More often than not, students at Ipswich High School indulge in a school lunch with their peers in the cafeteria. What many do not realize is the amount of effort, care, and dedication that goes into making that lunch possible every single day at school. 

Behind the counter is a group of hard workers who do much more than serve food; they build connections, support students, and keep the school running smoothly.  One thing the majority of them have in common is that they are all mothers. Their experience caring for their own families carried into how they treat students, often remembering faces, names, and even who says “thank you.” 

Amanda, who has been working in the cafeteria for four years, balances her job with raising kids, one of whom is entering this very high school next year. Like many of the lunch workers, she works about 20 hours a week, which is enough to qualify for benefits such as health insurance, with the school covering about 65% of the cost. However, the job only runs during the school year, leaving summers off. 

Tracy, who has been working here for a year, is actually no stranger to the cafeteria. She worked here years ago before leaving and eventually returning. For Tracy, the job is meaningful not only in itself but also in what it represents. “Every job matters,” She states, a simple yet strong statement that reflects the pride she and her coworkers take in what they do. After 10 years, workers like Tracy can qualify for a pension, something that adds long-term value to the position. 

Joanna, also in her first year, stands out for her kindness, something that can be said about all of these passionate lunch workers. Their friendliness creates a welcoming environment, even during the busiest lunch waves. 

Heather, who has been working in the cafeteria for an astonishing 20 years, plays a major role behind the scenes. She prepares all the salads while the team as a whole makes soups and ensures that much of the food is fresh. Contrary to what some might assume, not everything is simply reheated; there is real cooking and preparation that goes into every single lunch.

However, the job is not without its challenges. Waking up early every day is one of the hardest parts, and the pace of making and organizing orders can be wildly intense and exhausting. Still, the workers say they do feel appreciated, especially by students who are polite.  In fact, they let us know during our interview that they remember the polite students, the ones who show respect, the ones who show gratitude. 

At the end of the day, school lunch workers are more than employees, especially our lunch workers. They are a consistent, caring presence in the students’ lives, working hard behind the scenes to make sure everyone is fed and ready to take on the rest of the day.