Many students at AGHS who rely on the school’s food services noticed the recent change in the lunch line system. The new system implemented at the beginning of the year is now one long line instead of four separate lines.
“I thought that was the line to get into the office or something,” Manuel Moreno (‘24) said. “That thing was all the way to the 500s. I’m not even joking, it was the longest thing ever.”
Upperclassmen are familiar with a four-line system. During the Covid pandemic, the four-line system was implemented in accordance with social distancing guidelines. Now, the Food Service Department is reintroducing the long line system, allowing students to be acquainted with a system they did not know about previously.
The new line system goes through the food service building giving students more opportunity to gather their own food as opposed to choosing the main dish and then getting what came with it.
“I definitely think it’s good, because if you’re hungrier it’s better for that, and if you don’t want as much [and] you just want a snack you just have a little bit,” Aidan Burns (‘26) said.
Students have mixed opinions on the effectiveness of the new line system.
“Some days if you get there early enough it’s not that long. But all the people coming from the 900s and stuff, the line’s already all the way over here they have to just wait,” Moreno said.
While Moreno thinks the line can be inefficient, Burns feels as though the line goes by quickly.
“I definitely think [the new line is] slower at first but it definitely speeds up and is faster. I definitely like it more than last year’s because last year it could go to almost the end of lunch,” Burns said.
Morning breakfast lines also shifted to the new system. Students soon noticed, however, that those lines were quickly reverted back to the four-line system due to student actions.
“A lot of students are putting things in their pockets or grabbing extra, so that’s the only thing that makes it difficult cause we only take out so much food for everyone,” Elizabeth Belmontes, food service staff, said. That’s why we started doing the breakfast line so that we make sure [students don’t take extra food].”
Returning to the four-line system for breakfast, students feel as though they are unable to get breakfast during break time.
“I used to be able to get food at break when I wanted to,” Rylyn Schumacher (24’) said. “Before, when I had [to go to the] 900s 2nd period I had to walk all the way to the quad to get food, and half the time I wouldn’t even be able to get there and get what I wanted, but having the concession stand open is easier access.”
Despite changes in the lunch line system, one thing that isn’t changing is the meaningful connections between staff who provide students with nourishing meals each day.
“I like them both ways. You’re more in-person with the students here…So I prefer more of the slower pace, where you can actually see and talk to the students a bit,” Belmontes said.