Dining

Food Service will begin on the first full day of school.

All students in Preschool 3s through 8th grade are automatically enrolled in our dining service as a part of tuition. Students in the Explorers and Seekers enjoy packed lunches from home in their classrooms.

Every day students have a choice of multiple hot or cold main dish options that include vegetarian and gluten-free options. Student can choose from the hot entrée line (served with hot vegetables and sides), the sandwich bar, the full salad bar, or soup. There will be a variety of options to supplement their meal including fresh fruit, yogurt, and a choice of milk, 100% fruit juice or a daily fruit-infused water.

On Fridays, we serve all-time favorites like pizza, nachos, or burgers.

All students will be served family style in their classrooms. Family style dining encourages child development, as students and teachers sit together at a table, serving themselves, and sharing conversation. This dining environment encourages independence and autonomy in our young learners, who feel control over their choices. 

Our Primary School teachers help children make their healthy lunch choices, while taking into consideration their food preferences and dietary needs. While some children can be picky, others are willing to try new things, and some won’t eat anything at all. These are all normal behaviors for young children, who are learning about the world around them and seeking independence through opportunities to make their own choices. Often at school, children are willing to try new foods that they may not try at home. If a student tries the food being served and does not like it, he or she may choose from the optional menu items provided.

Our food service provider, Flik Dining, provides balanced meals, which offer teachers the opportunity to talk to our students about healthy food choices and to encourage children to try new foods. Three to six year olds are frequently evaluating the world around them and drawing comparisons. 

In making adjustments to our menu and meal choices, our goal is to expose the children to a wide variety of healthy meals, while respecting their young and developing palates.

We have several students with special dietary needs, including food allergies, who enjoy lunch at St. Mark's every day. We work with the child and family to prepare plates that meet their dietary needs. Chef Sergio and Nurse Beckmann partner together with the Flik regional dietitian to ensure plates are healthy for all children and appropriate for those with specific needs. Every day, we serve vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free options on the menu. In addition to the posted allergy board, all foods are labeled, and staff is available throughout lunch to answer any questions the students may have.

On the first day of school, students will go through the serving area and choose their meals. Appropriate signage will be on each station, and additional teachers will be available in case questions arise.

Parents are welcome to occasionally join us for lunch at a cost of $10. Reservations can be made through the Business Office, and we recommend you also advise your child's teacher. 

Yes! We recommend that you partner directly with your child's teacher or advisor, who will help you celebrate your child and advise you on any potential allergies in the class. 

We know that telling students about the importance of nutrition will not always translate into the selections they make during lunch. Instead, we must demonstrate that eating nutritious foods can also be fun, creative, and delicious. None of our items are fried; our kitchen does not have a fryer. 

As part of our desire to educate the whole child, we’d like to introduce our students to other tastes and help them make wise choices. If you are concerned about the offerings, feel free to pack your child some of their favorites.

Although all Preschool 3s through 8th grade students are required to participate in the our dining program, students may bring lunch from home if they prefer to do so. No discounts or refunds for dining services are available. Good nutritional habits, including limited sugar intake, are strongly encouraged. We request that children not leave the campus at lunchtime. Students may not order food to be delivered to school by any restaurant or food delivery service.

Desserts are served every Friday, and chocolate milk is available on Wednesday. Fresh fruits, jello, or yogurt are available every day.

Menus are planned one month in advance. We only repeat items that are very popular with our students. View the menu online!

We serve whole milk, 1%, and 2% milk every day. On Wednesdays we serve chocolate milk.

We only serve milk sourced from cows that are certified to be free of the artificial growth hormones rBGH/rBST.

Apple juice and orange juice are available daily. All juices are 100% fruit juice. Students may also choose to drink water, milk, or fruit-infused water.

We serve a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day, with local and organic options available when reasonable.

Questions about our dining program? Contact Director of Operations, Eve Grubb.