Eighth period lunch has become a 40 minute timed session to see who has the ability to get to the cafeteria fast enough to get food. Ten minutes late? No food for you!

After ten minutes, the doors close. No more lunch meat for sandwiches, no more rolls--the food’s cold and the list goes on. Junior Tonye Van Dunk, who had eighth period lunch last semester, said, “It was pretty annoying when they’re packing up the chairs and tables when you’re practically still sitting in them.”

All of the cafeteria ladies and the custodians leave work between 2:30 and 3:00 PM, so during 8th period lunch, they are definitely “rushed for time.” During 5th-7th period lunches, the doors always remain open because the staff isn’t as pressured as they are during 8th.

If you find that there isn’t enough food left for lunch, it might be because 8th period has the smallest number of students getting lunch and the cafeteria doesn’t want to get stuck with leftovers.



Ms. Lercara, the Vice Principal, agreed that 8th period lunch is definitely a tough period for the kitchen and that the cafeteria will try to serve the hot lunch for the first 15-20 minutes of the period and sandwiches for the first 25 minutes. Ms. Clavelle also assured us that she will be checking in with the staff to make sure these times are carried through. Although she did admit that they might run out of Pizza Hut, she said that they never run out of hot lunch. As for the lunch meat, extra is always available in the back, so you might just have to ask the deli ladies to get it.

The student population is definitely feeling the vibe of 8th period lunch. Chelsy Andryshak, a sophomore, thinks that the cafeteria staff should "proportion (the food) so that there's enough for each lunch period."

And if you are late for lunch? As long as you have a pass from your teacher or Ms. Lercara, the cafeteria ladies will try their best to get you lunch.