While construction of the new cafeteria is set to be completed by Nov. 1, students at Poolesville High School continue to face challenges associated with the current lack of a cafeteria.

Since the first phase of construction of the new building was completed in March of 2024, the kitchen in the front of the ISP hub has been functioning as a cafeteria. The current lunch time rotation involves long lines which wrap around all the way to the SMCS hub and crowding in the ISP hub when the lunch bell rings. 

Cafeteria manager Ms. Julia Cho reflects on the current lunch line process. 

“Usually, lunch service is busiest and very crowded during the first thirty minutes after the bell rings, and it slows down afterward,” Cho said.

Slowdowns during lunch service are a problem that affects the timeliness a student can purchase and finish eating their lunch.

Senior Emely Segovia is among one of these students.

“Especially when I need to take a test, it’s kind of outrageous,” Segovia said.“Sometimes, I’ll just skip lunch and go take the test because it’s not worth it.” 

However, this is not the first time construction has impacted students’ school time. 

In previous years, ongoing construction has led to tar fumes, the inability of basketball and volleyball players to have home games, and lack of a media center. 

“It’s always weighed very heavily, knowing that it has really impacted your high school experiences as we’ve gone through it,” Principal Carothers said, reflecting on his experience with drawbacks of construction and the ways it has potentially inconvenienced students.

Despite these drawbacks, the faux cafeteria has allowed the cafeteria managers to effectively make meals and distribute breakfast and lunch to students every day as we await the completion of the new cafeteria.