Members of the Little Misters and Little Mademoiselles programs at Dana Road Elementary visited Shoney’s Friday for lunch and a chance to show off their manners.

“Today we did etiquette training for the children. We wanted to show the young men how to pull out a chair for the young ladies,” assistant principal Arthur Jones said, adding students also were taught self-respect, how to order from a menu and about money and budgets.

He said many of the students haven’t had the opportunity to order from a menu before and this field trip was a chance to give them that experience. The clubs of second and third graders feasted on chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, green beans and a few other dining options.

Little Misters member and second grader Ocean Taylor. along with third-grader and president of Young Mademoiselles Lauren Flaggs said both clubs used their manners at the restaurant.

“You put a napkin in your lap and no elbows on the table,” Flaggs said.

“Boys put a napkin up at their neck and cover their mouth when they burp,” Taylor said.  Little Misters is open to young men who need to be mentored. Club members wear green bow ties and are taught about society, discipline, finances, public speaking and how to treat young ladies. They can even get free haircuts at the school.

“As a result, we have seen significant gains in academics and behavior,” Jones said, adding the behavior problems have decreased to almost only talking.

Jones, along with teacher Adrian Clark, greets club members in the mornings at school and talks with them about their daily expectations.

“We just want them to feel special and let them know they are loved and they are supported and that they can become a productive citizen,” Jones said.

Taylor, 8, described the club as a young boys club for education and particiapation in programs.

“We talk about what we do and how we act,” Taylor said.

Jones and Clark started Little Misters in the fall, which inspired teacher Mary Anne Walls to start Little Mademoiselles.

“It is a social and service club, and we meet monthly,” Walls said. “Our focus is self-improvement and social skills.”

She said in March the club held a fashion show at the school to raise money for the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children. There were 50 club members and girls from other classes in the fashion show wearing their best Easter outfits. The club raised almost $800 from the fundraiser.

“One of the little girls that was in it, her name is Maliah Cromm, she is a patient at Blair E. Batson and she’s in first grade,” Walls said. “She is in remission and still goes to the hospital for check ups. She was featured in the fashion show.” Flaggs, 9, said the club donated toys, school supplies, as well as money.  She said at the end of April the club will make bows and in May it might be able to go on another field trip.