lunchroom etiquette all over the place in Weber, Ogden schools
Polk Elementary School students eat their lunches Monday, March 3, 2014 at Polk Elementary School. They are required to sit on only one side of the tables. (DYlAN BROWN/Standard-Examiner)
Becky Ramage, a foster volunteer, supervises Polk Elementary School students Monday, March 3, 2014 at Polk Elementary School. The students are only allowed to sit on one side of the tables. (DYlAN BROWN/Standard-Examiner)
Polk Elementary School students eat their lunches Monday, March 3, 2014 at Polk Elementary School. (DYlAN BROWN/Standard-Examiner)
Polk Elementary School students eat their lunches Monday, March 3, 2014 at Polk Elementary School. (DYlAN BROWN/Standard-Examiner)
Polk Elementary School students eat their lunches Monday, March 3, 2014 at Polk Elementary School. They are required to sit on only one side of the tables. (DYlAN BROWN/Standard-Examiner)
OGDEN – Parents and schools are looking closely at all elements of lunch room etiquette, with many focusing on student behavior.
The Weber and Ogden school districts don’t have a specific policy on lunch room behavior, so they leave it up to the individual schools to set those parameters. Lunch room behavior policies run the gamut from students eating lunch outside and in classrooms, to students sitting on only one side of a table to cut down on noise.
In many schools head custodians are put in charge of the lunchroom time and work with administrators to set the rules, said Zac Williams, spokesman for the Ogden School District. This is the case at Polk Elementary where students are allowed to sit by friends, but not across from them. Williams said the decision was made to reduce noise in the lunchroom and promote cleanliness.
“If the kids are more spread out and have more room, it tends to be more clean,” Williams said.
Polk parent Casey Booth said she has been in the lunchroom before the change and thinks there is no difference in noise. She would like for lunch to be a time for kids to socialize and not have to hurry to eat.
“It’s their time for a break and to not be so focused. They need to get rid of that energy that gets built up,” she said.
Parent Ella Mitchell agrees. Her children attend Wasatch Elementary and she sees value in students talking during lunch time.
“It surprises me that anyone thinks it is a good idea to not let kids talk during lunch,” Mitchell said. “Lunch etiquette should include appropriate conversation.”
Williams said the lunchroom runs smoothly at Polk. “Lunch is something kids really have an opinion about,” Williams said.
He said at Taylor Canyon, some students are working on a petition to get the Styrofoam trays removed, something many parents oppose as well. But he said Styrofoam is here to stay.
“You have to pick where you are trying to conserve,” said Ken Crawford .who is over Ogden District supplies.
He said Styrofoam trays save on labor costs, and water from washing the dishes. “It’s the optimal choice for us,” Crawford said.
Other students and some parents are frustrated with the behavior policy at Shadow Valley. At that school they have what is dubbed “green apple-yellow apple.” The school custodian and lunchroom workers watch student behavior and reward classes with a green apple for good behavior and a yellow apple for bad behavior. If classes get a certain number of green apples they get a special reward at lunch. If they get continuous yellow apples they get talked to about behavior.
Parent Rana Hughes said her son doesn’t like it at all. “At Shadow Valley the apple thing works. My son just hates it. Basically your not allowed to talk during lunch,” Hughes said.
Shadow Valley Principal Don Mendenhall said he doesn’t want to discourage students from talking, but they want them to talk more quietly and not let things get out of hand.
“We want kids to have an enjoyable time but there is an expectation for good behavior,” Mendenhall said.
He noted that they want to recognize positive behaviors.
Wasatch Elementary has tried a new approach – eating outside when it’s nice weather. This year they have added the element that students have to raise their hand before they are excused from lunch. Custodian Rick Critchlow takes a look at what they’ve eaten and tries to get them to eat more or excuse them if they’ve eaten enough.
“We can’t force them to eat, but sometimes we can encourage them and it seems to help,” Critchlow said.
As for eating outside, it has completely changed lunchtime on warm days. “They kids are so much more relaxed,” he said. And they eat more.
The school used to allow students to eat outside only as a reward for good behavior. Now with the success all kids get to do it. If one or two behavior poorly they have to eat inside.
“It has been a really good things for our kids,” he said.
Parents agree.
“It seems so laid back and I’ve heard the kids eat better when they are outside. I really like it,” parent Amy Tuttle said.
At Kanesville Elementary the playground aides also serve as lunchroom aides. Parent Tricia Taylor said the aides basically patrol the lunchroom, help kids open milk cartons and keep the peace. Students receive a “5 minute warning” with a note on the table so they know it is time to finish up.
Weber School District Spokesman Nate Taggart said Washington Terrace Elementary takes the students on a tour of the lunchroom at the beginning of the year and goes over rules and expectations.
At Maria Montessori Charter School in North Ogden, all students bring their lunch and eat in the classroom. Classes are equipped with microwaves so students can prepare a warm lunch if needed. Parent Sarah Fonnesbeck said she loves it.
Williams said that bad lunchroom behavior hasn’t necessarily declined, but in Ogden School District they are trying to teach consistency to students and that good behavior is expected in all elements of the school.
“We are teaching what is appropriate and what is not appropriate and teaching procedures throughout each school,” Williams said.