Elem school -sack lunches in classroom from now on!

Or giving the kid's time to actually eat their lunch! I know when my kids buy they spend 1/2 their lunch time in line waiting to order so by the time they get to the table they have 10-15 minutes to eat. I know its possible to eat in that time, but it would be nice if they could take their time, socialize and not end up having to throw half their food out because they were rushed out.

Just curious, why does a school have to offer a "hot" meal for free/reduced lunch? If a cold sandwich lunch meets all the nutritional requirements, why isn't that good enough?
Good point!! :thumbsup2

I'm going to be honest- I don't know the legal answer to your question. I'm not sure if schools ARE required to provided a hot meal for their students. The way our school talks about it is that "some kids may not receive a hot meal at home and school is the only place they do get a hot meal".

I'm not sure if that's just our county talking or if it has something to do with a law. Guess I should look it up!
 
Our school cafeteria is just a room with pull-down tables. Hot food is brought in (1 choice per day), 2 cold choices. When I was a kid here, just a box (cold) lunch, eaten in the gym. It was fine - probably much healthier than the hot options my kids get (nachos for lunch?).
 
Or giving the kid's time to actually eat their lunch! I know when my kids buy they spend 1/2 their lunch time in line waiting to order so by the time they get to the table they have 10-15 minutes to eat. I know its possible to eat in that time, but it would be nice if they could take their time, socialize and not end up having to throw half their food out because they were rushed out.

Just curious, why does a school have to offer a "hot" meal for free/reduced lunch? If a cold sandwich lunch meets all the nutritional requirements, why isn't that good enough?

The kids will get a MEAL and that is really what is important. Yes, a hot meal would be nice but it's still better than nothing. For breakfast they can offer bagels, cold cereal, fruit, etc.
 
I agree with this. I realize schools have become a way to fix alot of society problems (free lunch and breakfast to feed children, school councilors, after school programs until parents get out of work etc.) But really the point of school is to educate the kids and if the money isn't there then that should be the only priority. I don't think we should mandate a school have some way to make hot lunches (at a high cost) just to ensure all kids get a hot meal each day!
I respectfully disagree. You'd be surprised to see how important a good meal (not saying it HAS to be hot) is for students- eating a good meal makes them full which helps them concentrate on their academic learning, not on their grumbly tummy.

On a personal note: I work at what would be considered a "poor" school. Many of my students only get one hot meal a day. And it's at school. My students greatly look forward to that hot meal.

Is it the schools responsibility to provide for these students? That's a personal decision that I'm sure would lead to lots of debate on the DIS. :laughing:
 

Honestly? That's how I grew up. Our grade schools and junior highs didn't have cafeterias, and in grade school we ate at our desks (jr. highs had lunch rooms). there weren't any sack lunches to buy, every kid had to bring a sack lunch from home. The only thing the school sold was milk. I never knew that other districts had cafeterias that sold hot lunches until I was an adult!

Same when I was growing up, and same for my kids now. The school stocks a vending machine with small tetrapak juices and flavoured milks, but that's all they sell - lunches come from home. And usually once or twice a term the PTA will hold a canteen on a Friday where parents contribute food items to sell. We are lucky that our classrooms are small wooden standalone buildings with verandahs (not internal corridors), so the kids eat on the verandahs rather than in the classrooms. There is also no carpeting anywhere. We also have tons of recess - 30 minutes at mid-morning and 60 minutes at lunch time, and all eating is done within that time - the teachers usually try to get the kids to sit on the verandah and eat before they run off to play. Recess allows for tons of socializing, so it doesn't matter if the eating is only done with your specific class.
 
I respectfully disagree. You'd be surprised to see how important a good meal (not saying it HAS to be hot) is for students- eating a good meal makes them full which helps them concentrate on their academic learning, not on their grumbly tummy.

On a personal note: I work at what would be considered a "poor" school. Many of my students only get one hot meal a day. And it's at school. My students greatly look forward to that hot meal.

Is it the schools responsibility to provide for these students? That's a personal decision that I'm sure would lead to lots of debate on the DIS. :laughing:

I'm ok with cold free lunches if that is what is being offered to buy at school. I also think schools need to have food available if someone forgets their lunch. But cold sack lunches will be much cheaper for the school to have brought in then hot lunches. I'm not saying don't feed the kids, just why does it have to be hot.

I think if the government is going to mandate that schools have councilors for children with problems and hot lunches in case kids don't get any, etc. That these things not only have to be funded but should be funded separately from education funding. Education funding should go to education.

BTW I went to school in an area where there were MANY free and reduced lunch kids, I had reduced lunch myself for a few years even. It is a great program and a great way to reach many kids but I don't think this should be the reason for saying we can't shut down the school kitchens and save alot of money for the school that we really need for education. If this program is so important it should be funded separately and not from education funds.

I do have to wonder though (even when I qualified for reduced lunch there is no way I wouldn't have had food every day even if I hadn't qualified) if students really wouldn't get fed without free lunch how do they eat on weekends, school breaks, and all summer.
 
What is a savory treat?

Something that isn't sweet.

Getting ready for lunch, lining up for lunch, walking to lunch, etc. takes up some of our time during the day that could be either given to recess, specials, or more academic learning time.

I agree. When my daughter was in elementary school, she had about 10 minutes to actually eat her lunch. The rest of the lunch period was spent washing their hands, walking to the cafeteria, standing in line, etc.

Finally, the sack lunches will be so much healthier although I'm sure some hot foods would be missed. A PP brings up a good point about eligible receiving free/reduced lunch and the lack of a hot meal. That's upsetting and the worst thing about this "change", IMO. It seems as if this school should HAVE to offer hot food for those who wish to purchase it/partake in the free-reduced lunch program.

I think the value of a HOT lunch is overrated. I'd rather see disadvantaged kids get a healthy cold lunch than a hot lunch that isn't good for them (I know a sack lunch isn't guaranteed to be healthy, but it's much less likely to be breaded and fried).
 
/
I do have to wonder though (even when I qualified for reduced lunch there is no way I wouldn't have had food every day even if I hadn't qualified) if students really wouldn't get fed without free lunch how do they eat on weekends, school breaks, and all summer.

Some of them really don't eat, or don't eat well, during those times. In my city the schools actually provide a lunch during the summer - you don't have to qualify for free lunch; it's open to anyone. And many communities have "backpack" programs where students who get free lunches are sent home with some food for the weekend.
 
I don't see any major problems with this:confused3

I see no issue at all with the only cold lunches being provided aspect of it. Hot lunches at schools are nearly always very unhealthy and no one NEEDS a hot lunch to make it through the day. With the sack lunches available to purchase there is still a way to provide free or reduced lunch to those who need it and still food around for kids who forget their lunch, etc.

I don't think kids will be socially stinted from eating in their own classrooms. They still get 30 minutes out on the playground with all of the other kids.

They will probably end up with More time to eat and to play as much less time will be spent getting everyone down to the cafeteria, through the lunch lines, etc.

Overall I think it is a great idea of how to relatively painlessly boost the budget.

I agree with everything you said.

I also think it's a sign of the times we're living in, and that this trend may continue to other school districts. Schools are going to cut costs wherever they can.
 
I am surprised there hasn't been more posts from people that think this is a terrible idea. While the school food may not be the healthiest, at least it offers some variety. The only sandwich my son eats is a cheese sandwich and even then he usually just ends up eating the slice of cheese.:rotfl: Kids like variety, and eating in the classroom is a bit much to me. Getting out of the classroom for lunch and recess helps children get a break from the school day so that they can be refreshed and ready to jump back into their learning in the afternoon. I am thankful that our school district hasn't made this type of cut. We'd probably have to move if it got to the point of OP's situation. I feel sad for all of these children.

As a PP mentioned, I wonder what this will do for those who are at a discounted breakfast/lunch option. Some children may only get a complete "hot" meal at school due to poverty issues. It's sad that they may not have that anymore.:sad1
:
I agree with a pp or two that it shouldn't matter if the free meal is hot or not. I really do not understand the reasoning behind WHY a meal needs to be hot in order to be filling, nutritious or yummy. :confused3

As to variety--my son only likes one kind of sandwhich as well (peanutbutter and brown sugar) but there are lots of other things I can pack him--sack lunches do not need to contain a sandwhich! A few itmes I recently packed for the main dish:
cheese slices and crackers
boiled egg
bagel with cream cheese
yogurt with granola
hummus and veggies
 
I agree with a pp or two that it shouldn't matter if the free meal is hot or not. I really do not understand the reasoning behind WHY a meal needs to be hot in order to be filling, nutritious or yummy. :confused3

As to variety--my son only likes one kind of sandwhich as well (peanutbutter and brown sugar) but there are lots of other things I can pack him--sack lunches do not need to contain a sandwhich! A few itmes I recently packed for the main dish:
cheese slices and crackers
boiled egg
bagel with cream cheese
yogurt with granola
hummus and veggies


Well, there ya go. That's a healthy lunch that's not hot.
 
Thats how it was when I was in elementary school. We ate lunch in the classrooms, and the lunch available for purchase sounded exactly like the one described. Then after lunch, if it was nice outside, we had 30 min of outside recess. If there was inclement weather, we went to the auditorium and they showed old movies, or our school chorus sang.... Grades 1-3 ate lunch first, then had recess, grade 4-6 had recess first, and then ate their lunch,
Me too.
 
Is that even legal? I thought all workers working a certain time period were entitled to a meal break. Is that just in my state? I was under the impression it was federal law.

No lunch break?? Do you get plan periods?

When I taught we did not get lunch breaks. You ate with your class and we had two 15 minute recess where you had a break provided it was not your duty day. We also got planning time when the students went to computer and library which ended up being a total of about 90 minutes a week.

I've never had a lunch break in the three systems I've worked in, so I guess it's an Alabama thing. We take to the kids to lunch, sit with them while everyone eats, clean our area, and take them back to class. We have duty free lunch one Friday a month, and the principal and support workers watch the kids on those days. FWIW, we do get paid for the 25 minutes of lunch. We also take the kids to recess and stay with them the entire time.

As far as planning time, our students go to PE every day for 30 minutes. By the time you go to the restroom, check your mailbox, have data meetings, deal with issues that pop up, etc., you have very little time for planning. I go in early and stay late to do planning and take work home at night.
 
I just dont understand...where do people think this money is coming from to fund these programs....a meal and workers just dont appear out of thin air. Vendors need to be paid, workers need to paid. Your taxes pay for them, my taxes pay for them. If you and your neighbors are fine with a tax increase then these programs can be saved, if you are not and think you pay too much already, then something has to go!
 
Received notice today that they are doing away with the cafeterias in all elementary schools in our district starting this fall.

They will sell a sack lunch with a sandwich, fruit, milk and a "savory treat"---no more "hot" lunch, no more cafeteria.

The children will eat these sack lunches in their classrooms with their class at their desk instead of the cafeteria. They will be allowed to schedule a "lunch date" with a child from another class provided they get approval from both teachers.

Am I alone in thinking this is ridiculous!?! :confused3

I'm not a big fan of children eating at their desks. Kind of like me eating at my desk at work. Although I have to do it more times than I care to, it's always nice to take a little "break". However, I am perfectly fine with the sack lunch idea. You cannot buy lunch at my DD's school so all students have to bring anyway. There is nowhere to heat up lunch so I bought a thermos type container at Target and she can take soup, pasta etc and if I heat it in the morning it keeps it heated for her lunch. No big deal really!
 
I have never once eaten my lunch in a cafetieria. In elementary school and middle school we ate in the classroom at our desk. Lunches could be purchased from the cart they wheeled around from room to room or at a central location. In elementary school we ate, then outside for 30 minutes for recess.

In Junior and high school I never ate in the cafeteria. I would grab lunch from the cafeteria and eat it in a classroom where I was doing extra credit, or just hanging with my AV club friends.

This is a non-issue IMO.
 
After watching our school board go round the budget process, and watching them cut "instructional" ie, teachers rather than "administrative" costs, this cold lunch thing sounds like a much less painful measure.

I'd support this in a heartbeat if some of our teachers could get their jobs back.
 
I love this. My DD was in public school for one year and I would often be in the school at lunch time. I was disgusted by how unappetizing the food was and how much of it got thrown away.

A bag lunch seems a lot healthier.
 
Actually, it would be more efficient to clean one cafeteria-set up to handle food spills then it would be to clean however many classrooms with food spills. Yes, the classrooms get cleaned already but they don't have to clean up spilled milk, food, etc. off carpet.

Not to mention cleaning the desks. The janitors do not clean our classroom every night. I think they when to every other to cut cost, but either way they do not clean the desk tops every night. How sanitary is it.:scared1:

Not even mentioning food spills on the carpet. Both my DD perfer a cold lunch but I would think keeping the cafeteria clean would be easier than the classrooms.

Denise in MI
 
I'm not a big fan of children eating at their desks. Kind of like me eating at my desk at work. Although I have to do it more times than I care to, it's always nice to take a little "break". However, I am perfectly fine with the sack lunch idea. You cannot buy lunch at my DD's school so all students have to bring anyway. There is nowhere to heat up lunch so I bought a thermos type container at Target and she can take soup, pasta etc and if I heat it in the morning it keeps it heated for her lunch. No big deal really!

I grew up eating at my desk from 1st grade thru 6th. Of course I had nothing to compare it to since it was all I knew...but really it was no big deal. We'd eat our lunch (about 20-25 minutes if I remember correctly) and then we went outside for recess for the rest of the lunch period (another 20-25 minutes). Some kids had moms like you, they'd send their child in with a thermos of hot soup to go along with their sandwhich. One kid even got to have a hot dog once a week! His mom would fill the thermos with hot water and plop a hot dog in it, it was still hot at lunch, the kid just had to fish it out and put it on a bun!

In our district we had "lunch moms", moms (no dads, this was in the 80's) would volunter to come in and watch the classes while the teachers got to have their lunch in the teachers lounge. The lunch ladies would make sure we behaved, ate our lunches (no food fights! :) ), and watched to make sure we cleaned up our desks. I don't remember their being a problem with messes from lunch. Our school was carpeted too.
 

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