FREE LUNCH

CPHS offering free lunch due to COVID-19; all students eligible

BY ANDREW POESCHL reporter

This year, there have been many changes in many aspects of our lives, as well as to the services we use. One such service is the lunches provided here at school. As many students here have discovered, the school is now providing free breakfast and lunch to all students. This new policy helps students who have been left in a financially unsafe position by the COVID-19 pandemic and helps to promote a healthier diet.

“With this meal plan our students will need to take three components for the meal to be free. We offer five components for a meal which are grains, protein, milk, fruits and vegetables,” food service director Pam Maloney said. “Grains and protein are together in the entrée, so a student would have to add an 8 ounce milk, or 6 ounces of any different fruit or vegetable or they can take all of “The US Department of relieve some of the financial the components. As a nutrition Agriculture (USDA) has issued stress put on families during department we would hope our a nationwide waiver to provide this pandemic. students continue to take the a safe and flexible meal service “This was done to help our variety of foods offered.” to our students during the Coro- families nationwide with any

This meal plan is part of a navirus public health emergen- financial burden they may be push to get students to eat more cy,” Maloney said. “This waiv- experiencing during this time,” healthy food in school, and this er allows us to offer breakfast Maloney said. new policy has been made with and lunch meals free of charge. But not only is the school that in mind. Keeping a fully balanced meal has been significant in making this new policy. “We are hoping our students take advantage of the free meals as they ‘‘ We are hoping our students take advantage of the free meals as they need plenty of food to fuel providing a free lunch and breakfast to all students, the school is also taking steps to further the quality of the food they are serving here. “You may see an ocneed plenty of food to fuel their bodies. A wide their bodies. casional dessert made with fruit,” Maloney said. variety of foods will give food service director “We have a full time Chef them the nourishment Pam Maloney on staff, Chef Michelle they need to stay alert Kral, she is experimenting in class and keep them with different ideas made healthy from day to day,” Ma- Any ala carte items such as with our fruit that we already loney said. Gatorade, chips, etc., will still offer. These items are specials

This will help encourage have to be paid for. It only cov- and will be advertised before students who to try and eat ers a complete meal.” they are put into service.” healthier foods while at school, This reveals the new di- With all the changes to the though it is not just our school rection schools are going in for school lunches, they may just participating in the new pro- healthier students, and by pro- improve someone’s life in more gram. viding free lunches is helping ways than one.

VIEWS on NEWS[Students’ reactions to events in our world

State

Fox 59 reported that Chicago residents are urged not to travel to Indiana because of a rise in COVID-19 cases. Indiana is currently facing an over 15 cases a day average. I agree that people should stay within their states for now, but I don’t think that ‘‘ people in Chicago are doing so good with case numbers either.

Especially with the amount of rioting. Kadiel Rosario-Pizarro junior

Nation

This hurricane season has faced 25 named storms already, forcing meteorologists to dip into the Greek alphabet for just the second time on record, according to The Washington Post. I feel pretty bad for those people stuck in the hurricane. We could probably ‘‘ get people out there to help them.

You can’t really stop a hurricane, so all you can do is just get people out Chase Eckhart of there. sophomore

World

As reported by The Guardian, parties in which young people try to catch COVID-19 to gain immunity could become the norm if the virus is not eradicated. I don’t think going to or throwing COVID parties would be a smart idea for anyone at any age to do, ‘‘ mainly because there isn’t enough information on

COVID yet so we don’t really know the effects for anyone completely. Mimi Vraniskoski senior