This year our lunchroom approach was a more laid back style where students could have choice of seating and use this time and space to truly talk and socialize. We still have to take appropriate organization and precautions when it comes to safety, allergies and home lunch vs school lunch, however, we wanted the lunch block to be a true break for kiddos to feel safe and relax a bit from their learning and expectations from the classroom .
We also have a microwave option for home lunches. Sometimes, being a parent of young kiddos, I realize how hard it is to get them to eat or be excited about what we pack. The microwave was never really publicized because it truly depends on the age and interest of your student if they need or want to bring something that needs to be cooked.
Good news travels fast because the microwave is a hot topic currently. We have a new trend of ramen noodles being brought in or things that need to be "cooked". The lunch block is around 20 minutes long with a 10 minute cushion if kiddos need more time to eat. With such a time constraint it is too hard to COOK items for multiple students - once something is cooked, then needs to cool -and waiting for the students in front of them items to be cooked there time is all gone with no time to eat.
This lengthy explanation comes with the request to only send home lunch items to school that need to be 'heated up' or cooked in less than 2-3 minutes. We don't mind having this option as long as it is useful and working - lately though it has been more of a pain and not helpful so in the end we may have to get rid of it and take the option away if we can find a common ground solution!
To reiterate - try your best to send home lunches that doesn't take a lot of assistance from an adult, if you have a picky eater or for a special occasion and need to send a re-heat item with your kiddos lunch that works too. Please stay away from sending a lunch like ramen noodles or any items that need to be cooked to school with your student to school.
