We are excited to bring you a new series called “Two Cents.” Every month, we will post a new topic for you to read and “talk” about. The topic may come from an article surrounding the education world, parent banter in the parking lot, or someone sharing a unique and engaging program that happened at their child’s school. Whatever it may be, we want to conjure up some conversation! Remember, the goal of these discussions is to make one think and to have your opinion be heard. We hope that you are willing to speak up and add your “two cents” to get the conversation started.

(if you would like to suggest a topic for this series, please email us at jennandkerri (at) scooptoo (dot) com)

School Lunches

Kerri’s Two Cents:

I admit I am one of those people that cringe at the thought of my children buying a school lunch in the cafeteria. Even when I visit my own children at school for lunch occasionally, I can’t help but wonder what is in that unattractive food that I see lying on the tray.  Sometimes the smell from the cafeteria gets to me. With that being said, the lunch line is always down the hall and around the corner.

Last year, my twin boys would beg me to buy hot lunch. I found myself trying to convince them repeatedly that I, your devoted mother, make the best lunch around! Whether it was a sandwich, salad, or leftovers from the night before, they were always accompanied with veggies, fruit, and some type of dairy. Every once in a while the lunch would be completed with a note from yours truly. Their lunches were healthy, nutritious and made with loving care. What more did they want? The answer was hot lunch. Yes, I caved from time to time, although it was only a handful of times, okay maybe two. One day, I even overheard one of my sons telling his grandmother, “No Nana I never buy hot lunch because it’s gross and not good for my body.” Kids say familiar things, don’t they?

Healthy or not, school lunch has not drastically changed from when I was in elementary school. Therefore, it’s always been up to the parent to make the choice for their child, cafeteria food versus a homemade lunch. I haven’t put much more thought towards this topic until recently. A friend sent me the article A Tale of Two Lunches and I can’t help but wonder a few things now. Shouldn’t we as parents be demanding better for our children when it comes to nutrition? Shouldn’t the standard school lunches be a thing of the past? What if DPS could become a candidate for a pilot program where lunch is catered by Revolution Foods? Their food is not only appealing to the eye but organic, locally grown, and prepared fresh daily. Would I allow my children to buy lunch at school more often? Would parents pay more money for a better, healthier lunch option for their child? Today, child obesity dramatically increases from year to year. While a healthy lifestyle should be taught in the home, why not have it modeled in schools?

Jenn’s Two Cents:

I ate school lunches as a child all the way up through high school, although in my elementary years, I recall having more packed lunches as opposed to a $1.10 in my pocket for a hot lunch.  Friday (pizza day) was the only exception of course.  Mostly I came sporting a PB&J with an apple and some carrots in a brown bag. It’s probably not much different than kids today with the exception of a fancy initialed lunch box.

To have organic and healthful meal options in public schools (or any school) sounds idyllic if it were not for one fact; they’re expensive.  My son’s school offers an organic daily lunch service and frankly they’re not incredibly appealing to him.  I’d rather him eat healthy foods that I know he likes than spend the money on healthy food he doesn’t like.  Now if I could pay $5.00 and have those lunches delivered to me each day, I would!

I can’t imagine it will be easy to have Revolution Foods, or any other service, partner with an entire public school system.  The enormous amount of red tape that The Odyssey School went through to get the program going will only be compounded by the lack of funding and bureaucracy surrounding Denver Public Schools.  Additionally, it seems like there are more important things for DPS to focus on like…graduation rates and enrichment programs, rather than whether students are getting organic burrito wraps and caesar salads versus chicken nuggets and french fries at school.

We want to hear from you. What are your thoughts on school lunch and this article A Tale of Two Lunches?

Next week, DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg will address the public on the status of the Denver Public Schools and its future. It’s your chance to learn more about the 2009 Denver Plan (blueprint for reform). Read the below Press Release for more information about this event.  Hope to see you there.

Message From the Stapleton Community Education Coalition:  Forest City announced today its commitment to gift $5.5 million towards the development of a new Stapleton school. This is contingent on approval from the City of Denver. Councilman Hancock is working directly with the Mayor’s office to confirm approval. However, this is clearly a wonderful first step in our long-term roadmap to address capacity concerns and allow every student in Stapleton to attend a traditional neighborhood school (ECE-12). Forest City is also conducting a census to identify as precisely as possible the number of children who will be attending DPS schools in the coming years. We would like to thank everyone for their diligent work and continued support to make this a reality including Forest City, Denver Public Schools, Senator Bennet, Senator Johnston, Councilman Hancock, City of Denver, DURA, Stapleton Foundation, current school administrators, Sun Education Committee and most importantly, all SCEC members and Stapleton residents.

You can read the full announcement here: Forest City Commitment of $5.5 M for Stapleton School

It’s that time of year again folks! Many of you will be starting your school search soon. You may be asking yourself all sorts of questions, in particular, where do I begin? You want the SCOOP? You got it. Below are some of our first posts (many of which were buried in past archives) that can help get you started. We think you will find them both informative and helpful because finding the right school can be a bit daunting to say the least. After reading some of these articles we hope you walk away feeling recharged and ready to do your “homework.”

Getting Started
Testing: Who Needs It?
Choices, Choices, Choices….School of Choice Process
Options for Kindergarten—Part I—Full Day vs. Half Day
Options for Kindergarten—Part II—Redshirting
Options for Kindergarten—Part III—Kindergarten Twice