The Gordon family table

Every school day, Gordon serves every student a fresh, nutritious lunch, prepared onsite and sourced whenever possible by local producers. This community-inclusive program was part of a comprehensive strategy for integrating sustainable agriculture, nutrition, justice and community-building into the daily life of the school, and convening students, families, faculty and staff at the Gordon family table.

Lunch as an opportunity to have a positive impact on the world
Gordon’s strategic vision calls on the school to “design a lunch program that fosters a resilient and sustainable local ecosystem by supporting local farmers and serving students fresh, healthy, delicious food.” This vision was developed by families, faculty, administrators, alumni and friends of the school as A More Just and Sustainable World in 2018.

Lunch as a convenience for families
Gordon's strategic vision also asks the school to "design a flexible and integrated operating model that serves the needs of twenty-first century families, both during and beyond the traditional school day." A daily lunch program is a key part of supporting families’ as they manage household routines.

Lunch as a way to strengthen community
Sharing a daily meal is a simple, powerful way to build community, and Gordon's multicultural curriculum is well-positioned to use food to help students see their individual identities reflected in the life of the school.
 

The team that made this possible

A food committee composed of faculty, administrators and parents that meets regularly to define a vision for the program that meets the goals of nutrition, sustainable sourcing, and convenience for families.

Community members came together to fund a new, purpose-built professional kitchen in the Britt Nelson Dining Hall

Gordon's faculty have been finding dozens of new ways to incorporate food production and preparation into lessons, building on an already-rich curriculum supported by the ever-expanding community gardens and the new position of Green Dean.

SAGE Dining has been Gordon's key partner in this work. Led by Chef Rich Silvia, this crew has become a part of the campus community while sourcing preparing and serving meals every day.
 

The day-to-day of the Gordon Family Table

Gordon serves every student a fresh, nutritious lunch, drawing on a range of choices that goes far beyond anything Gordon offered in the past. The full menu can be previewed at www.gordonschool.org/menu

Gordon works hard to create a program that has options for all students, every day, and this work continues with every iteration of the menu.

If a child is not finding something they can enjoy, every day, please reach out to Veronica Jutras, so we can learn more about your child's needs.

SAGE will provide a morning snack for all students, and Gordon's after school child care and enrichment programs will also provide a snack. If your child participates in after school theater or athletics and would enjoy a snack after school, they will need to bring a snack from home.
 

Choices every day

There are many choices offered every day in the dining hall. This is exciting, and will also require decision making from students.

Parents can help with this process by reviewing the menu with students and guiding them to their favorites or towards something new. The menu is on the Touch of Sage app and online at www.gordonschool.org/menu

Early Childhood students do not eat in the dining hall. They enjoy lunch in their classrooms, and eat alongside their teachers. Their menu has fewer choices than the one for older students, and will have items chosen especially for the tastes of younger people. Vegetarians will be accommodated in Early Childhood, and there will be opportunities to try new foods and learn how to make healthy choices. 

Seconds are always available, so students can take small first servings, reducing waste if they discover they don't like an option.
 

Daily essentials in the dining hall

Whole milk, skim milk and oat milk; water and fruit-infused water are offered every day; no juice

A salad bar with fifteen or so items, including lettuce, tomatoes, and other familiar salad ingredients. The bar will also have a featured salad for the week.

A sandwich bar with a premade sandwich-of-the-day as well as bread and build-your-own staples like roasted turkey, chicken salad, egg salad, soy nut butter and jelly.

Non-processed cheese, whole wheat pasta, and wheat, oat, and whole grain breads will be offered.

A true vegetarian entree option every day, not just a meatless take on the hot entree.

The menu will always include several items that will provide consistency day-in and day-out.

Chopsticks will be available in addition to forks and spoons.

Whenever possible, snacks will avoid pre-packaged, sugary, processed items and favor fruits, veggies, and protein-based whole foods.

Menus will demonstrate respect for cultural traditions and major cultural and religious holidays. 

Dessert is served once a week.
 

Dining hall culture

Teachers and students work together on age-appropriate expectations for lunch, grounded in principles that include:

• using meals as a way to make connections with each other
• leave the dining space in the condition they found it
• be responsible for their own spills and crumbs
• dispose of waste appropriately
• work to avoid food waste by managing  portions
• create an environment where everyone enjoys the meal
• manages voices so everyone has a chance to engage with their dining partners

Students are expected to greet staff respectfully and learn names. 

Staff and faculty are invited to join lunch any time, and sit with students if they wish. Lunch will be available from 11:25 to 1:15.
 

What's the parent and caregiver’s role in this?

1. Encourage your child to try  new things.

2. Communicate if there are questions or concerns. The SAGE Dining app allows families to give feedback on the daily menus. For non-menu issues, Veronica Jutras is available at vjutras@gordonschool.org to help direct your feedback and get answers.

3. Show grace in understanding that the process of feeding everyone in the school, every day, is a complex undertaking that will evolve in the years ahead.
 

Is that all?

Yes, it's really that simple. A key goal for this work was to simplify daily decision making and school day preparations for families. Our only ask is that you encourage your child, communicate questions and concerns, and show grace as the process evolves.