FAQs for New Dining Hall
FAQs for New Dining Hall In anticipation of our new Dining Hall opening in fall 2015, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions, along with Head of School John Liggett’s responses. Should you have more questions, we encourage you to reference Mr. Liggett’s recipe blog and the PDF of the Original Food Company’s offerings found here: www.cds.on.ca/dininghallrecipes. We also plan to host a webcast in the near future with John Liggett and our Aramark Chef to tell you more about our exciting plans for the Original Food Company at CDS!
Q. These gourmet offerings sound too good to be true. How will you ensure that CDS students embrace all of the healthy offerings and not just queue up at the pizza oven every day? Will the kitchen staff be prepared to recalibrate as needed?
A. Admittedly, there will be growing pains in the beginning, but our Aramark kitchen staff are experts at what they do. We will use menu planning to ensure that the choices are laid out in a way that will encourage students to eat a variety of foods. We also won’t have pizza every day!
Q. How will the new Dining Hall accommodate my child’s food allergies and/or sensitivities? Will I have an opportunity to speak with the new kitchen staff in advance so that I am comfortable with what the daily offerings will be?
A. A student friendly signage system will alert those with allergies to foods that are a concern. Kitchen staff and CDS staff are also widely aware of students with food allergies and will be proactive in making sure certain foods are avoided. All menus will be available well in advance in easily accessible electronic form, and additionally, staff will meet with those families with allergy concerns.
Q. With such an emphasis on nutrition and variety, does that mean the new Dining Hall will strive to offer organic and local foods wherever possible?
A. Our new Dining Hall program will reflect CDS’ commitment to sustainability and our kitchen will forge a partnership with the Greenbelt Fund and an organization called 100km Foods Inc., allowing us to make use of local products when seasonably available at a reasonable price. We plan to offer seasonal menus and even grow our own fresh herbs and micro greens, and maybe even a school vegetable garden.
Q. In the promotional materials you state the new Dining Hall will open in fall 2015. The 2015-2016 tuition increase includes the cost of the new lunch program, but what if the Dining Hall doesn’t open until mid-year?
A. Our goal is for the Dining Hall to be ready for occupancy on September 8, barring unforeseen circumstances and any bad weather that could delay this date. In the event that we are not able to achieve this goal, you will be informed well in advance and we will look at equitable solutions.
Q. Why can’t I opt-in or opt-out of the lunch program? A. We believe our focus on a program that fosters healthy living attitudes should be universal for all our students. Furthermore, having all students participate will allow the program to be more efficient as well as producing an equitable feel for all students at a key communal point in the day.
Q. My children are involved in clubs that meet at lunch. Will there be a place in the new Dining Hall for students to have “working lunches” with faculty advisors similar to what they are accustomed to?
A. Absolutely. The Dining Hall has plenty of seating and will have a variety of table styles to meet the needs of groups conducting a working lunch, and will also be open for group work/study throughout the day.
Q. My child is a fussy eater and while all of these different stations and options sound amazing, how can I be sure there will be something he/she will want to eat?
A. Over time we believe students will be exposed to such a variety of food choices that they will acquire a taste for a much broader range of foods. In the short term, we will make use of our seven marché stations to ensure that on any given day, there are a number of more traditional, broadly adopted foods available. In the case of the most difficult eaters, or severe allergies, our chef will meet with families individually to tailor a program that works.
Q. Currently, when my child travels to an off-campus sports game or class field trip during school hours, they simply bring their packed lunch with them. What will happen moving forward – will I still need to pack them lunch?
A. If your son or daughter is on a CDS field trip or at an away athletic game (with the exception of extended or overnight trips) a healthy boxed lunch will be provided.
Q. Surely my Grade 2 aged-daughter won’t be able to eat the same amount as my Grade 11 son. Will hungrier students be allowed to have seconds? Why must I pay the same price for both?
A. Students in Grades K-6 will receive a healthy snack in addition to lunch. Our Dining Hall model features an all you care to eat model for all grades.
Q. With a Dining Hall on the premises, will snacks be available to purchase if my child gets hungry during the school day?
A. Students in the Junior School will receive a healthy snack every day as part of the new lunch program, and fruit will be available in the Dining Hall every day, all day, for students to stop by and pick up. We will look to add a breakfast and after school program that will be conducted on a cash basis in the future.
Q. I heard something about the new Dining Hall generating zero waste. How is that possible? A. Any edible leftovers will be donated whenever possible to organizations such as Second Harvest. Food waste that cannot be repurposed (even our napkins) will be fed into our new “rocket composter”, which will transform food scraps into ready-to-use mulch we can use in our own gardens or make available to the CDS community. The food-to-mulch process will take about a week and serve as an incredible science lesson and learning opportunity that our students can be involved in!
Q. My child is only 8 years old, how will they handle the marché style set up? A. Meals will be delivered to the classroom for students in JK-SK and students in Grades 1-3 will be served “family style” with their teachers in the Dining Hall. Students Grade 4 and older will learn to quickly navigate the new servery with lots of guidance in the beginning.
Q. Will the lunch times change for my child? A. Times have not been finalized, but we do know that our youngest students will eat first.
Q. These gourmet offerings sound too good to be true. How will you ensure that CDS students embrace all of the healthy offerings and not just queue up at the pizza oven every day? Will the kitchen staff be prepared to recalibrate as needed?
A. Admittedly, there will be growing pains in the beginning, but our Aramark kitchen staff are experts at what they do. We will use menu planning to ensure that the choices are laid out in a way that will encourage students to eat a variety of foods. We also won’t have pizza every day!
Q. How will the new Dining Hall accommodate my child’s food allergies and/or sensitivities? Will I have an opportunity to speak with the new kitchen staff in advance so that I am comfortable with what the daily offerings will be?
A. A student friendly signage system will alert those with allergies to foods that are a concern. Kitchen staff and CDS staff are also widely aware of students with food allergies and will be proactive in making sure certain foods are avoided. All menus will be available well in advance in easily accessible electronic form, and additionally, staff will meet with those families with allergy concerns.
Q. With such an emphasis on nutrition and variety, does that mean the new Dining Hall will strive to offer organic and local foods wherever possible?
A. Our new Dining Hall program will reflect CDS’ commitment to sustainability and our kitchen will forge a partnership with the Greenbelt Fund and an organization called 100km Foods Inc., allowing us to make use of local products when seasonably available at a reasonable price. We plan to offer seasonal menus and even grow our own fresh herbs and micro greens, and maybe even a school vegetable garden.
Q. In the promotional materials you state the new Dining Hall will open in fall 2015. The 2015-2016 tuition increase includes the cost of the new lunch program, but what if the Dining Hall doesn’t open until mid-year?
A. Our goal is for the Dining Hall to be ready for occupancy on September 8, barring unforeseen circumstances and any bad weather that could delay this date. In the event that we are not able to achieve this goal, you will be informed well in advance and we will look at equitable solutions.
Q. Why can’t I opt-in or opt-out of the lunch program? A. We believe our focus on a program that fosters healthy living attitudes should be universal for all our students. Furthermore, having all students participate will allow the program to be more efficient as well as producing an equitable feel for all students at a key communal point in the day.
Q. My children are involved in clubs that meet at lunch. Will there be a place in the new Dining Hall for students to have “working lunches” with faculty advisors similar to what they are accustomed to?
A. Absolutely. The Dining Hall has plenty of seating and will have a variety of table styles to meet the needs of groups conducting a working lunch, and will also be open for group work/study throughout the day.
Q. My child is a fussy eater and while all of these different stations and options sound amazing, how can I be sure there will be something he/she will want to eat?
A. Over time we believe students will be exposed to such a variety of food choices that they will acquire a taste for a much broader range of foods. In the short term, we will make use of our seven marché stations to ensure that on any given day, there are a number of more traditional, broadly adopted foods available. In the case of the most difficult eaters, or severe allergies, our chef will meet with families individually to tailor a program that works.
Q. Currently, when my child travels to an off-campus sports game or class field trip during school hours, they simply bring their packed lunch with them. What will happen moving forward – will I still need to pack them lunch?
A. If your son or daughter is on a CDS field trip or at an away athletic game (with the exception of extended or overnight trips) a healthy boxed lunch will be provided.
Q. Surely my Grade 2 aged-daughter won’t be able to eat the same amount as my Grade 11 son. Will hungrier students be allowed to have seconds? Why must I pay the same price for both?
A. Students in Grades K-6 will receive a healthy snack in addition to lunch. Our Dining Hall model features an all you care to eat model for all grades.
Q. With a Dining Hall on the premises, will snacks be available to purchase if my child gets hungry during the school day?
A. Students in the Junior School will receive a healthy snack every day as part of the new lunch program, and fruit will be available in the Dining Hall every day, all day, for students to stop by and pick up. We will look to add a breakfast and after school program that will be conducted on a cash basis in the future.
Q. I heard something about the new Dining Hall generating zero waste. How is that possible? A. Any edible leftovers will be donated whenever possible to organizations such as Second Harvest. Food waste that cannot be repurposed (even our napkins) will be fed into our new “rocket composter”, which will transform food scraps into ready-to-use mulch we can use in our own gardens or make available to the CDS community. The food-to-mulch process will take about a week and serve as an incredible science lesson and learning opportunity that our students can be involved in!
Q. My child is only 8 years old, how will they handle the marché style set up? A. Meals will be delivered to the classroom for students in JK-SK and students in Grades 1-3 will be served “family style” with their teachers in the Dining Hall. Students Grade 4 and older will learn to quickly navigate the new servery with lots of guidance in the beginning.
Q. Will the lunch times change for my child? A. Times have not been finalized, but we do know that our youngest students will eat first.
