Chef SharBerry of SharBerry’s Kitchen and Sewing Instructor Kecia Mack are helping Yeager Middle School (YMS) students celebrate their passions.
They both work with students in the middle school’s Sewing and Cooking Clubs. YMS' after-school clubs focus on creating well-rounded students and helping them fulfill their potential.
Sewing Club sponsor Nicole Kempson says students meet every Friday after school. During their initial meeting, they focused on learning the history of sewing and how to use a sewing machine from fashion and design instructor Kecia Mack.
The eight students later advanced to designing a hoodie dress. “Each pattern they used is the same, but they used different fabrics and added their different touches. I expect to see their personalities come out in each outfit,” Kempson explains.
The young designers completed two pieces. They will debut their collection at a fashion show at the end of the year.
Kempson says Yeager Middle School has many talented students who sketch and create works of art through illustrations and fashion. She wanted to expose them to the idea of creating their brand through sewing.
“I started this sewing club because I want students to learn that there is more out there than technology. Sewing helps them build relationships with each other and have fun working together,” she says.
These strong relationships continue through Yeager’s Cooking Club.
In the Cooking Club, students learn to cook meals and snacks with Chef SharBerry of SharBerry’s Kitchen of Douglasville. During her weekly visits, she has helped students learn to take accurate kitchen measurements, sauté vegetables, make egg rolls, and prepare desserts. They are even compiling recipes for a cookbook. Chef SharBerry’s cooking classes are popular and well-loved by students.
The busy restaurant owner says she enjoys cooking and interacting with young teens. Chef SharBerry says cooking is essential because it teaches balance.
“Cooking teaches you to do a lot of things for yourself. With baking and cooking, you can go a long way in life.”
Kempson says she will continue looking for enrichment opportunities like the Sewing and Cooking Club for Yeager students.
“It is vital that we continue to expose Douglas County students to things they may not have access to anywhere else,” she adds. “I believe it’s important to ensure our school system continues to put out successful, well-rounded, and thriving students.”