We pass the same people everyday, pick up our lunches, go to our tables, and enjoy our meal, but have you ever stopped and wondered what really goes on behind the cafeteria’s doors?
The real people behind Federal Hocking’s delicious lunches are Amanda Stalder, Kellee Six, Mark Kasper, and Mike Bellar. Despite being a meager crew of just four, they still consistently deliver. Each one of them brings something special to our meals. They put in an abundance of effort that goes unseen to the rest of us, starting with how early they show up every morning!
Students are always complaining about having to start school at 7:50 a.m., but the cafeteria staff arrive at school around 6:00 a.m. every morning. The chefs, Stalder, Six, and Bellar, start making hot breakfast and cutting up fresh fruits and veggies for lunch. From there, they serve us breakfast and begin preparing for lunch.
When lunch time rolls around and the kitchen becomes filled with the chatter of students, Bellar gets to enjoy his favorite part of the job: interacting with the kids.
“I enjoy talking with the kids and getting to see what their likes and dislikes are,” Bellar stated.
Not only does it make his day go faster, he’s one of the fan favorites of the lunchroom. He’s funny, silly and is always willing to help with a request.
Bellar, along with all the other chefs, would love to hear more about our opinions on the lunches.
“We base what we serve on the students’ opinions, and it would be nice to see what the students like,” Six said.
The cafeteria staff sometimes post surveys on the ‘Class of’ google classroom pages, so make sure to fill those out. The kitchen staff also encourages students to tell them how they feel about any given lunch. This will help them see what they can change to appeal to the students.
Kasper’s job is a little different from the chefs. He’s the one who’s behind the scenes making everything work smoothly. He runs the registers along with Stalder during breakfast and lunch. He also works on paperwork, deposits, and reports, all regarding our food. Kasper’s job is to make sure all lunches are compliant with state regulations.
While Kasper has come to be a familiar face in the cafeteria, he wasn’t a part of our staff until this school year. He came to Ohio in June from Chicago,Illinois, where he worked as a chef. Kasper has liked the country lifestyle compared to his old life in the city.
“I don’t plan on leaving,” Kasper assured us.
Stalder has a backstory of her own. For the longest time she worked at Amesville Elementary, and recently moved to the High School. The atmosphere is definitely different but seeing some familiar faces has helped the change. Stalder is the head chef of the lunchroom.
She takes her job seriously and does an amazing job at it.
We interviewed a student, Logan Barnett, who eats the school lunch everyday. We asked Barnett what he thought of the school lunches, and what his favorite lunch was.
“It’s mid when it wants to be. My favorite is probably the pizza,” Barnett said.
Federal Hocking’s cafeteria staff are not just employees; they’re partners in creating a healthy and happy school environment. This article calls for greater recognition, support, and investment in this often overlooked but vital group. Be aware of their hard work, and share your thoughts on the food to help them out. Don’t forget to say thank you when dropping off your trays!
