Patriot Point was a small stand near the cafeteria that offered other lunch options— typically chicken sandwiches, burgers, or hotdogs, depending on the day. They also offered chips, cereal, a selection of drinks, and cookies! Patriot Point helped make the main lunch lines shorter and provided more variety for students.
Halfway through the 2023 school year, Patriot Point was forced to close down due to a large leak in the roof. Mrs. Melinda shared about Patriot Point’s closing and the difficult process of reopening it during an interview. “Admin knows…the head of maintenance knows, everybody knows. It’s a process of going through, finding somebody to do it. Is it under warranty, is it not under warranty? So, they’re working it out,” she explained. Reopening Patriot Point is a more complicated process than it seems, however, everyone is eager for progress to be made.
Various students have expressed their hope for Patriot Point to return to full functionality. 27 of the 39 students who took the survey stated their interest in Patriot Point’s reopening. “Patriot Point had so many options for food that were reliably good. . .They also had small items like drinks or cookies in case you weren’t hungry for a full meal but you didn’t want to wait in the lunch line. Overall it adds to our lunchtime experience,” shared Charlotte Droege, a current senior. 18 of the 38 other students who took the survey shared the same appreciation for the alternative options Patriot Point provides, with 11 students remaining indifferent. Of those 11 students, 4 shared how their indifference was due to them never having the opportunity to visit Patriot Point. Adessa Tompkins, a current freshman, states, “I think Patriot Point should reopen so the freshman can have a chance to experience and see it.”
It’s reasonable why some students might be impartial about Patriot Point’s reopening, as its line was often pretty long. As long as the line for Patriot Point was, however, it did greatly reduce the traffic for the main lunch lines. “[I]t’s notably taken my friends longer to get their lunches since its closure. The lunch block is only so long, so giving students more time to eat within. . . as well as more options, is ideal,” shared Abigail Blount, a senior. Due to Patriot Path’s closing, students have no option but to go through the entire lunch line if they wish to purchase a single item. This also prolongs the amount of time in line for other students who actually need a full lunch. The loss of Patriot Point reduces efficiency for all parties involved in cafeteria lunches.
Patriot Point was much more than just a stand for students’ convenience. “We financially support ourselves…the Child Nutrition Program, so, it did bring a lot of revenue in,” shared Mrs. Melinda. Students enjoyed Patriot Point a lot, but beyond that, it had extremely good financial benefits for the school in general.
Bringing Patriot Point back means creating a better lunch experience for students, making the lunch period far more efficient, and increasing the overall revenue of the cafeteria. The choice, however, is not ours.
