food – AHS NEWSPAPER

Return of the Lunch: Free lunch program comes back with gusto

January 13, 2023

Anushka Dole
STAFF WRITER

Like the stubborn clinginess of gum to a desk, the school day refuses to yield, and your sanity is getting ever so close to snapping. Just when you feel you can’t take it anymore, the resounding dong of metal on metal rings in your ears, filling you with jubilation. You jump out of your chair, sprinting for the door. A similar cacophony has filled the halls: students clamoring for their lunch break, overjoyed to refuel, and nearly delirious with the chance to catch up with their friends.

The phenomenon of school lunches have always been an integral part of the public school experience, a staple of American pop culture. During the pandemic, most of us saw this time through rose-tinted glasses, reminiscing about the happy moments spent enjoying the food and company in the cafeteria. However, this was not the case for everyone. For the small yet significant number of students on the free or reduced lunch program, lunch was a daily struggle due to the stigma surrounding their situation. Often, kids on the program chose to skip lunch rather than subject themselves to the possible (and sadly, probable) cruelty and judgment of their peers.

Naturally, these students must have been wary of the Return of the Lunch, yet the legislators of Massachusetts surprised us by extending the universal free lunch program to the 2022-2023 school year. Made possible thanks to a nonprofit known as Project Bread, the extension of this bill has had positive effects for everyone involved, including students who hadn’t expected to benefit. Andover Public Schools’ nutrition coordinator Taylor Pirog had many things to say about her job and about the program.

Pirog said that out of fifty states, only three have continued to implement the universal free lunch program this school year, Massachusetts being one. This has allowed the APS school nutrition program to expand without bounds, giving students the opportunity to “broaden their horizons—to branch out and try things they couldn’t try [before.]” Students can select from a vast selection of foods, including a hot line, a grill line, and a wrap line, along with vending options and the beloved Snack Shack.

However, free lunch does have its drawbacks. One concern associated with this program was a decrease in the quality of food offered. Many administrators fretted that the nutritional value and portion size of lunch would decrease, not leading to a net positive for the school system. Thankfully, this has proved not to be the case. Pirog acknowledged that even though many workers “do not come from a culinary background,” they are “willing to work, and that’s the most important thing.” All food produced is made from scratch, with no fried or processed elements.

Another concern of the free lunch program is the payment of said workers. Previously, the cost of lunch paid all workers’ salaries, but since food has been made free, the nutrition department has had to get creative. “The money that we get from the vending machine and Snack Shack—it pays everyone’s salary. So it’s a tricky balance—we need to be making money, but also want good nutrition for the kids. It’s like running a business.” Luckily, business is booming; kids in great volumes are enjoying both cafeteria food and food from the Snack Shack, meaning that nutritional targets are being reached while financial goals are also being met.

The widest reaching impact of free lunch is that students from all socioeconomic backgrounds have been able to bridge the gap between different economic statuses and enjoy lunch together, making the cafeteria experience all the more rewarding. Pirog agreed with this sentiment, saying that the cafeteria has led to a fostering of a sense of community and unity. “Not only do students build relationships with each other, they also feel comfortable with and build relationships with the workers,” she said.

Thanks to the dedication of workers in the nutrition department and the generous free lunch bill, reservations about the success of the return of the cafeteria have been thoroughly squashed.

“At the end of the day, we want kids to come in and have a safe space,” said Pirog.

Community

Snack Shack Comes Back

November 22, 2022

By Jacqueline Zhu
COPY EDITOR

After two years of closure, Andover High School’s Snack Shack has reopened.

Located in the cafeteria, the Snack Shack offers popcorn, ice cream, smoothies, and the like to students during lunch. The popular school lunch alternative shut down in March of 2020 in conjunction with the COVID-19 lockdown, but increased staff availability and expanded product supply have allowed it to resume operation.

Gail Koutroubas, Director of Food Services, stated that the reopening process was a complex and lengthy one, involving purchasing and stocking products, hiring and training new staff, and cleaning up the area. Supply chain issues and staffing shortages were among the difficulties faced.

“We tried to hire as many people as we can,” explained Koutroubas, “but sometimes the hires don’t always work out.”

Finding enough workers to staff registers was crucial to bringing back the Snack Shack. Taylor Pirog, Assistant Director of Food Services, explained that because the majority of the items offered in the Shack Shack are considered a la carte, registers were needed to keep track of students’ payments.

“Since meals were free last year, we didn’t have registers operating,” stated Pirog. “That was a huge reason why we didn’t have the Snack Shack open.”

Sourcing food items was also a significant obstacle. COVID-related disruptions were a contributing factor, but federal guidelines for school meals, which entail limits on sodium, sugar, and saturated fat, posed additional challenges.

“Snacks such as the Rice Krispies Treats that we buy are reduced sugar and whole grain versions,” said Pirog. “It’s not the same as what you would get at the supermarket, because companies formulate those products specifically for schools.”

After manufacturing companies had adapted to the changes caused by COVID, they focused on producing the goods that went on shelves first. “We got put on the back burner for a bit,” stated Koutroubas.

**HEAD OF PHOTOGRAPHY// Ethan Zabar**
Snack Shack workers work tirelessly through rush hour (lunch hour).

Andover High School introduced the Snack Shack roughly 15 years ago. Originally, it had been a candy store run by the Parent Teacher Organization to raise money for the school.

“It was totally illegal, and it took me about a year to have it closed,” said Koutroubas. “Now, we have healthier options, such as smoothies and bagels”

Currently, the Snack Shack remains open. Koutroubas emphasized the need for additional workers, however.

“We have around 50 employees district-wide,” she said. “It’s a busy job for Taylor and I. If we have a situation where there’s not enough staff, then that would be when the Snack Shack is closed.”

Articles Community

Amping Up for Senior Prom

April 7, 2022

Caitlin Connell
STAFF WRITER

The Class of 2022 Senior Prom is finally upon us. The prom will be held Saturday, May 21, at Castleton in Windham, New Hampshire.

Prom will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 10:30 p.m. Students are required to stay for the entire duration of the prom. Tickets for prom will be $100 per person as it includes entry to the prom as well as dinner. The school will not require students to take buses with the school; they will be allowed to arrive as they so choose.

“We are not anticipating needing to [take buses], but there may be some students that can’t get a ride there themselves,” stated Senior Board Advisor Laura Jordan. “We are going to wait and see how the ticket sales go, but there is no requirement to take a bus.”

Jordan said the tickets “should be on sale the week before April vacation, down in the cafeteria after school.” So don’t forget to buy your ticket after school in the cafeteria.

COURTESY PHOTO / Emily Fotter
Senior Emily Fotter picks out her prom dress at The Ultimate.

When you order your ticket, you will also be able to choose your seats for the dinner at prom. Make sure to have your seating arrangements picked out before buying tickets, as you will not be allowed to change your seats after submission. There will be 10 seats per table.

The dinner is also a big part of the night and is one of the only times the whole senior class will be together to have a meal before graduating. “This year at prom, dinner will be a garden salad, chicken broccoli alfredo, pasta primavera, roast sirloin, seasonal veggies, mashed potatoes, and a brownie sundae,” said senior Micheala Sherlock. “There are going to be plenty of options for people with different dietary restrictions… gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian. There will be options for everyone, good options as well.”

Senior Prom 2022 is the first time since 2019 that seniors will get a prom run by the school. Prom last year was run by the loving parents of Andover for the Class of 2021.

Jordan said that the “biggest difference I know is that [the students] are not required to come here, take a school bus and all go together. People are excited about that because I know people are already booking party buses and limos… that will add a bit of a fun element to it.”

Senior Board Member Sophie Colby said, “I think prom will definitely go well, I think that people are really looking forward to an event like this because we haven’t had one at all; we didn’t have a semi—nothing like that—so we are very excited.”

“People are definitely opinionated about the prom court, which is good because we want to hear from our class,” concluded Colby. To vote for Prom Court, a Google Form will be sent out by the Senior Board Advisors. To stay updated with prom and other senior activities, you can follow the @AHS2022class Instagram.

Prom is a memorable high school experience, and this year’s prom will be a great way to end a year filled with setbacks such as COVID. The Class of 2022 deserves this prom, and the objective is to “have fun!” said Senior Board Advisor Sylvia Danos.

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Vending Machine Thefts Decrease

February 14, 2022

Jacqueline Zhu

COPY EDITOR

The introduction of personal identification numbers (PINs) for the vending machines has triggered a rash of PIN thefts, prompting administrators to issue warnings against vending machine theft.

The issue of students stealing others’ PINs began in early fall, after the vending machines were put online. Offending students would take pictures or videos of other students putting their PINs in, and then use the PINs for themselves and their friends. Students who have had their PINs compromised would have to obtain a new PIN, a 30- to 40-minute process that involves the administration and cafeteria workers transferring the student’s funds to a new account.

Gail Koutroubas, Director of Food Services at Andover High School, explained that despite having PINs consisting of a five-digit number and a four-digit number to maximize security, some students are still able to copy down others’ PINs. “We didn’t think that kids would be videotaping other students putting their numbers in and then sharing it,” she said.

Andover High School has had the vending machines with codes for four years, said Koutroubas, but vending machine theft has never been an issue until this year. “We very rarely had an issue: kids were very respectful of each other,” she stated. “But, for whatever reason, this group of kids didn’t realize the severity of what they were doing. They’re stealing money, and a lot of money in some cases.”

The general consensus among students is that stealing others’ PINs is unacceptable. “You should not be using other people’s PINs to buy stuff,” said junior Nathan Chu. “That’s like using someone else’s credit card to make your own payments. If you really want something from the machine but either don’t have enough money or don’t have a PIN, then all you need to do is ask your friend to buy something for you.”

STAFF PHOTO / Jacqueline Zhu
Juliet Herrick, a junior, enters her PIN into one of the vending machines

Some students are not sure if sharing PINs amongst friends is as significant an issue. “I think that while sharing your PIN so your friend can get a snack is considerate, lots of people are abusing this power and causing problems in the long run,” said Madelyn Blanchette, a junior.

“In my mind, sharing PINs is okay as long as it’s mutual,” stated freshman Gavin Cleary, “but if it is not or if it’s stealing PINs, then it is not okay.”

Koutroubas explained that students sharing their PINs with friends is also inappropriate. “When we assign you the PIN, there’s a letter that says ‘Do not share your PIN’. That’s like your mom or dad sharing their PIN to their bank account.”

Several students suggest that offending students’ PINs be deactivated as a countermeasure against PIN theft. “I think if sharing a PIN is becoming an issue, a suspension of the PIN could work,” said Blanchette.

Sophomore Megan Zhang agrees. “I think appropriate consequences for those who share their PIN numbers is to have their PIN deactivated for a certain amount of time, such as two or three weeks,” she said.

Zhang believes a possible solution would be to use biometric technology instead of codes. “Having everyone’s finger (of their choice) to be used for scanners marked/identified and then using those for the ‘codes’ would make sure that it is the correct person using the account,” she explained.

Koutroubas’ idea is similar, only students’ ID cards would be scanned instead of their fingers. “We really would love for students to carry their IDs and be able to scan everything,” she said. “It would eliminate lines, and it would eliminate theft. I think that it would be a little more secure, unless you lose your ID or something. Until there’s enforcement from the administration on carrying IDs, we’re just left with the PINs.”

Since holiday break, there has been a decrease in vending machine theft. “There was a decrease right after the students that compromised the numbers were punished,” stated Koutroubas. “As soon as we found out who they were through the cameras, it stopped.”

Koutroubas’ ultimate advice to students is to not share their PINs. “Be conscious of who’s around you when you’re putting your PIN in. Make sure there’s no kids videotaping you,” she said.