Lunchtime is an important part of the school day; it’s a break from classes and an opportunity to hang out with friends. A cafeteria that provides an affordable lunch is a necessity because many of the lunch options at GDS are not economical.
Students should not have to worry about packing a lunch that will take a lot of time and effort or spending a lot of money on buying lunch. A cafeteria can provide an easy and affordable lunch, which will take off the stress that burdens me when I’m getting ready for school in the morning.
There are two main lunch options for GDS students: You can bring your own lunch from home, or you can buy it. GDS students have access to an array of lunch options, for example, we can go off campus, buy food from vendors from restaurants like Crisp and Juicy or Pizza Boli’s or shop from vending machines in the Internet Cafe. When I first learned about these options, I was excited to capitalize on the freedom of the high school’s open campus. However, after two weeks, I started packing lunch at home because it simply isn’t reasonable to buy a 15-dollar lunch each day.
Freshman Halle Epstein, who is new to GDS, said she mostly packs her lunch because many of the lunch options are too expensive. “Four out of five times a week I pack lunch, but it’s a drag,” she said. “I either have to meal prep a bunch on Sundays, which takes hours, or I have to stress about it the night before.”
I came from a middle school that offered an inexpensive hot lunch. It was nice to have a lunch option that I could always rely on and get if I didn’t have the time or energy to pack my lunches in the morning. Having affordable lunch options adds an extra convenience for many students.
On paper, the Hop Shop seems to be the solution to these problems. The Hop Shop is a student-run store in the Internet Cafe that provides affordable food options. However, the Hop Shop is rarely open, and the lunch options are instant ramen and macaroni and cheese next to boxes of Goldfish, granola bars and other snacks and drinks. None of these make for adequate lunch options. GDS should turn the Internet Cafe into a cafeteria space. The high school cafeteria, similar to that of the LMS, should have a buffet style structure, where students can choose what they want to eat. The space should also include a variety of seating and tables where students can eat and socialize.
17 of 18 students asked by the Bit said they would support a cafeteria in the high school. The student who opposed declined to comment.
Freshman Roque Gistau, who attended the lower/middle school, also packs his lunch. He said the food served at the cafeteria in the LMS was “really good,” and that it was included in tuition. He said having affordable lunch options is “a better idea, so students don’t have to struggle with waking up earlier in the mornings to make their lunch.”
Junior Claire Poellnitz said she has skipped lunch many times because it is not provided at GDS. “I will either be too busy working, or I won’t pack my lunch,” she said.
Having free lunch in the Internet Cafe can combat the issue of affordable and accessible lunches, and it can make the space much more inviting and social than it is now. A centralized cafeteria can encourage students to bond during break times. Now, different friend groups spend lunch in different areas, which has made it difficult for me, as a new student, to meet people I didn’t meet during bridge week. Having an area where more people congregate can lead to more unity and can foster more connections at GDS.
“If we ever got a cafeteria, we probably wouldn’t have lunch vendors anymore, because they would never sell anything,” Assistant Principal for School Life Quinn Killy said. “There’s nothing set in the budget to accommodate student lunches.” Although the catering from Crisp and Juicy and the Farmer’s Fridge are all nice, students need a cafeteria that is accessible and inexpensive more than they need these vendors, especially since we can go off campus to get lunches like those the vendors sell anyway. Food for students should be a top priority for GDS’ budget, because nutrition is necessary for students’ productivity and their ability to connect with their peers.
A cafeteria is a high school necessity, and GDS needs to fulfill this need. Accessible and affordable lunch options are in high demand by students, and a cafeteria would be perfect to satisfy these needs.
Molly Kurtzer-Ellenbogen and Teresa Dean contributed reporting.
CORRECTION (Oct. 21 at 9:15 p.m.): The original version of this article misstated Quinn Killy’s title. Killy is the Assistant Principal for School Life.