Many new changes have been added to La Salle’s cafeteria for the 2015-2016 school year. One of these changes, just introduced, is a new a la carte station – which was awarded to the La Salle community for of all the hard work they put forth fundraising for the first school Walk-A-Thon in September.

The new a la carte station, which is made possible by additional help from parent volunteers, was up and running on November 5th. “The 4th station is located in the main hallway, in the alcove between the cafeteria and the main office,” said Mrs. McCarthy, Kitchen Supervisor. Foodwise, the new station offers similar options as the third lunch station in the corner of the cafeteria.

Concerning the third lunch station, some students and staff have been wondering why the cafeteria only offers a full salad bar two days a week this year. The reason behind this was that “[Most] students prefer the grab and go salads. The salad bar is very popular with the staff… [so] to compromise, we decided to offer the salad bar the first 2 days of the week [and] grab and go salads everyday at the 3rd station,” Ms. McCarthy said. “By offering grab and go salads we [the cafeteria] are selling three times as many salads than when we just had the salad bar.”

Another new addition, added by Mr. Dennis Cavitt, La Salle’s head chef, is more entrées as an a la carte option this year. Some of the favorite entrees like cheeseburgers, chicken burgers, jumbo hot dogs, chicken strips, potatoes, and noodles are now offered everyday (along with the daily entree) to give students more options for lunch.

Bao Huynh

Also, many students have expressed that the two lunch line system is not as effective as the four lunch line system. The cafeteria changed the two line system “into [a] self-serve so that students could see and choose their own options. There was quite a bit of a learning curve for all of us when making this change, but this year [it] seems to be working [more effectively],” Mrs. McCarthy said.  

This year, to help make lunch lines move quickly, cash sales and deposits are no longer allowed in the lunch lines. Students now have to deposit their money before school, during break, or (a new addition) at the fourth a la carte station. In addition, the new a la carte station should shorten lines for students who are wanting grab ‘n go items rather than the hot food items.

To add to line-shortening ideas, Ms. McCarthy suggests that only the students buying food items should stand in line and friends should stand outside the line. “Most importantly, we need help from the staff on duty to monitor the lines daily to send the students [who are cutting in line] to the back. We do feel bad about the honest students waiting patiently for their turn.”

“The only way to solve this issue is to have staff members not allow it to happen and for students to be respectful,” said Ms. McCarthy.

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What changes are you most happy with? Let us know in the comments below!