The STJ Commons: Lunch Reimagined
The sound of silverware clinking and excited chatter fills the over 14,000 square feet of the reopened STJ Commons. Due to the pandemic, we made the difficult decision to serve to-go only lunches during the entire 2020-21 academic year. We were thankful to have provided nutritious lunches to our students, but the dining experience was limited to eating in classrooms or outdoors. This year, with increased safety measures, we reopened the Commons for in-person dining. Students are able to socialize with friends and classmates while utilizing the dozens of options at lunch each day. Favorites like the salad bar, soup and sandwich station, and grab-and-go healthy snack station are now available to our students and employees. The dining choices have also expanded to include a daily international food station in addition to the existing brick oven selections (like hot sandwiches, pizza, calzones, and baked pastas) as well as the fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein offerings our STJ family knows and loves.
“We are teaching the kids to make good choices,” says Cristian Pintovidal, Director of Dining Services. “Students will have to make choices all of their lives. In college they will have even more choices to make, so empowering them with good decision making skills now will help them in the future.” Mr. Pintovidal is passionate about food, but what you will notice upon meeting him is his love for people. “Of course we make good food that tastes good and what people like to eat,” he says, “but the table is where we share about ourselves and make connections with others. That is what I see in this space every day.”
#WeAreSaintJamesSchool
We will continue to use the Commons as our dining facility, but the space also serves as the elementary school stage and performing arts area. It is also used as a gathering place for school assemblies, awards presentations, and faculty meetings. Later this fall, we are excited to collaborate with the STJ Community Garden to incorporate student-grown produce and herbs into our cuisine. The Commons is truly the heart of campus and we are thankful that it has helped bring our school family together.
“I enjoy creating new menus and food selections that make people excited to try new things. My goal for this year is to provide excellent customer service which creates great memories for all the students. ”