Lunchtime celebrations add special experience for students

Across the country, school nutrition teams find creative ways to bring joy and connection to their cafeterias, going beyond simply serving healthy meals. Two districts in the Midwest are taking that mission to new heights with student-centered celebrations that make lunchtime celebrations more meaningful.

At Mascoutah School District 19 in Illinois, Food Service Director Brandy Goodwin wanted to boost engagement with students and spark excitement in the cafeteria. After seeing other districts use hidden-ticket giveaways, she decided to create her own version with a special twist.

“When I saw examples of hidden tickets, I knew it would be a great fit, just with our own spin. That’s how the idea for a full VIPizza Day experience was born!” Goodwin said.

Each month, the Mascoutah team hides “lucky tickets” in unexpected places like under lunch trays, beneath pizza slices, even tucked between chicken nuggets. The student who finds the ticket becomes a VIP (very important person) and wins the “VIPizza” meal, complete with Big Daddy Pizza, fruit and vegetable sides, milk and fresh-baked cookies. Winners at the high school can even invite up to four friends, while younger students can invite one friend.

“The elementary students are usually the most excited,” Goodwin said. “You can truly see the joy on their faces when they find the winning ticket and get to celebrate with their friends!”

The district is home to three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school and serves more than 2,000 meals daily. Goodwin says the lucky ticket initiative has increased meal participation and brought a boost of fun that students look forward to the surprise each month.

In Ohio, the West Clermont School District nutrition team is thinking outside the lunchbox too. Their new Party Pack program gives families a convenient, Smart Snack compliant way to celebrate birthdays and special milestones.

“We started developing the idea at the end of last school year,” said Monica McClanahan, Child Nutrition Assistant Coordinator. “It was another way to bring revenue into our self-sustaining department while giving students a fun way to celebrate.”

With 10 buildings serving nearly 10,000 students, the nutrition team prepares about 4,000 lunches and 1,400 breakfasts each day. The Party Pack program quickly became a hit, and since August, about 20 packs have been ordered.

Parents were made aware of the new initiative through newsletters and flyers. Each order is submitted by parents through an online form and prepaid, ensuring the cafeteria can prep items in advance. Options range from fruit and veggie packs to ice cream, chips, cookies, combo packs, and even full pizza celebrations. Prices are designed to be affordable, starting at 50 cents per student.

McClanahan says the program also addressed a longstanding challenge, as individual schools had different rules on whether parents could bring outside treats.

“Some buildings allowed birthday treats, some didn’t,” she explained. “This gives everyone consistent options, and parents don’t have to worry about sending something in.”

To make the celebrations feel extra special, cafeteria managers even purchased cute baskets for students to carry as they pass out treats.

Whether it’s the excitement of discovering a hidden ticket or the joy of sharing a birthday treat with classmates, both districts show how school nutrition professionals continually go above and beyond for students.