The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) of Julia P. Bryant Elementary in Statesboro is working on a new project: a cookbook. A first for the school to the PTO's knowledge, the cookbook will feature recipes from parents, grandparents, faculty, and staff.
The cookbook idea stemmed from the PTO's quarterly event, "Nine Week Nibbles," at which they provide a potluck lunch to the faculty and staff at the school. They plan to call the book Bear Nation Nibbles.
"This event is always a teacher favorite, and each time, we were getting requests for the recipes for some of the dishes served at the lunch," Whitney Lavoie, Nine Week Nibbles co-chair, shared. "We decided a cookbook would be a great way to not only share some of those favorites but also to raise money for the PTO through sales."
The PTO is hoping to collect recipes from former members of the "Bear Nation", as well. They are inviting anyone from the community who worked at Julia P. Bryant or who had a child there to submit their recipes.
"We want all of our students, teachers, and staff -- past and present -- included," said Debbie Edenfield, chair of the cookbook committee. "We want those old family recipes -- the ones on the old, stained index cards!"
Categories in the cookbook will include appetizers and snacks, soups and salads, entrees and casseroles, side dishes, fun for kids/lunchbox treats, and desserts. Recipes may be submitted online here, dropped off at the main office of the school, or emailed to [email protected]. Recipes should be original or modified; no copyrighted recipes can be included.
The deadline for submitting recipes is February 28, 2025.
Community members may also purchase a copy of the cookbook for $10 by mailing a check to the school at 421 W. Main St., Statesboro GA, 30458. Please make the check out to Julia P. Bryant PTO and put "cookbook" in the memo line. Plan to pick your copy up at the school later this spring.
Julia P. Bryant Elementary School was originally opened in 1963 as a school for African American students on Williams Road. The Chairman of the Bulloch County Board of Education at the time was J.H. Wyatt.
The school’s name was chosen in honor of Julia Pearl Bryant. Mrs. Bryant was a respected, longtime African American educator in Bulloch County. She served as a teacher and supervisor in the Bulloch County School System for more than twenty five years.
The current Julia P. Bryant school on West Main Street was constructed in 2010.
