Harrisburg High School’s Cafeteria Gets Ultimate Restyle
The Harrisburg High School-William Penn Campus cafeteria officially reopened on Oct. 11, 2007, after undergoing an Ultimate Cafeteria Restyle that transformed the 80-year-old cafeteria into a trendier and more enjoyable dining area for students.
Redesigned from the bottom up, the cafeteria has freshly painted walls, eye-catching signage and artwork, and new furniture including tables and chairs in the school’s colors black, white and gray. A mural of a cougar, the school’s mascot, tearing through a brick wall was added to bolster school spirit. During the reopening celebration, every student who selected milk with his or her lunch was eligible to win an iTunes gift card.
The Ultimate School Restyle is a Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association-funded program that assists schools in “restyling” their surroundings. The program’s goal is to encourage healthier eating choices, specifically nutrient-rich dairy, with improved product availability, promotion, education and communication about the health benefits of consuming three servings of lowfat or fat-free milk, cheese or yogurt each day, as recommended by the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
“Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association supports school districts that promote healthier environments,” said Janette Carpentier, Vice President of School Marketing for Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association. “The Ultimate School Restyle is just another example of a program that will help students make good lifestyle and nutrition choices.”
To date, Harrisburg School District has made simple changes that have had a great impact on school wellness, such as adopting the “New Look of School Milk,” which includes making milk available in kid-appealing plastic, resealable containers. Research shows kids drink up to 37 percent more milk at school when it’s offered cold, in plastic re-sealable bottles and in various flavors.[1] Today, more than 8,900 schools across the country – serving 5 million students – have adopted milk in plastic, re-sealable containers.
“Since introducing the ‘New Look of School Milk’ in our school, we have seen a 4.1 percent increase in sales,” said David Lloyd, Director of Food Services, for Harrisburg School District. “By providing children and adolescents with milk when, where and how they want it, we are ensuring they receive the important nutrients they need for bone health and overall growth and are helping them build a foundation for a healthier adulthood.”
Interior Systems Inc., an interior design firm that specializes in restaurant redesign, performed the restyling in the high school cafeteria.
[1] National Dairy Council and American School Food Service Association. The School Milk Pilot Test. Beverage Marketing Corporation and Roper ASW for NDC and ASFSA, 2002. www.nationaldairycouncil.org.