The cooks in our school’s lunchroom are extremely hard working and help create a positive environment. They make delicious food and support us throughout the day. Many of them have become friends with students and teachers at our school.
Here are the stories of the cooks in the lunchroom:
Rolando Perez
Rolando Perez is a cook at our school who is from South America. He has worked at our school for six years and likes to cook a variety of foods. His favorite is the chicken sandwich.
Perez is known for his light and heartfelt personality that lifts other people up.
“My coworker, Rolando, is always singing, always happy. Sometimes we are tired—he is always talking,” cook Irene Mijangos said.
Perez helps create a friendly atmosphere at our school.
Maria Samoza Vasquiez
Maria Samoza Vasquiez is from El Salvador and has worked as a cook at our school for three years. She enjoys making cookies and serving the kids at our school. Vasquiez enjoys her job and thinks that a wide variety of food at our school’s cafeteria is well-liked.
Irene Mijangos
Another cook at our school, Irene Mijangos, is from Guatemala and started working at our school this year.
“[I really like] the service here and making the kids happy,” Mijangos said.
She thinks the most popular option in our school’s cafeteria is clear.
“All you guys love the Mexican bowl. When we serve the Mexican food, all the kids go in the line,” Mijangos said.
Our school should warmly welcome Mijangos and make this a memorable first year for her.
Maria Jimenez
Maria Jimenez is a cook from Bolivia who has worked at our school for three years. She enjoys working in food service and talking with the students at our school.
Jimenez feels that the community in the cafeteria kitchen is special.
“In this [kitchen] area, everybody [is] working together, laughing, every day [sharing] different stories,” Jimenez said.
She likes to serve food to the students at our school.
“I feel very good because all the children come into the cafeteria and want to eat something,” Jimenez said.
Sandra Foronda
Sandra Foronda is the cafeteria manager and has worked at our school for four years.
“I came from Loudoun County. I used to live over there—I moved to Arlington [to work at our school],” Foronda said.
She enjoys making kids happy when she serves them food.
“[I like to] see a smile on kids’ faces—when they are happy. When it is their favorite food on the menu. When they ask ‘is it pasta day?’ Or burger day with fries,” Foronda said.
She remembers a funny moment when serving food to students.
“The kids try to be nice to get double or get an extra piece. They know I speak Spanish so they try to [speak] in Spanish to see if they can get an extra piece. That is funny… they say ‘uno más,’” Foronda said.
The people who work in the cafeteria help make our school special. Every day, they work hard to make students happy and enjoy their meals. Next time you get lunch in our school’s cafeteria, make sure to thank them for all that they do.
