Derik Vanderford|Daily Times The Monarch Elementary School "Making Everyone Stars" cook book can be purchased in the MES main office for $8, with all proceeds benefiting Relay for Life.

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As a way of teaching literacy skills and implementing service learning, the Monarch Elementary School Relay for Life team has published “Making Everyone Stars” cookbooks.

Monarch Elementary was one of seven schools in the state to receive an Exemplary Writing Award last year, and teacher Heather Wilson said the cookbooks — complete with an index and table of contents — will serve as a real world writing project.

Smith — the captain of the school’s Relay for Life team — said the books include nearly 300 recipes which were submitted by students, parents and teachers.

Several students in Wilson’s class submitted recipes. Anna Scott submitted a recipe for brown rice, which she said was decided by her family.

“We put mushrooms in it, and a lot of different ingredients,” she said.

Jessica Johnson submitted recipes for cherry cheesecake and million dollar pie, which includes whipped cream and coconut sprinkles.

“Those are my two favorite pies,” Johnson said.

Ethan Sumner submitted recipes for garlic oyster crackers and Buffalo chicken dip. He said the dip was his favorite of the two because he enjoys spicy foods.

Wilson also submitted a few recipes of her own, including her grandmother’s squash casserole, pesto ravioli with chicken and orange blossoms. She said the orange blossom recipe is one which is often requested.

“I take them places whenever I need to take a dessert or finger food, and everybody always asks for the recipe,” she said.

Wilson also pointed out that the cookbook also serves as a memory book, as this is the first one the school has done in about six years.

“The cookbooks are our way of expanding writing progress,” said MES Principal Anita Maness. “We want to promote writing and reading, and also have a treasure to hand down to parents, grandparents and the community of Monarch.”

Maness also pointed out that the cookbook fundraiser was Wilson’s idea, and she praised the work Wilson does at MES.

English/language arts teacher Rhonda Hollingsworth has a personal interest in the project as her father — Wayne Smith — has an aggressive type of T-cell Lymphoma which is treated with chemotherapy. Her father spent three weeks at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for stem cell treatments. Right now, Hollingsworth said Smith is cancer-free and has a good outlook since — thanks to stem cell research — there is a way to fight the cancer if it comes back.

“We have really seen the impact of all the research,” Hollingsworth said, attributing that research to the funds raised through Relay for Life.

Hollingsworth asked each of her students to bring in recipes in honor of her father.

Cook books may be purchased in the MES main office for $8 each, with all proceeds benefiting Relay for Life.