Lunchtime at 10:30. Seriously?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ask your Principal to allow kindergartners to eat lunch in their classrooms!

This is what our Principal did after a disastrous year of Kindergartners eating lunch at 10:30 in the cafeteria because of overcrowding (5th graders ate lunch at 1:30).

Everyone was much happier with a more normal lunch time. Eating in classrooms isn't a bad thing at all.

Most schools do not have the staffing to have supervision in each classroom at lunch time.

Honestly this was a problem that we had during COVID when students were still eating in the classroom. There aren't necessarily half a dozen people around the school that have nothing to do for either that 30 minutes or longer if they're supporting multiple lunches.

Then hire more people. No child should have to eat lunch at 10:30. Only in the US where people don't understand meals and food is this a problem.

OP here and agree. Meals are supposed to be nourishing at the right time, between 11:45-1.

Sure, but you can't fit (in some cases) 900-1,000 students into an undersized cafeteria in half hour blocks between 11:45 and 1:00.

The school can make it happen if there’s willingness and pressure from families.

In an hour and 15 minutes using one cafeteria? How? I’m genuinely looking for suggestions. Our cafeteria is small. The school is large. Grade levels have 6-7 classes per. One grade level at a time is a tight squeeze and typically over-capacity. A half hour per grade level is 3.5 hours total.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do realize that's been a thing for ever, right?

Yep, had this lunch time in 1994. It sucked, though. I was starving by 3pm and then I would just get powdered donuts or a chocolate bar from the vending machine before sports practice which made me feel like garbage.

It never occurred to you to bring a snack of food that suited you better?

Lol what kind of teen were you? Did you pack your own lunch the night before with each food group represented? Did you go to bed by 10 and wake up with plenty of time to get to school by 7:10am which is when my school started?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ask your Principal to allow kindergartners to eat lunch in their classrooms!

This is what our Principal did after a disastrous year of Kindergartners eating lunch at 10:30 in the cafeteria because of overcrowding (5th graders ate lunch at 1:30).

Everyone was much happier with a more normal lunch time. Eating in classrooms isn't a bad thing at all.

Most schools do not have the staffing to have supervision in each classroom at lunch time.

Honestly this was a problem that we had during COVID when students were still eating in the classroom. There aren't necessarily half a dozen people around the school that have nothing to do for either that 30 minutes or longer if they're supporting multiple lunches.

This should not be an issue for the next few years. Principals are being given ESSR III funds with discretion to hire hourly people.

FYI, the pay for a "cafeteria hostess" is $11.00 per hour. I overheard our office staff complaining that they'd gotten some inquiries but no one was willing to do it for that amount, especially now with the Delta variant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ask your Principal to allow kindergartners to eat lunch in their classrooms!

This is what our Principal did after a disastrous year of Kindergartners eating lunch at 10:30 in the cafeteria because of overcrowding (5th graders ate lunch at 1:30).

Everyone was much happier with a more normal lunch time. Eating in classrooms isn't a bad thing at all.

Most schools do not have the staffing to have supervision in each classroom at lunch time.

Honestly this was a problem that we had during COVID when students were still eating in the classroom. There aren't necessarily half a dozen people around the school that have nothing to do for either that 30 minutes or longer if they're supporting multiple lunches.

This should not be an issue for the next few years. Principals are being given ESSR III funds with discretion to hire hourly people.

FYI, the pay for a "cafeteria hostess" is $11.00 per hour. I overheard our office staff complaining that they'd gotten some inquiries but no one was willing to do it for that amount, especially now with the Delta variant.

FCPS pay is junk. And HR doesn't respond to applicants. Then they complain about staff shortages. Gatehouse makes me livid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ask your Principal to allow kindergartners to eat lunch in their classrooms!

This is what our Principal did after a disastrous year of Kindergartners eating lunch at 10:30 in the cafeteria because of overcrowding (5th graders ate lunch at 1:30).

Everyone was much happier with a more normal lunch time. Eating in classrooms isn't a bad thing at all.

Most schools do not have the staffing to have supervision in each classroom at lunch time.

Honestly this was a problem that we had during COVID when students were still eating in the classroom. There aren't necessarily half a dozen people around the school that have nothing to do for either that 30 minutes or longer if they're supporting multiple lunches.

Then hire more people. No child should have to eat lunch at 10:30. Only in the US where people don't understand meals and food is this a problem.

Name one good thing about the USA. Just one.

Job opportunities!

I'm the PP. I love the USA, but in I've lived in several countries as a K-12 student and as a parent of same, and nowhere has lunch hours ever been an issue. People manage to eat at lunchtime without hiring a ton of staff - students eat with teachers in some countries, or students manage to behave at lunch with a couple of supervisory aides. All these countries spend much less on their schools than the US, and yet somehow, lunch is at a reasonable time.

As I said before, our public elementary school Principal in the DC area managed to do away with 10:30am lunches by having kids eat in classrooms. I don't know who supervised them, but don't tell me it can't be done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ask your Principal to allow kindergartners to eat lunch in their classrooms!

This is what our Principal did after a disastrous year of Kindergartners eating lunch at 10:30 in the cafeteria because of overcrowding (5th graders ate lunch at 1:30).

Everyone was much happier with a more normal lunch time. Eating in classrooms isn't a bad thing at all.

Most schools do not have the staffing to have supervision in each classroom at lunch time.

Honestly this was a problem that we had during COVID when students were still eating in the classroom. There aren't necessarily half a dozen people around the school that have nothing to do for either that 30 minutes or longer if they're supporting multiple lunches.

Then hire more people. No child should have to eat lunch at 10:30. Only in the US where people don't understand meals and food is this a problem.

Name one good thing about the USA. Just one.

Wow. If you feel that way, then move somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ask your Principal to allow kindergartners to eat lunch in their classrooms!

This is what our Principal did after a disastrous year of Kindergartners eating lunch at 10:30 in the cafeteria because of overcrowding (5th graders ate lunch at 1:30).

Everyone was much happier with a more normal lunch time. Eating in classrooms isn't a bad thing at all.

Most schools do not have the staffing to have supervision in each classroom at lunch time.

Honestly this was a problem that we had during COVID when students were still eating in the classroom. There aren't necessarily half a dozen people around the school that have nothing to do for either that 30 minutes or longer if they're supporting multiple lunches.

Then hire more people. No child should have to eat lunch at 10:30. Only in the US where people don't understand meals and food is this a problem.

OP here and agree. Meals are supposed to be nourishing at the right time, between 11:45-1.

Sure, but you can't fit (in some cases) 900-1,000 students into an undersized cafeteria in half hour blocks between 11:45 and 1:00.

The school can make it happen if there’s willingness and pressure from families.

In an hour and 15 minutes using one cafeteria? How? I’m genuinely looking for suggestions. Our cafeteria is small. The school is large. Grade levels have 6-7 classes per. One grade level at a time is a tight squeeze and typically over-capacity. A half hour per grade level is 3.5 hours total.

The teachers have been excellent with permitting a snack to be eaten in the classroom to tie the kids over. If kids have an early lunch, then the teacher permitted an afternoon snack. And vice versa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ask your Principal to allow kindergartners to eat lunch in their classrooms!

This is what our Principal did after a disastrous year of Kindergartners eating lunch at 10:30 in the cafeteria because of overcrowding (5th graders ate lunch at 1:30).

Everyone was much happier with a more normal lunch time. Eating in classrooms isn't a bad thing at all.

Most schools do not have the staffing to have supervision in each classroom at lunch time.

Honestly this was a problem that we had during COVID when students were still eating in the classroom. There aren't necessarily half a dozen people around the school that have nothing to do for either that 30 minutes or longer if they're supporting multiple lunches.

Then hire more people. No child should have to eat lunch at 10:30. Only in the US where people don't understand meals and food is this a problem.

Name one good thing about the USA. Just one.

Caeleb Dressel

Chinese food, pizza, chimichanga…

(“Talladega Nights”)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RXdjrlnJ24c

[Anonymous]

Someone had the brain of a mosquito when designed and built large schools with small cafeterias. Now let’s get working brains who care about children and expand cafeterias a bit. Outdoor lunch could work, too, weather permitting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ask your Principal to allow kindergartners to eat lunch in their classrooms!

This is what our Principal did after a disastrous year of Kindergartners eating lunch at 10:30 in the cafeteria because of overcrowding (5th graders ate lunch at 1:30).

Everyone was much happier with a more normal lunch time. Eating in classrooms isn't a bad thing at all.

Most schools do not have the staffing to have supervision in each classroom at lunch time.

Honestly this was a problem that we had during COVID when students were still eating in the classroom. There aren't necessarily half a dozen people around the school that have nothing to do for either that 30 minutes or longer if they're supporting multiple lunches.

Then hire more people. No child should have to eat lunch at 10:30. Only in the US where people don't understand meals and food is this a problem.

They “can’t” afford it. All the money goes to stupid useless stuff like Gatehouse salaries, lawyers, and contracts for computer programs and professional development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone had the brain of a mosquito when designed and built large schools with small cafeterias. Now let’s get working brains who care about children and expand cafeterias a bit. Outdoor lunch could work, too, weather permitting.

Sure, build more space by the end of August. Or, here is the schedule today. Oops it rains tomorrow, let's change the schedule. Oops, it might rain tomorrow or not, let's change the schedule. Hey kids, teachers just figure it out. We'll tell you when you get here, wethaer permitting.

[Anonymous]

As a HS teacher in a trailer, I always let my students take snack breaks outside. Lunch times are weird and short and if they don’t eat well, they don’t work well. .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone had the brain of a mosquito when designed and built large schools with small cafeterias. Now let’s get working brains who care about children and expand cafeterias a bit. Outdoor lunch could work, too, weather permitting.

Sure, build more space by the end of August. Or, here is the schedule today. Oops it rains tomorrow, let's change the schedule. Oops, it might rain tomorrow or not, let's change the schedule. Hey kids, teachers just figure it out. We'll tell you when you get here, wethaer permitting.

They have tents, and they can buy heaters. The kids need to eat outside this year, no matter the weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ask your Principal to allow kindergartners to eat lunch in their classrooms!

This is what our Principal did after a disastrous year of Kindergartners eating lunch at 10:30 in the cafeteria because of overcrowding (5th graders ate lunch at 1:30).

Everyone was much happier with a more normal lunch time. Eating in classrooms isn't a bad thing at all.

Most schools do not have the staffing to have supervision in each classroom at lunch time.

Honestly this was a problem that we had during COVID when students were still eating in the classroom. There aren't necessarily half a dozen people around the school that have nothing to do for either that 30 minutes or longer if they're supporting multiple lunches.

Jazz, the Blues - those are two things. But yeah, I agree with you for the most part. Too many idiots in our country.
Then hire more people. No child should have to eat lunch at 10:30. Only in the US where people don't understand meals and food is this a problem.

Name one good thing about the USA. Just one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone had the brain of a mosquito when designed and built large schools with small cafeterias. Now let’s get working brains who care about children and expand cafeterias a bit. Outdoor lunch could work, too, weather permitting.

Sure, build more space by the end of August. Or, here is the schedule today. Oops it rains tomorrow, let's change the schedule. Oops, it might rain tomorrow or not, let's change the schedule. Hey kids, teachers just figure it out. We'll tell you when you get here, wethaer permitting.

Why is it hard for the school system to figure things out early? Children’s nutrition and wellbeing is not a privilege. Wake up.