APS: Schools running out of lunch?

[Anonymous]

The cafeteria managers are adjusting to increased demand. At our school they used to have maybe 20-30 kids who would eat breakfast. Now it's 180!! Just one example.

Give them a few weeks to figure out the demand. It will even out. My 2nd grader is loving it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At DC's school, they ask the class in the morning to raise hands for who is getting school lunch that day.

A certain # of kids raise hands. But then more kids end up taking the school lunch in addition to their brought lunch. So there is not enough food heated up for the 5th graders who have the last lunch period

Why are they allowing this?

You would think it's ok to embarrass a child and deny them lunch? When kids had to pay before COVID, the lunch workers were awful about telling kids their funds had run out. I was a volunteer and reported one to the principal. Some kids may bring but have very little in their lunch. It's not all kids who want to ditch the veggies/tofu for pizza.

Then tell them to raise their hands in the morning. It isn’t that hard. If they decline to include themselves in the lunch count and then take a lunch later, they are taking food from a kid that DID raise his or her hand in the morning.

Are you stupid?

Wow Mr. Angry! Easiest solution to have enough food. Teachers don’t need yet another thing to track.

Having kids raise their hand to get a count of how many want lunch is NOT HARD. JFC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My middle schooler (who isn't a big eater) says that today's school lunch consisted of 4 crouton-sized chicken nuggets, orange wedges, and some cucumber/cherry tomatoes. I have heard from her repeatedly that the serving sizes are very small this year.

This. My MS is a multi-sport athlete and likes some of the meals, but always complains they are not adequate portions and no seconds are allowed. What 7th grader eats four chicken nuggets and considers it a meal? Today is beef taco rice bowl day, which is a perennial favorite among the kids. There appears to be a standard serving size that is offered regardless of whether you are a 1st grader or 10th grader. On days like today where I know DC wants to buy I make sure breakfast is big and plan that the after school snack needs to be healthy but sufficient.

My other wish is that the cafeteria staff don't force the kids to waste food. My child has repeatedly been required to take either an apple which he likes but can't eat right now due to braces, or an orange which he doesn't care for. Guess what, perfectly good fresh fruit got thrown away.

Our school used to have a table where kids could put unwanted milk, fruit, unopened things, and other kids could take them for free. Probably not happening now with Covid…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At DC's school, they ask the class in the morning to raise hands for who is getting school lunch that day.

A certain # of kids raise hands. But then more kids end up taking the school lunch in addition to their brought lunch. So there is not enough food heated up for the 5th graders who have the last lunch period

Why are they allowing this?

You would think it's ok to embarrass a child and deny them lunch? When kids had to pay before COVID, the lunch workers were awful about telling kids their funds had run out. I was a volunteer and reported one to the principal. Some kids may bring but have very little in their lunch. It's not all kids who want to ditch the veggies/tofu for pizza.

Then tell them to raise their hands in the morning. It isn’t that hard. If they decline to include themselves in the lunch count and then take a lunch later, they are taking food from a kid that DID raise his or her hand in the morning.

Are you stupid?

Wow Mr. Angry! Easiest solution to have enough food. Teachers don’t need yet another thing to track.

Having kids raise their hand to get a count of how many want lunch is NOT HARD. JFC.

Correct raising one's hand is not hard, but I don't think you quite understand how a school day works. Typically the children do indicate if they are buying lunch (they put a card by their name, etc) early in the morning. However, the teacher does not take the kids to lunch, an aid does as the teacher eats their own lunch, has meeting, etc. The aid is making sure kids are bahaving and safely in the cafeteria. There isn't really time to police who "raised their hand" earlier in the day. Over time the cafeteria will adjust to how many kids are eating lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My middle schooler (who isn't a big eater) says that today's school lunch consisted of 4 crouton-sized chicken nuggets, orange wedges, and some cucumber/cherry tomatoes. I have heard from her repeatedly that the serving sizes are very small this year.

This. My MS is a multi-sport athlete and likes some of the meals, but always complains they are not adequate portions and no seconds are allowed. What 7th grader eats four chicken nuggets and considers it a meal? Today is beef taco rice bowl day, which is a perennial favorite among the kids. There appears to be a standard serving size that is offered regardless of whether you are a 1st grader or 10th grader. On days like today where I know DC wants to buy I make sure breakfast is big and plan that the after school snack needs to be healthy but sufficient.

My other wish is that the cafeteria staff don't force the kids to waste food. My child has repeatedly been required to take either an apple which he likes but can't eat right now due to braces, or an orange which he doesn't care for. Guess what, perfectly good fresh fruit got thrown away.

Our school used to have a table where kids could put unwanted milk, fruit, unopened things, and other kids could take them for free. Probably not happening now with Covid…

Our school did that but did not share with other children due to allergies, etc. We took all the leftovers and gave to AFAC each week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At DC's school, they ask the class in the morning to raise hands for who is getting school lunch that day.

A certain # of kids raise hands. But then more kids end up taking the school lunch in addition to their brought lunch. So there is not enough food heated up for the 5th graders who have the last lunch period

Why are they allowing this?

You would think it's ok to embarrass a child and deny them lunch? When kids had to pay before COVID, the lunch workers were awful about telling kids their funds had run out. I was a volunteer and reported one to the principal. Some kids may bring but have very little in their lunch. It's not all kids who want to ditch the veggies/tofu for pizza.

Then tell them to raise their hands in the morning. It isn’t that hard. If they decline to include themselves in the lunch count and then take a lunch later, they are taking food from a kid that DID raise his or her hand in the morning.

Are you stupid?

Wow Mr. Angry! Easiest solution to have enough food. Teachers don’t need yet another thing to track.

Having kids raise their hand to get a count of how many want lunch is NOT HARD. JFC.

Correct raising one's hand is not hard, but I don't think you quite understand how a school day works. Typically the children do indicate if they are buying lunch (they put a card by their name, etc) early in the morning. However, the teacher does not take the kids to lunch, an aid does as the teacher eats their own lunch, has meeting, etc. The aid is making sure kids are bahaving and safely in the cafeteria. There isn't really time to police who "raised their hand" earlier in the day. Over time the cafeteria will adjust to how many kids are eating lunch.

Can you not tell the kids that if they take a lunch despite not raising their hand, there will be a student that gets no food that day? Even my 4 year old would understand that.

So many excuses!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At DC's school, they ask the class in the morning to raise hands for who is getting school lunch that day.

A certain # of kids raise hands. But then more kids end up taking the school lunch in addition to their brought lunch. So there is not enough food heated up for the 5th graders who have the last lunch period

Why are they allowing this?

You would think it's ok to embarrass a child and deny them lunch? When kids had to pay before COVID, the lunch workers were awful about telling kids their funds had run out. I was a volunteer and reported one to the principal. Some kids may bring but have very little in their lunch. It's not all kids who want to ditch the veggies/tofu for pizza.

Then tell them to raise their hands in the morning. It isn’t that hard. If they decline to include themselves in the lunch count and then take a lunch later, they are taking food from a kid that DID raise his or her hand in the morning.

Are you stupid?

Wow Mr. Angry! Easiest solution to have enough food. Teachers don’t need yet another thing to track.

Having kids raise their hand to get a count of how many want lunch is NOT HARD. JFC.

Correct raising one's hand is not hard, but I don't think you quite understand how a school day works. Typically the children do indicate if they are buying lunch (they put a card by their name, etc) early in the morning. However, the teacher does not take the kids to lunch, an aid does as the teacher eats their own lunch, has meeting, etc. The aid is making sure kids are bahaving and safely in the cafeteria. There isn't really time to police who "raised their hand" earlier in the day. Over time the cafeteria will adjust to how many kids are eating lunch.

Let’s just go back to the old system. No more free lunch. Some people need to stop having kids if they can’t afford to feed them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My middle schooler (who isn't a big eater) says that today's school lunch consisted of 4 crouton-sized chicken nuggets, orange wedges, and some cucumber/cherry tomatoes. I have heard from her repeatedly that the serving sizes are very small this year.

This. My MS is a multi-sport athlete and likes some of the meals, but always complains they are not adequate portions and no seconds are allowed. What 7th grader eats four chicken nuggets and considers it a meal? Today is beef taco rice bowl day, which is a perennial favorite among the kids. There appears to be a standard serving size that is offered regardless of whether you are a 1st grader or 10th grader. On days like today where I know DC wants to buy I make sure breakfast is big and plan that the after school snack needs to be healthy but sufficient.

My other wish is that the cafeteria staff don't force the kids to waste food. My child has repeatedly been required to take either an apple which he likes but can't eat right now due to braces, or an orange which he doesn't care for. Guess what, perfectly good fresh fruit got thrown away.

This is standardization and requirements set by the USDA according to my school lunch lady