Goodbye, Middle School; Hello, High School

Back in August, with the help of some readers, I signed up for my second year of volunteering in the Highland Park Middle School/McCulloch Intermediate School cafeteria. But I haven’t actually slung any hash this semester. After signing up, I was informed of a policy change at HPMS/MIS: The PTA has decided that only family members of current students can work in the cafeteria.

I called Armstrong and Bradfield, preferring to volunteer on a campus closer to the office, but I was told they’ve got all the help they need. So now, with the Highland Park High School PTA’s blessing, I’ve signed up to serve burgers and fries on third Thursdays. See you in two weeks, Scots!

(If you have the time/inclination, consider joining me. Even though we’re more than a month into the school year, HPHS had a slew of slots for me to choose from.)

By Dan Koller Oct. 6, 2011 | 7:30 am | 10 Comments | Comments RSS
10 comments to "Goodbye, Middle School; Hello, High School"
  1. B @ October 6, 2011 at 8:59 am
    Thanks for serving Dan. You’re in for a treat, really. Count how many times the kids say ‘Thank you’ – you will quickly run out of fingers and toes. There are some amazing kids up there, and most are ultra polite.

  2. sls @ October 6, 2011 at 10:12 am
    I’ve worked that spot, just be careful as fresh-from-the-fyer French fries are pretty hot. You don’t want to burn those typing fingers! Have fun!

  3. HPmom @ October 6, 2011 at 11:40 am
    Thanks so much for doing this. I wish more men had the time /inclination to help. The kids always get a kick out of seeing “Dads” behind the line. Dress cool- it does get extremely warm behind those fryers!

  4. Sad @ October 6, 2011 at 2:32 pm
    With 66 spots open at MIS I just can’t believe they turned you away :(

  5. Making Lemonade @ October 6, 2011 at 2:33 pm
    My dad, a grandparent to MIS and HPMS students, volunteers every Tuesday at the cafeteria. Male volunteers are awesome!!

  6. anon @ October 6, 2011 at 6:59 pm
    Dan, I think you’ve touched upon a real problem: why are so many spots unfilled? Unless my memory is in correct, this is a new phenomenon.

    An easy assumption is that more moms work full time and aren’t available, but I’m not sure if that’s true. Enrollment is way up so there should be more parents available.

    If the trend continues, will the district need to hire employees to work along side the volunteers?

  7. Who knew? @ October 6, 2011 at 10:47 pm
    Dan, You got lucky! The kids at MIS/HPMS are incredibly rude, compared to HPHS, to the volunteers in the cafeteria.

  8. Sandwich Maker @ October 7, 2011 at 7:39 am
    I am not volunteering at HPHS cafeteria because my son is no longer buying lunch- says the lines are insane and the food is not good or healthy. My new job is making his lunch each morning!

  9. HPmom @ October 7, 2011 at 9:21 am
    Sandwich maker- There is a “sandwich” line that I know is never that long (boars head and fresh bread-) Plus they have an hour for lunch- I am thinking he may just prefer “home cookin”!

  10. Steve @ October 9, 2011 at 11:08 pm
    Do the paid cafeteria (or other school support) workers have kids at the school? The MIS policy seems a bit paranoid to me, especially with many open slots.

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