Don't Walk, Run to The Lunch Line!
By: Danna Ramirez-Chavez
Have you and your friends struggled to find a lunch table? Has your stomach embarrassed you by growling during independent reading? For many Jenks High School students, lunch is a part of the school day they look forward to. It gives students a chance to see friends they may not share classes with, take a break from their schoolwork and finally grab something to eat. This year, lunch looks different.
The new block schedule has changed when students attend lunch, and students have begun to notice differences in crowding, wait times, and food availability.
The changes have become more and more noticeable as students and staff adjust to the new block schedule. During Lunch B, the number of students entering the cafeteria can make it difficult to get through the lunch line quickly. This wait time also affects the amount of time students are left with to sit down and eat. Some students can be seen arriving at their lunch table just as others, who brought lunch from home are already beginning to leave the cafeteria.
Multiple students have also reported that certain food options are unavailable by the time they reach the front of the line. A Jenks junior said that she waited in two different food lines on two separate days, only to find that food had run out.
A cafeteria worker serving students their lunch.
These issues also raise concerns about whether the cafeteria is able to provide enough food for students. Jenks child nutritionist Pat Meadows explained that a nutritious lunch “plays an important part in doing well in school - both academically and athletically.” For students who don't eat breakfast, lunch may be especially important during the school day.
“Lunch is my only meal of the day. I don't eat breakfast because I'm usually not hungry and it's not appetizing," said Gabe Gomez, a junior at Jenks High School.
Furthermore, some students are skipping lunch because popular items, like the chicken sandwiches and cheese pizza, run out before they reach the front of the line.
Student lunch lines forming at the start of Lunch A.
However, these changes have impacted not only the daily routine of students but also cafeteria staff. In fact, the chaos begins before students even enter the cafeteria. On B days, cafeteria workers can be found meticulously cleaning their areas, sorting drinks, and preparing plates before the rush of students. One cafeteria staff member commented that A days are usually busier, and that it typically takes him longer to get home.
While the new block schedule has created challenges for both cafeteria staff and students, Jenks administrators have made an effort to ease the surge of students.
“It is pretty much split 50-50 now,” said Stephen Tillinghast when asked about the distribution of students.
Additionally, Tillinghast credited the effort of Assistant Principal Andrew Morris for working diligently to evenly split students into different lunch periods.
While administrative adjustments are still underway, students and staff alike are still hoping that as the school year progresses, the lunch lines become less frantic and food preparation can be adjusted so students can enjoy full menu options, refuel, and spend a little less time running just to get a bite to eat.
