Anonymous
Post 08/24/2023 10:33     Subject: Lunch at these massive high schools
Anonymous wrote:My DD is moving from a private school to Blair and just wondering how 3000 kids eat lunch in the same general time period. Should I send her with lunch from home or do they really manage to serve this many kids lunch?


Assuming you paid tuition at private, you can probably afford to pay for a healthy home-preppes lunch.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2023 10:21     Subject: Lunch at these massive high schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why MCPS creates their own problems. I went to a HS in VA with 3,000 students and we were only allowed to eat in the cafeteria. There were multiple lunch periods. It’s not rocket science.


My child was at Blair when then changed from 2 lunch periods to 1 (maybe 5 or 6 years ago?). They did it so all teachers could be available to all kids at lunch time for make up work or extra help. It also allowed clubs to meet at lunch. It expanded the areas kids could use for eating since there were no classes in session. In the end DC preferred 1 lunch. I don't think she ever ate in the cafeteria even when there were 2 lunches.


I really like this at Blair for my DC as well. Plenty of time at lunch to get help from teachers, hang with friends, and participate in clubs/activities. We’ve even managed some lunch time medical appointments without missing any class time. Plus the kids who don’t like the lunchroom chaos can find a quieter space.


It's one of those things that might seem like a disaster from the outside but really works fine...thought I can not speak to the lines for hot lunch since my kid packed.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2023 10:07     Subject: Lunch at these massive high schools
That’s a great idea, clubs and teacher office hours during lunch. Wish they had done that at my school. They should also have a study hall room open for students want to do homework if they don’t already have this.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2023 09:42     Subject: Lunch at these massive high schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why MCPS creates their own problems. I went to a HS in VA with 3,000 students and we were only allowed to eat in the cafeteria. There were multiple lunch periods. It’s not rocket science.


My child was at Blair when then changed from 2 lunch periods to 1 (maybe 5 or 6 years ago?). They did it so all teachers could be available to all kids at lunch time for make up work or extra help. It also allowed clubs to meet at lunch. It expanded the areas kids could use for eating since there were no classes in session. In the end DC preferred 1 lunch. I don't think she ever ate in the cafeteria even when there were 2 lunches.


I really like this at Blair for my DC as well. Plenty of time at lunch to get help from teachers, hang with friends, and participate in clubs/activities. We’ve even managed some lunch time medical appointments without missing any class time. Plus the kids who don’t like the lunchroom chaos can find a quieter space.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2023 09:33     Subject: Lunch at these massive high schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why MCPS creates their own problems. I went to a HS in VA with 3,000 students and we were only allowed to eat in the cafeteria. There were multiple lunch periods. It’s not rocket science.


Multiple lunch periods means clubs can’t meet during lunch and some kids can’t get extra help from teachers. This way is better.


+1. Also, no one wants to eat lunch at 10:30 am. us lunch in the lunchroom is a recipe for increased social anxiety and feeling left out.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2023 22:27     Subject: Lunch at these massive high schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why MCPS creates their own problems. I went to a HS in VA with 3,000 students and we were only allowed to eat in the cafeteria. There were multiple lunch periods. It’s not rocket science.

5th grade math problem: If the school has 3000 kids, and only 300 can fit into the cafeteria, how many lunch periods do you need? And how many periods are there during school?

Indeed it's not rocket science.


Ummm… MCPS is the one designing the space???!


And what do you propose they take away to make the cafeteria 10 times larger? Classrooms? Counselors offices? Auditorium? Gymnasium? Science labs? Orchestra rehearsal? Field space (which our HS teams fight to use every season because there already isn't enough)
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2023 21:07     Subject: Lunch at these massive high schools
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why MCPS creates their own problems. I went to a HS in VA with 3,000 students and we were only allowed to eat in the cafeteria. There were multiple lunch periods. It’s not rocket science.


Multiple lunch periods means clubs can’t meet during lunch and some kids can’t get extra help from teachers. This way is better.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2023 21:05     Subject: Lunch at these massive high schools
Anonymous wrote:My DD is moving from a private school to Blair and just wondering how 3000 kids eat lunch in the same general time period. Should I send her with lunch from home or do they really manage to serve this many kids lunch?


I’ve had two at Blair: one graduated a decade ago, the other is a rising senior. Most students do not eat in the cafeteria. They eat in hallways, classrooms, and other spaces if they don’t sneak off campus and buy fast food.

Send food from home. My DD liked a bunch of healthy snacks rather than an entree. DS eats a more traditional brown bag lunch.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2023 20:54     Subject: Lunch at these massive high schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why MCPS creates their own problems. I went to a HS in VA with 3,000 students and we were only allowed to eat in the cafeteria. There were multiple lunch periods. It’s not rocket science.

5th grade math problem: If the school has 3000 kids, and only 300 can fit into the cafeteria, how many lunch periods do you need? And how many periods are there during school?

Indeed it's not rocket science.


Ummm… MCPS is the one designing the space???!
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2023 11:29     Subject: Lunch at these massive high schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why MCPS creates their own problems. I went to a HS in VA with 3,000 students and we were only allowed to eat in the cafeteria. There were multiple lunch periods. It’s not rocket science.

5th grade math problem: If the school has 3000 kids, and only 300 can fit into the cafeteria, how many lunch periods do you need? And how many periods are there during school?

Indeed it's not rocket science.


When RM was rebuilt they considered a larger cafeteria. There was no interest from students. My kid ate on a stair case with his friends for 4 years.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2023 11:27     Subject: Lunch at these massive high schools
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why MCPS creates their own problems. I went to a HS in VA with 3,000 students and we were only allowed to eat in the cafeteria. There were multiple lunch periods. It’s not rocket science.


My child was at Blair when then changed from 2 lunch periods to 1 (maybe 5 or 6 years ago?). They did it so all teachers could be available to all kids at lunch time for make up work or extra help. It also allowed clubs to meet at lunch. It expanded the areas kids could use for eating since there were no classes in session. In the end DC preferred 1 lunch. I don't think she ever ate in the cafeteria even when there were 2 lunches.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2023 09:36     Subject: Lunch at these massive high schools
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why MCPS creates their own problems. I went to a HS in VA with 3,000 students and we were only allowed to eat in the cafeteria. There were multiple lunch periods. It’s not rocket science.

5th grade math problem: If the school has 3000 kids, and only 300 can fit into the cafeteria, how many lunch periods do you need? And how many periods are there during school?

Indeed it's not rocket science.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2023 08:47     Subject: Lunch at these massive high schools
My kids are in two different DCC high schools. THey bring lunch. They never eat in the cafeteria. They eat either in classrooms or outside in the courtyard.

I get the sense the cafeteria is considered scary, much like the bathrooms (which they refuse to go in).
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2023 08:39     Subject: Lunch at these massive high schools
I don’t understand why MCPS creates their own problems. I went to a HS in VA with 3,000 students and we were only allowed to eat in the cafeteria. There were multiple lunch periods. It’s not rocket science.