by Mick Rhodes | editor@claremont-courier.com

It’s a brilliant sunny Monday morning at Condit Elementary School in Claremont. Summer is knocking at the door, as are a dozen kids waiting outside the cafeteria. Sonja Lakin turns the lock, and the early risers file in and line up at the counter for 7:40 a.m. breakfast.

Lakin greets her customers: “You’re in, Ben. Okay, Elizabeth. Alright, Dylan. Where’s your brother? He’s coming? Okay. Good morning, Ryan. Good morning, Josh. Okay, bud. Good morning, Adara. How are you, honey? Hi, little lady. How are you? Are you excited about starting here next year? Yay! Okay, Lucas, Avi. You’re sixth grade? Okay. Okay. Alright. Okay, babe. Okay, honey. Good morning, Harvey. Okay. Alright, buddy.”

So begins another day for Lakin, Condit’s self-described “lunch lady,” who has been brightening students’ mornings (and afternoons) for 20 years with sandwiches, snacks, drinks, a ready smile, and an occasional hug. Thousands of Condit Condors — some who now have children of their own in elementary school — have passed through her modest kitchen.

Sonja Lakin is retiring on June 12 after 20 years as Condit Elementary School’s “lunch lady.” Courier photos/Mick Rhodes

And though Lakin has done this 19 times before, this year it’s anything but routine: when summer break begins June 12, she will hang up her sunflower bedecked apron for the final time.

“Good morning, Irene. This is an awesome kid here: super friendly, super sweet, wonderful artist,” Lakin says to a tall, kindly-faced sixth-grader named Irene Zhu. The fondness clearly goes both ways. Irene has known Lakin since she was in kindergarten. When told of her looming retirement, her mouth dropped open and her eyes grew large.

“Oh my gosh! No! Wait, no. I had no idea,” Irene said. “She’s very nice. And whenever you need help from her she always helps you. She’s very sweet. And every time she smiles, you want to smile too.”

I can back Irene up on that.

Three of my kids attended Condit. The first, my middle daughter, began in 2008. My youngest daughter, in 2011, and my son, the final Rhodes kid to wind his way through, began in 2015 and headed off for middle school at El Roble in 2022. Lakin was a friend to each. She was asking about them by name on Monday when we were interrupted again.

“Claire, are you going to eat this morning, honey? No. Okay. You’re in. Charlotte, are you going to eat, hon? Okay, bud. Okay, babe. Good morning, Tristan,” who responded, “Thank you.” Lakin smiled. “You’re welcome honey.”

The procession continued: “Good morning, Maya. How are you, honey? Okay. Are you going to eat, Fabian? Okay, bud. Okay, Cash. You’re not getting anything to drink? Okay. Thank you.”

To anyone who appreciates the guileless exuberance of elementary school-age kids, I can imagine no job better suited to Lakin. She cares for each kid — even the bleary-eyed, non-communicative ones — every morning with a smile that hasn’t dimmed in the 17 years I’ve known her.

“The benefit of being the lunch lady is the teachers have the kids for one year, right? And I have them for seven,” Lakin said.

Of course, there have been changes over her two decades at Condit, some welcome, others less so.

Shortly after CUSD schools closed March 13, 2020 due to the surging COVID-19 pandemic, the district announced it would begin offering free breakfast and lunch to all students. The plan had become permanent by the time schools fully reopened in April 2021. This meant families were no longer walking into the cafeteria and engaging with Lakin while they put money into their kids’ accounts.

“I don’t get to know the parents like I got to know you, you know, seeing you guys every week or every two weeks and chatting it up,” she said. “I think that’s also affected the relationship with the children because when children see their parents okay with another adult, and there’s a connection and a friendship there, I think the children all automatically kind of accept that there’s a friendship with them as well, and that they’re cared for. So, that’s been a big change.”

Another change has been in how she interacts with the kids. A self-confessed “hugger” (I got three when I dropped by Condit Monday morning.), I’ve seen how she operates. She asks questions. She looks kids in the eye. She knows when something is off, and takes the time to try and cheer up the kids who need cheering. And yes, she’s never been stingy with the hugs. But in recent years, CUSD policy — mirroring nationwide policy — has stressed minimizing physical contact with students, both for safety and as a safeguard against potential legal entanglements.

“I’m a very physical person,” Lakin said. “I believe children need hugs. I mean, it’s proven. It’s not just what I believe or what I think, it’s proven that they need that. Sometimes they have a hard day, and just have a friendly arm around them, to help them feel better … If they’ve had a bad morning, some of them come in crying. I used to give them a hug and tell them it’ll be okay. And I’m a hugger, so I have to hold myself back.”

Near the end of two decades spent nourishing Condit kids’ bodies and hearts, one would certainly not begrudge her a little rebellion.

“Good morning, Ilona,” Lakin says as a first grader Ilona Cummings approaches the eye level stainless steel counter. “This is my little love. She gives me a hug every day.” As advertised, the two embrace. “It’s such a good way to start the day,” Lakin says.

I concur. Even as an observer, I couldn’t help but feel and be buoyed by the good vibes generated by all those smiling students.

At just 61, Lakin is retiring relatively young. Her husband Randy has already taken the plunge. They want to do some traveling, but their golden years focus won’t be on bucket list destinations.

“I’m going to help take care of my granddaughter,” Lakin said. That would be 9-month-old baby Maisie, who is soon going to be spending a great deal of time with her first-time grandparents.

“I love all these kids, and I’m going to miss them,” Lakin said. “I’ll miss their little faces. And the innocence. Yeah, it’s fun. It’s just that joy you take from it. I’m definitely going to miss that. It’s going to be a big change not coming here every day.

“I would say, between all of the hugs, the love, the helpers, the graduations, the promotions, it’s a great job.

Wait, there’s more

Another reason I was looking forward to spending time with Sonja on Monday was that I would also be able to say hi to other Condit folks I love and admire, including longtime office staff members Heidi Hunter and Beth Huff, who were also kind to and supportive of my kids and thousands of others over the years. Well, it turns out they’re both hanging up their spurs on June 12 as well. So, farewell and thank you, Heidi and Beth! Condit Elementary is losing its legends at an alarming rate.