Under this year’s new process for lunch, students are able to eat in new locations and order their lunch ahead of time online with new options like Domino’s pizza.
Using the new Food Services Department Canvas page, students can order their lunch ahead of time and pick it up. Students have from 2 p.m. the day before to 7:30 a.m. that day to order their lunch in advance.
According to Food Service Director Joyce Weber, students are able to pick up their preordered lunches at one of two locations: the north atrium or the Baldwin Bean. Delivery carts are stationed at both locations with insulated bags to hold the meals. Students will find their meal located in the insulated bag with the letter of their last name’s first initial.
“The idea of Domino’s Pizza came from a conference I attended this summer,” Weber said. “Domino’s was one of the vendors at the food show. We had a partnership with them back in 2017, and with the new online meal program, we thought it would be a great opportunity to partner with them this school year.”
There will be a concession stand opening sometime later this year, located outside of the main gym. A la carte sales and meal options will be available. Student volunteers will be able to work at this concession stand.
The Baldwin Bean will also have a la carte and traditional lunch ordering eventually, in addition to its current role as a pickup station.
Students are still able to order traditionally during the lunch period in the cafeteria. “Walking tacos” and chicken sandwiches, traditional student favorites, are currently only available in the cafeteria.
Co-Principal Brandon Whitfield believes that the online ordering system should feel familiar for most students, as mobile ordering is a standard practice at many places.
“That’s the trend for everybody eating at Starbucks or Dunkin’,” Whitfield said.
Administrators were looking for a creative way to feed 700 kids at once, Whitfield said, since the block schedule has two lunch periods instead of the previous three. This new system also allows students to have more flexibility and to socialize while they eat, rather than skipping lunch and eating during class, as some did in previous years, Whitfield said.
“We hope that every kid has some flexibility to start eating with their friends again. That is something many kids have talked to us about over the last few years,” Whitfield said.
Sophomore Charlotte Landis thinks the online system for ordering ahead of time is a positive change.“I think it would be helpful to the students, and so it’s less chaotic in the lunchroom,” she said.
Being able to order the night before is more convenient, and it erases the stress of getting in line in the cafe to get lunch, sophomore Evie Dillon said. This new process is much more organized and efficient, Dillon said.
The variety of the menu has expanded as well, now including customized deli options. Landis believes this is an improvement.
“It’s looking a lot better and more varied, and that’s good,” she said.
Dillon agreed.
“I think a lot of variety has been helpful in making decisions and being excited about lunch again,” Dillon said.
