Before most students have even made it to campus, Aunty Michelle is already there. 

Her official shift begins at 6:30 a.m., but she arrives long before then to make sure there is food ready and waiting on the line. Running a massive school kitchen with just herself, one cook, and a temporary worker is not an easy task. Still, every morning, she gets to work preparing breakfast, organizing lunch lines, running snack registers, and even packing meals that need to be sent to other schools.

Every meal a student eats, there is an abundance of hard work and care that turns the everyday cafeteria into an important part of the campus community.

“Preparing food for lunch and breakfast for the entire school is pretty hectic. Before even getting the food ready, we have to make sure ingredients for the food have been ordered” says Aunty Michelle

Behind the Scenes

Aunty Michelle’s day is filled with a constant stream of preparation. Some tasks she has to complete before students begin lining up are “fresh fruit needs to be cut, parfaits assembled, salad bars stocked, and meals packaged.” At the same time, she and her small team also have to keep the snack lines moving and prepare meals for both the campus and partner schools. 

Keeping everything running smoothly takes flexibility, especially when unexpected problems arise.

During a recent campus power outage, the kitchen team had to quickly figure out what food they could prepare and how to make sure students would still have enough to eat. 

“Yeah, we’re just trying to figure out what we could make or buy for you guys to eat through lunch,” says Aunty Michelle.

Moments like these show the compassion and hard work that come with working in the cafeteria. It’s filled with adapting to the spot and finding creative solutions when things do not go according to plan. 

Despite the long hours and repetitive work, Aunty Michelle has a favorite meal to prepare for the students.

“Spaghetti is my favorite thing to make for you guys. My kids love it so when I prepare it, it’s like feeding my own kids.”

For her, caring for the students is mixed with a sense of family behind it. The same care she puts into preparing food for the people she loves carries over into the meals she makes for students each day.

Fuel for the students

For many students, school meals are an important part of getting through the day.

Early mornings, long commutes, and busy schedules can make finding time for breakfast difficult. Having meals waiting at school gives students one less thing to worry about when they arrive on campus. 

For senior Madison Eusebio, who lives all the way in Waipahu, school breakfast is part of her morning routine. For instance, having to wake up early then drive 30 minutes to school daily, having breakfast on campus is a convenience she relies on. One of her go-to breakfasts is bacon and rice

“I get to school at 6:30-7am, so getting breakfast without worrying about time and carrying a lunch box is super convenient,” says Eusebio.

For students like Eusebio, the cafeteria plays an important role when it comes to providing nutrients for the students. During breaks between classes or lunch, the cafeteria needs to be a reliable source of energy that helps students make it through their school day.

And behind all the preparations and cooking, Aunty Michelle and her small team, arriving before the sun even rises and working throughout the day to make sure students have something to eat.

This being said, the next time you walk into the cafe, realize that every slice of fruit, cup of parfait, and plate of spaghetti is hours of preparation and thoughtfulness from those who make it happen. 

For Aunty Michelle, feeding the campus is a responsibility and an enormous act of care.

So, let’s go to the caf together!