Last year, with much anticipation, Atlantic Community High School (ACHS) opened its doors on the first day of school with the High School Cafeteria Reengineering Pilot Program (HSCPP) known to the students as Café Atlantic. At Café Atlantic, students can choose from five segments: Asian Experience, Café Sol y Mar, Mangia Mangia, Atlantic Gourmet Deli, and Beyond Burgers. With 25 entrées available daily, students can select from a variety of nutritious and appealing meals—a different meal for every day of the month.
The institutional appearance was exchanged for a more welcoming food court design, taking great consideration into the overall physical facility, customer service, nutritious food offerings, and the dining experience. It was the belief of the School Food Service (SFS) Department that with these modifications, students would enter a more relaxing, inviting, social, safe and customer driven dining experience. The Pilot Program required a minimum of three (35) minute lunch periods to support the anticipated participation (a ten year requirement). Therefore; students would look forward to this time to nutritionally recharge for improved physical and mental well-being thus supporting the District’s ultimate goal of improving academic performance.
Since the opening of school in August 2011, Café Atlantic’s lunch participation has reached 248,424 lunch meals. As a result of the student buy-in and design implementations, the breakfast program has seen a 30% increase since FY 2010. Additionally, student behavior in the cafeteria and the classroom has dramatically improved. The administration at ACHS is extremely pleased with the expected and unexpected outcomes.
The SFS Department had the opportunity to invite District Leadership, Community Partners, Project Contributors and School Staff to the Grand Opening on August 16, 2011.
August 16, 2011 Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting
Atlantic Staff being recognized for all of their hard work during the Grand Opening
On May 25, 2012 the SFS Department received confirmation from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Food, Nutrition and Wellness that our application in the “Increasing Participation in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program” category had been selected for the USDA Southeast Region Best Practice Award. SFS will be accepting the award in October 2012 at the Florida School Nutrition Industry Seminar in Naples, Florida. In addition, the HSRP has been featured in several publications.
The SFS Department is excited to pilot the Cafeteria Reengineering Program at John F. Kennedy Middle School this coming August. We believe the modifications to the dining area and menu will provide students with a mature atmosphere, encouraging personal responsibility both during and after the school day. The Grand Opening is scheduled for August 2012.