When the student center clears out, the cafeteria workers blast 105.7 and dance around the kitchen. “I’m the dancer of the group,” cafeteria worker Karen Curtis said.
Although sophomore Sarah Sugarman does not often go into the cafeteria, she has noticed the cafeteria workers’ high spirits when she passes by the kitchen. “They are always listening to music and hanging out in the kitchen,” she said. Although the cafeteria staff loves to enjoy themselves, their jobs come with an arduous schedule.
At 6:30 each morning, the cafeteria workers arrive at school and begin preparing breakfast, snacks and lunch that they will serve throughout various points in the day.
Kitchen assistant Sheree Pavone is one of these industrious workers. Pavone came to South after seeing an opening for the job on her daughter’s school lunch menu. She called up, got the job, and has loved working at South since.
“I love it,” Luigi Pellegrini, the “French Fry guy,” said about his job at South, even though he does not participate in the dancing and is the only male cafeteria worker. Pellegrini helps set up and clean up meals and serve hot lunches to students on a daily basis.
The cafeteria workers love their jobs and create a cheerful atmosphere in the lunch room. Sophomore Tara* has noticed the hard work Pavone, Pellegrini and the other cafeteria workers put into their jobs. As lunch at a high school is often chaotic, they do their best and “keep lunch as organized as they can,” she said. –why anonymous?????????
Although her job is often difficult, chef Kathy Panaggio’s relationships with others at South provides a great support system. “I like the kids, the teachers and my co-workers,” Panaggio said.
Along with the strong relationships they have with each other, the cafeteria workers are able to form strong bonds with South students, like Panaggio has done. Junior Brittany Bishop said she appreciates the conversations she has with some of the cafeteria workers. “Some [people] that work at the register will recognize you and talk to you about life, which is nice,” Bishop said.
--ask molly weintsetin for a story—need a specific example of a conversation and both cafeteria worker’s and student’s recollection of it
Although students only remain at South for four years, many members of the cafeteria staff have been here for much longer, and have seen many faces pass through South. Curtis has been here for six years, Panaggio for 11 and Pelligrini for 30 years. “I cry every year when the seniors leave,” Curtis said.
Junior Shannon* thinks that for seniors, the feeling is often mutual. “It’s like the familiar face thing,” she said. In college, “[Not seeing the cafeteria workers daily] it just one more thing that’s not familiar [in college].
Panaggio smiled as she reminisced over her favorite memories. She said she remembered “the carnival when we were all covered in dough and cotton candy.”
Although they love dancing, singing and having a good time, the cafeteria workers place their dedication above all else. “We want to give excellent customer service,” Curtis said.
Lunch over, the cafeteria workers wash dishes and crank up the tunes. Once they are finished, many of them are able to go home and spend time with their children. “When my kids go to school, I go to school to work. When they’re at home, I’m at home,” cafeteria worker, Francesca Ratta said, explaining a benefit of her job.
“We have fun here.”
Laura Haime:
Shes so nice evrtime that 9 get my salad I always go to pay w. her because she always has a smile on her face…its not lile, you’ve frogt your card again. Shes just very warm and nice. I always say have a great w.o having any resnentmne tcus shes just very genuinely nice. And im also having this be true for a lot of the other caf ladies … ive been paying w. other caf ladies and the
I think that in the media they always portray the cacdf ladies as being not very pleasant people. But I think its very diff at south. Regardless of what epoeple./..are supposed to think. In general, I think the caf ladies are nice nice people.
Oh honey sure of couse. Theyre really there to help the students…they could be doing it with a diff ind of attidute but they go through the day very psotivively.
I ask them how their weekends are and go over the details of their lives
