“In a school community, like Parker, we should have more options on where to sit rather than having to choose between [sitting] on the floor or sitting with first graders in the cafeteria where we have to limit our language,” an anonymous Upper School student says.
The Upper School is filled with many places to relax and chill, whether you are studying for an upcoming test or just hanging out with your friends. However, few of these places with tables and chairs allow students to eat there. Most students don’t like this rule, but they only see one side of the issue.
Sophomore Jojo Husbeck said,“I feel annoyed sometimes at this. I find myself eating a lot on the floor in hallways or in the cafeteria, but I’m not always allowed to eat there because of the middle schoolers.” There is confusions about why students can’t eat in certain places, and Mr. Bruno, Upper School Dean of Student Life helps students understand the rules.
When grabbing something to eat, sitting in the cafeteria might not always be the ideal option. There are many little kids who are very loud and fill up the cafeteria when other high school students are trying to have conversations. People are moved by one of the Lower School teachers because they were sitting at a reserved table. Because of this, many students resort to finding a place in the Upper School to sit, but there aren’t enough spaces in the hallways for 360+ people to eat lunch. Bruno explains that not everyone is guaranteed a space to eat in the Upper School, but that is why we have a cafeteria. And with the new schedule next year, there will be a designated cafeteria time slot just for the Upper School.
Students often leave a mess and don’t clean up after themselves which leaves teachers frustrated as well. Bruno is “constantly cleaning up messes and [doesn’t] want to clean up food.” He has even been more lenient about this rule of not eating at the benches outside the Upper School offices by allowing snacks and drinks. “I don’t think students realize how much food I clean up for them.”
“We share this space,” Bruno said. He has a whole folder with pictures and emails from teachers asking for his help getting students to be appropriate and pick up after themselves. This is a complicated situation, and many factors go into it. No one can guarantee that students are going to be responsible for their things and trash they leave behind, as well as not be a disruption to younger students around the school. Bruno is waiting for students to come “present a plan to [him] on how they are able to manage that space” and he “would love to be more intentional with the eating spaces that we do have,” working to make them more functional.
The Model Home and Interior Design clubs are also working on this. Louise Hall, Interior Design club Head said, “We’ve been trying to figure out more seating spaces in the upper school. We want to put more tables in the math wing for people to eat at.”
