is that you’re talking about,” Skaff said.
For the trio, one of their favorite memories together is attending Henningsen’s wedding. “I’ve got very good pictures of Mrs. Livesy and Mr. Erickson line dancing together out on the dance floor,” Henningsen said.
Henningsen, Livesey and Skaff have also supported one another as teachers raising children. “Especially with having kids, trying to balance work and also how teaching has changed over time, I like [having] people who are in the same situation,” Henningsen said. “You can be like, ‘Is this happening with you too?’ ‘Yeah, okay, I’m not crazy.’”
Skaff recalled memories from the early stages of motherhood. “[Right] when I found out I was pregnant, my husband told me, ‘Don’t tell anyone,’” Skaff said. “Then I get to work and immediately told [Livesey and Skaff], ‘I’m pregnant!’”
Livesey also notes that she experienced many milestones of motherhood with her colleagues. “Mrs. Skaff knew the genders of my babies before I did,” Livesey said.
Lunch time has helped grow the friendship between the three teachers, which is built on shared experiences, understanding and occasionally, simply food. “I make a casserole and I got the recipe from Mrs. Livesey, whose first name is Kassie. In my family, we call it ‘Kassie-Roll,’” Skaff said.