Which districts/schools are having outdoor lunch?

[Anonymous]

Both my APS MS and ES have committed to outdoor lunch as often as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I have an obvious question. Does it really take that much more staff to have lunch outside? I assume that someone watched the kids in the cafeteria and at lunch recess. These people can't watch the kids outside?

Our APS school is continuing outdoor lunch without the use of parent volunteers. We have a few picnic tables, but otherwise set up chairs for kids to use. The lunch monitors and custodians would load the chairs into large wheeled/bin cart to take out to the playground and they were stored in a nearby closet that has a door to the outside.

There were also wagons by the kichen that staff would use to load up the school lunches to make it easy to bring the meals outside. I THINK during spring. The specials and Sped teachers would ask grab lunch orders at the beginning of the day. Kitchen would prepare. Then Specials/Sped teachers would bring them outside to the classes eating outside and the lunches would be distributed.

I mean this does use some more staff or staff in different ways, but it wasn't undoable. Just takes flexibility.

It really depends on the space the school has available and the extra staff. Schools without gates around their playgrounds need a bit more supervision to prevent wandering. It worked in APS in the spring because we had extended day staff helping to monitor. In a regular year classroom teachers (sometimes depending on schedule), SPED, Specials teachers and specialists and instructional assistants already have recess duty. It would be pretty difficult to monitor the kids eating and the kids at recess in most schools due to layout. The classroom teachers helped more than usual last year because the day was shortened so their planning time was after school.

Pp here. Our school does not have a gated playground and shares space with a public park. But the kids at w/in a few feet of the school playground so it seems folks could monitor both. But we shall see how it goes with more kids. Our principal is extremely committed to outdoor lunch.

I'm guessing our kids go to the same school. Outdoor lunch was a success last year and my child was thrilled to hear it's the plan again. The school does have plenty of outside space for it, though.

Please tell me which school

this is.

My kid is at Claremont.

Yup us too

[Anonymous]

CIS is providing outdoor lunch. Any other APS elementary school?

[Anonymous]

One heard Jamestown and Discovery are.

[Anonymous]

The CCPTA sent an email asking APS and the county to do more to fix outdoor lunch:

https://ccpta.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/2021/08/CCPTA-August-20-2021-Email-to-School-Board-and-County-Board-on-Safe-Eating.pdf

They mention parent volunteers as well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CIS is providing outdoor lunch. Any other APS elementary school?

Key is too. Love it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CIS is providing outdoor lunch. Any other APS elementary school?

Key is too. Love it!

Wow. This feels a bit like gloating. I hope you want this for ALL APS kids and not just your own. There’s work still to be done here, even by parents who have kids at CIS and Key, to insure universal outdoor lunch across APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CIS is providing outdoor lunch. Any other APS elementary school?

Fleet, to the extent possible

[Anonymous]

Looking in from over in FCPS….can anyone speak to how this is happening? Our school in McLean has basically thrown up their hands and said it was too complicated to figure out the logistics…but maybe….down the line if there are enough volunteers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CIS is providing outdoor lunch. Any other APS elementary school?

Key is too. Love it!

Wow. This feels a bit like gloating. I hope you want this for ALL APS kids and not just your own. There’s work still to be done here, even by parents who have kids at CIS and Key, to insure universal outdoor lunch across APS.

I think this reply is odd, but I would love to help. As for Claremont they have outdoor lunch because they have a principal who is very committed to it. While I agree a universal policy is needed ( and I will help to the extent possible) everyone should be putting pressure on your school principals to take action they have an ability to move quickly whereas a universal APS policy will take more time.

Has your PTA taken a stance? What did your principal say when you asked?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CIS is providing outdoor lunch. Any other APS elementary school?

Key is too. Love it!

Wow. This feels a bit like gloating. I hope you want this for ALL APS kids and not just your own. There’s work still to be done here, even by parents who have kids at CIS and Key, to insure universal outdoor lunch across APS.

I think this reply is odd, but I would love to help. As for Claremont they have outdoor lunch because they have a principal who is very committed to it. While I agree a universal policy is needed ( and I will help to the extent possible) everyone should be putting pressure on your school principals to take action they have an ability to move quickly whereas a universal APS policy will take more time.

Has your PTA taken a stance? What did your principal say when you asked?

How would you help?
Can you quit your job to become a full time outdoor lunch volunteer? How about your spouse, him/her too? Your parents, your inlaws? Can you fly in extended family from other parts of the country?
Please put together a little team of 12-20 of your friends and family that can fully and exclusively dedicate this year to being volunteer outdoor lunch volunteers--at your own expense, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CIS is providing outdoor lunch. Any other APS elementary school?

Key is too. Love it!

To clarify - Key (at the ATS building)? Or the new Innovation at the old Key location? I know that Innovation has sent an email saying there will be outdoor lunch and asking parents to send blankets. The Key/ATS, though, last I heard has said they are committed to it and trying, but it to some degree still depends on them having staff/volunteers. Does anyone know if Key/ATS has confirmed or is it still depending? TIA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CIS is providing outdoor lunch. Any other APS elementary school?

Key is too. Love it!

Wow. This feels a bit like gloating. I hope you want this for ALL APS kids and not just your own. There’s work still to be done here, even by parents who have kids at CIS and Key, to insure universal outdoor lunch across APS.

I think this reply is odd, but I would love to help. As for Claremont they have outdoor lunch because they have a principal who is very committed to it. While I agree a universal policy is needed ( and I will help to the extent possible) everyone should be putting pressure on your school principals to take action they have an ability to move quickly whereas a universal APS policy will take more time.

Has your PTA taken a stance? What did your principal say when you asked?

How would you help?
Can you quit your job to become a full time outdoor lunch volunteer? How about your spouse, him/her too? Your parents, your inlaws? Can you fly in extended family from other parts of the country?
Please put together a little team of 12-20 of your friends and family that can fully and exclusively dedicate this year to being volunteer outdoor lunch volunteers--at your own expense, of course.

Didn't realize the only way to help was to run everything myself not work to petition APS to provide more resources and support for outdoor lunch.

But sure I can volunteer to monitor outdoor lunch. I dont have any extended family..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CIS is providing outdoor lunch. Any other APS elementary school?

Key is too. Love it!

Wow. This feels a bit like gloating. I hope you want this for ALL APS kids and not just your own. There’s work still to be done here, even by parents who have kids at CIS and Key, to insure universal outdoor lunch across APS.

I think this reply is odd, but I would love to help. As for Claremont they have outdoor lunch because they have a principal who is very committed to it. While I agree a universal policy is needed ( and I will help to the extent possible) everyone should be putting pressure on your school principals to take action they have an ability to move quickly whereas a universal APS policy will take more time.

Has your PTA taken a stance? What did your principal say when you asked?

How would you help?
Can you quit your job to become a full time outdoor lunch volunteer? How about your spouse, him/her too? Your parents, your inlaws? Can you fly in extended family from other parts of the country?
Please put together a little team of 12-20 of your friends and family that can fully and exclusively dedicate this year to being volunteer outdoor lunch volunteers--at your own expense, of course.

Didn't realize the only way to help was to run everything myself not work to petition APS to provide more resources and support for outdoor lunch.

But sure I can volunteer to monitor outdoor lunch. I dont have any extended family..

Yes, if you want something you should be prepared to work for it--not just "petition."

But you'll volunteer very day? For several hours (entire lunch session for all classes, not just your own kids?)

Do you have a spouse/partner? No family--you and your child's other parents are both orphaned only children of only children (no cousins?) Friends? Neighbors? How much do you think you (personally) would have to pay them to get them to quit their job for a year and volunteer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CIS is providing outdoor lunch. Any other APS elementary school?

Key is too. Love it!

Wow. This feels a bit like gloating. I hope you want this for ALL APS kids and not just your own. There’s work still to be done here, even by parents who have kids at CIS and Key, to insure universal outdoor lunch across APS.

I think this reply is odd, but I would love to help. As for Claremont they have outdoor lunch because they have a principal who is very committed to it. While I agree a universal policy is needed ( and I will help to the extent possible) everyone should be putting pressure on your school principals to take action they have an ability to move quickly whereas a universal APS policy will take more time.

Has your PTA taken a stance? What did your principal say when you asked?

How would you help?
Can you quit your job to become a full time outdoor lunch volunteer? How about your spouse, him/her too? Your parents, your inlaws? Can you fly in extended family from other parts of the country?
Please put together a little team of 12-20 of your friends and family that can fully and exclusively dedicate this year to being volunteer outdoor lunch volunteers--at your own expense, of course.

Didn't realize the only way to help was to run everything myself not work to petition APS to provide more resources and support for outdoor lunch.

But sure I can volunteer to monitor outdoor lunch. I dont have any extended family..

Yes, if you want something you should be prepared to work for it--not just "petition."

But you'll volunteer very day? For several hours (entire lunch session for all classes, not just your own kids?)

Do you have a spouse/partner? No family--you and your child's other parents are both orphaned only children of only children (no cousins?) Friends? Neighbors? How much do you think you (personally) would have to pay them to get them to quit their job for a year and volunteer?

Not sure why you are being an ahole to me. My school already has outdoor lunch that is staffed by paid staff. I did want it and we did accomplish it, so already put in the work. Thanks.

But the issue is this should NOT be something run my parent volunteers. It should be covered by APS funds and APS principals should be leading the charge and fighting for this. Obviously a parent led system won't work.