More than a Meal: Cene Con Sus Hijos Brings Lamont Families Together

A shared meal can create space for families to connect and conversations to begin. For more than three decades, Lamont Elementary School District has embraced that idea through Cene Con Sus Hijos, an event centered on a simple message: have dinner with your children.

On Tuesday evening, families put that message into practice, sharing a meal while learning ways to spark meaningful conversations with their children.

Jennifer Wood-Slayton, project director for the district’s Family Success Center, said family engagement is an important part of supporting students.

“Everything starts and ends with family,” Wood-Slayton said. “That is your first teacher. That is the person who will guide your educational journey.”

She also emphasized honoring the languages and cultures families bring with them. Parents should feel comfortable communicating with their children in whatever language feels most natural at home and recognize that their language and culture are valuable parts of their child’s education.

Maria Ozuna, the district’s director of instructional services, explained that Cene Con Sus Hijos is part of Lamont’s broader parent engagement efforts and Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). Ozuna, who grew up in Lamont, said the event’s message resonates with her personally.

“There was a lot of research being done that Latino families regularly do not have dinner with their families, my family included,” Ozuna said. “I grew up in Lamont, and I think the only dinner we ever had together was Thanksgiving.”

Research surrounding family meals was part of what made bringing Cene Con Sus Hijos to Lamont important to Ozuna. Studies have linked regular family meals and conversations around the dinner table with positive outcomes for children, including academic performance and behavior.

Guest speaker Dr. Jose Medina, a nationally recognized educational consultant, reinforced that message by encouraging families to use mealtime to learn more about their own family histories. Families were encouraged to talk about where their parents and grandparents were born, learn family members’ full names and share stories that connect generations.

Throughout the evening, families enjoyed a performance by the district’s student mariachi band and raffle drawings. Dinner was provided by Rancho Viejo, a family-run restaurant on Main Street with longstanding ties to Lamont schools.

Cherie Olgin, the district’s projects resource director, said members of the Ochoa family and restaurant employees have connections to the district, reflecting the close ties among local businesses, families and schools.

More than three decades after the event began, its message remains simple: Make time to sit together and talk.

It is a lesson Ozuna has carried into her own life as a parent.

“It is the time to put everything away. Your phones away,” Ozuna said. “It is the time to connect.”