Canteen – lunch box system, first days

Dear parents,

Naturally, we receive many questions concerning the new organisation of the canteen. We hope that you can find some answers below.

Unfortunately, the canteen is no longer allowed to serve hot food to most pupils. It wasn’t our decision. The applicable regulation of Belgian authorities and our school are unequivocal – only take-away food is allowed for primary and secondary pupils. We had thus to find solutions in record time, in order to maintain the canteen service running despite the restrictions imposed.

Since Monday 16 November, a system of lunch boxes - distributed in the classroom for the primary and in the canteen refectory for the secondary - has been implemented. Around 1.600 lunch boxes need to be prepared and distributed every day.

The WG would like to stress the amazing work that the whole canteen team is making, day by day, to introduce this complex system and to improve it regularly. At the moment, all the canteen staff are employed daily at full capacity and are showing an impressive good will and flexibility. As parents, we warmly thank them for their efforts.

The canteen is committed to keep improving the system. Please be assured that all feedback (positive or negative) is carefully taken into account and changes are made continuously.

For instance:

• from Monday 23/11, a vegetarian option will be available to secondary students; interested students need to order this option via Online Sales in MyAPEEE for the whole week ahead, by Thursday 15:00 of the current week at the latest; details about the vegetarian option will be available on the canteen website under menu;
• from Wednesday 18/11, the lunch boxes will be distributed in primary classes without individual packaging, in order to reduce significantly the waste;
• to limit sugar content in the lunch box, juice and biscuits will be mostly replaced by water, additional fruit, low-sugar dairy products or home-made cake;
• from Monday 23/11, optional fresh soup will be available for primary classes; interested classes need to provide their own thermos, bowls or cups and spoons; details will be discussed with the school direction during this week.

Other improvements are in the pipeline for the future.

Many of those changes are not possible without active involvement of class teachers – we would like to thank them wholeheartedly for their dedication. We also would like to thank parents who keep expressing their appreciation and support. Thank you for your understanding during these first crash-test days.

Please consult the canteen webpages for the regular menu, snacks and for composition of the lunch box.

Kind regards,

WG Canteen