The ongoing construction–which began the summer of 2025–at BVH has made it harder for not only students but the cafeteria staff to give and receive lunch during the school day. It has closed off certain areas and limited the number of lunch carts available, making hallways and areas around campus more crowded. Students say the reduced space can make it feel like it takes longer to get food, although the lines are shorter. Cafeteria manager, Monica Rebolloso and her staff have adjusted to the new setup while trying to maintain efficient service.
“We are equipped to work around a lot of obstacles; knowing what is needed from us [as cafeteria staff], we try to meet those expectations as much as we can. I know that it seems like we are not doing enough, but it is a different routine [than what we are used to] but we are working on it,” Rebolloso said.
The new location of lunch carts and adjustments to the cafeteria services have been necessary due to the construction which has closed off several areas on campus. While the staff is facing new adjustments and challenges, they have maintained efficiency, trying their best to ensure that students can still access meals during the limited time at lunch. Senior Jad Keddo expresses how he has adapted to the new setup.
“Since the construction started, the lines have been pretty chaotic, especially since it is way easier for kids to cut now with the line being out in the hallway,” Keddo said. “I have gone without lunch a few times because the lines have not been moving as a result of kids cutting. Waiting in line affects the amount of time I have to eat and it makes it take a lot longer to get food. By the time you get to the front, most of the better food will be gone.”
Students such as Keddo and junior Adrian Tapia have noticed the big change of the cafeteria and how hallways have become more crowded with limited food options. This has caused some students to skip meals or bring their own lunches from home to avoid the overcrowding during lunch. Skipping meals can result in less focus during class, which ultimately affects students’ grades and overall learning.
“Since the construction [started], my ability to get lunch has changed a lot. Oftentimes I see the lines or check the time and give up on [trying to get lunch],” Tapia said. “I definitely have gone without lunch due to the construction, because without the 3-4 lines outside and the two lines inside the cafeteria the entire process of getting food is honestly significantly inefficient compared to previous years. Waiting in line [takes up a lot of our break time.] It will take up to 15 minutes–which is half of our lunch break–and our entire nutrition break is spent waiting in line.”
The new layout has not only affected the speed of service, but the confined space in the hallways makes the lines feel longer to students. With lunch carts moved into corners and fewer open spaces to move around, it may seem that waiting takes more time even though the cafeteria staff are still serving meals efficiently. This, however, does not mean it has been an easy transition.
“Sometimes I do not have staff, and I [have to] jump into those positions and stations. Before the construction, the lines were super easy, just inside of the cafeteria. I could distribute food easier, quicker and there was less of an inconvenience for the kids and staff,” Rebolloso said.
Despite these challenges for the staff and kids, Rebolloso works hard to get everything organized while making sure to keep stomachs full. Cafeteria staff are constantly adjusting to new changes while maintaining fairness and accessibility for students.
“I have to manage the times. That’s part of my job. I have to make sure that I know when it’s going to be a minimum day, so I can prepare food earlier or later. I have to juggle those little things,” Rebolloso said.
Keddo’s experience highlights how the construction has impacted students’ ability to get across campus and get lunch efficiently. Students may have club meetings they’ve committed to, retakes on tests or any other school related endeavors. The speed at which food is served with this new system can interfere with student’s schedules, like Tapia who has expressed his struggles and experiences with the lunch lines.
“I do not feel like the school has made any effort to improve the lunch line situation and do not think much will change because the construction is honestly just a huge inconvenience,” Tapia said.
Despite these issues, the cafeteria staff continues to work hard to make lunch accessible. They constantly adjust to changes in the cafeteria layout and strive to serve students fairly, even during the busiest hours. Their goal remains to ensure every student has access to meals, no matter the obstacles.
“I just want to make sure that I am feeding [students] good quality food. That you guys are being served and that we are being kind to you. We want to be welcoming to everybody, especially students,” Rebolloso said.
