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Clad in personalized, royal blue aprons and chef hats, three Lassalette Elementary School Lunch Divas faced off against a trio of ambitious culinary teams from Mesa Robles Middle School in their quest for the tastiest entrées at the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District’s third annual Student Chef Recipe and Cookoff, held March 14 at the Willow Adult School culinary kitchen.

The four teams sliced, stirred, and sautéed their way through the TV cooking show-inspired competition, racing against the clock to diligently plate at least 25 servings. The Lunch Divas came out victorious with their birria tacos, winning over the taste buds of the judges.

“We are incredibly proud of our Lunch Divas for sharing their family recipe for the competition, which set them apart in the cookoff,” Lassalette Elementary Principal Lisa Mannino said. “Winning first place encourages our students to take pride in their cultural cuisine and inspires them to confidently embrace their heritage.”

In addition to having their dish included on HLPUSD’s 2025-26 lunch menu, each Lassalette student chef received a $150 gift card. For the Mesa Robles teams, animal fries took second place and earned $100 gift cards; udon stir fry placed third and secured $75 gift cards; and a Philly cheesesteak sandwich with steak cut fries came in fourth for $50 gift cards. The three Mesa Robles teams competed in an attempt to extend their school’s winning streak from the last two student cookoffs.

Before the young chefs started prepping and cooking during the competition, the students huddled in their teams to discuss cooking strategies, guided by their Nutrition Services coaches and supervisors. The recipe of the Lunch Divas, whose team members included fourth-graders Janessa Martinez, Aylin Pardo, and Scarlette Esparza, was influenced by their mothers and grandmothers, giving them an edge by carrying over traditional and generational flavors in their dish.

“We have a secret recipe,” said Martinez, who is familiar with navigating a kitchen since she started her culinary journey at three-years old by cooking omelets and scrambled eggs for her family. “We have some tricks up our sleeves.”

In true reality television fashion, a crowd of spectators, including Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez, Board of Education members, and family members, watched a livestream of the Student Chef Cookoff in an adjoining room and eagerly waited for their samples.

But the only votes that mattered were from three judges, student Board representatives from William Workman, Los Altos, and La Puente high schools.

“I would like to see something that has uniqueness, something I haven’t tried before,” said Workman Board Representative senior Amanda Cabrera, who judged based on three criteria: overall appeal, appearance, and taste.

To enter the Student Cookoff, student teams submitted a recipe that contained one California agricultural product as a main ingredient. HLPUSD students voted for their favorite recipes in the first week of February, with the top four recipes entering the finals. The student teams were sponsored by their schools’ afterschool programs.

“I wanted to have a culinary event that was unique to Hacienda La Puente Unified and fully driven by students,” HLPUSD Director of Nutrition Services Celeste Calubaquib said. “From developing the recipes to the judging, the entire process is student-led. This event gives them a platform to share their creation and ideas, and ensures we listen to and apply their input.”

Calubaquib brought the Student Chef Cookoff to life with the goal of expanding lunch menus by adding items that were created and approved by students. Previous winners included a baked potato and carne asada fries. Any changes made to the student recipes are to ensure they comply with Child Nutrition Program standards.

“The Student Chef Cookoff offers a unique opportunity to immerse students in our Nutrition Services programs and fosters hands-on learning opportunities that nurture creativity and collaboration,” said Jiménez. “It is inspiring seeing elementary and middle school students work together in a culinary kitchen using applicable skills they can take into high school and beyond. Congratulations to all the culinary winners for their exceptional achievements.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS

 

Lassalette Elementary School’s Lunch Divas culinary team, posing with their family and HLPUSD Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez (right), won the grand prize of Hacienda La Puente Unified’s third annual Student Cookoff for their recipe of birria tacos, which will be included in the District’s lunch menu during the 2025-26 school year.

Lassalette Elementary School’s Lunch Divas culinary team examines their ingredients during Hacienda La Puente Unified’s third annual Student Cookoff, which invites student teams to create and prepare lunch entrees for a panel of student judges.  

A Mesa Robles Middle School culinary team double-checks its supplies during Hacienda La Puente Unified’s third annual Student Chef Cookoff. The annual event invites HLPUSD students to create a recipe for a lunch entrée, with the top-four teams earning gift cards.  

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The California League of Middle Schools (CLMS) recognized four Hacienda La Puente Unified School District schools for their exceptional contributions to academic excellence, social and emotional support, and hands-on programs that prepare students for future success.

Grandview College Preparatory Academy and Sparks Middle School are among 46 California schools to be newly designated as Schools to Watch, with Newton and Orange Grove middle schools being among 44 others to be redesignated. All schools were honored during the National Schools to Watch conference from March 6 to 7.

"At Newton Middle School, our Schools to Watch recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our educators, the strength of our community partnerships, and our commitment to shaping well-rounded, future-ready students,” Newton Principal Ann Hanson said. “Together, we create a learning environment where academic excellence and extra-curricular opportunities provide the space for every student to truly thrive."

The recognized HLPUSD schools have implemented targeted initiatives and a comprehensive curriculum to promote holistic student development, focusing on academic and personal growth. Central to this effort is the District’s “Six C’s of Deep Learning,” which include character, citizenship, collaboration, community, creativity, and critical thinking – competencies that help cultivate resilience, perseverance, and lifelong learning.

“Sparks holds a tradition of a legacy of excellence, and we continually collaborate with our teachers, staff, and families to ensure our students are on a pathway to academic and personal success,” Sparks Principal Dr. David Nieto said. “Each of our students are provided with the support and resources they need to fuel their passion and find a career that amplifies their best skills and interests.”

These schools’ science-, technology-, engineering-, art-, and math- (STEAM) driven curriculum prepares students for modern career pathways, providing advanced skill development early on. Numerous STEAM programs are offered at each school, including an engineering pathway at Grandview, the Youth Cinema Project at Sparks, robotics at Newton, and aviation at Orange Grove, which equip students with emerging career skills to succeed in high school and beyond.

“We are honored to be recognized as one of the top schools in the state serving middle school students,” Grandview College Preparatory Academy Principal Theresa Lei said. “At Grandview, our guiding principle is that excellence is not just taught, but that it’s a relationship that is built, a community that is inspired, with forward-thinking into the future.”

Students at each school have access to language courses, which helps them form a foundation to thrive in a multilingual society while being immersed in cultural studies. Grandview and Newton offer a Spanish dual immersion program, Sparks provides a Spanish and Korean language elective with plans to offer dual immersion next school year, and Orange Grove offers a Spanish elective. Sparks and Orange Grove are also home to the District’s student mariachi ensembles, in partnership with the Grammy-Award winning Mariachi Divas band.

“The Schools to Watch redesignation affirms the dedication of the Ocelot staff to the students at Orange Grove Middle School,” Orange Grove Principal Elizabeth Kane said. “Through collaboration, student voice and choice, experiential learning, and continual staff development our school community is growing their greater good at The Grove.” 

Additionally, students can dive into leadership development and civic engagement through real-world experiences in the classroom and their cities. The Golden Bell-winning Project Life Experiences About Democracy (L.E.A.D) program at Sparks and Orange Grove gives students the opportunity to visit local city departments, participate in mock city councils, and speak in front of the community at City Council meetings. Newton was awarded the Civic Learning Award of Distinction for student advocacy to enact policy change and partner with judges in the classroom.

With a strong emphasis on kindness and anti-bullying campaigns, these schools foster a supportive, student-driven environment where collaboration and empathy thrive.

“The Schools to Watch distinction reflects the transformative learning experiences provided to every student in our District,” said HLPUSD Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez. “This recognition underscores Hacienda La Puente Unified’s commitment to creating a rigorous, inclusive, and nurturing learning environment where students excel academically and also develop the skills and resilience needed for future success.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS

Grandview College Preparatory Academy attended the National Schools to Watch conference from March 6 to 7 to accept their Schools to Watch recognition.

Performing for the first time together, Sparks and Orange Grove middle school mariachi ensembles perform at the annual HLPUSD State of the District event. Sparks was recognized as a School to watch, with Orange Grove being redesignated with the same honor, citing its visual and performing arts and multicultural environment as areas valuable to students.

Newton Middle School students create a hydraulics system to understand how liquids are used in mechanical properties. Newton was redesignated as a School to Watch, with its STEAM curriculum and hands-on activities cited as a notable area. 

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