Maria Hernandez (also known as Lulu): Kitchen Lead
What does your role entail and what do you enjoy most about it?
¿Cuáles son las responsabilidades de tu puesto y qué es lo que más disfrutas de él?
My name is Lulu, and I am in charge of the kitchen at Partnership. My responsibilities here are to serve the food. To make sure the food is ready on time. And what I enjoy most is when the children come for their meals, and seeing their happy faces.
Mi nombre es Lulu y soy encargada de cocina de Partnership. Mis responsabilidades aquí es servir la comida. Que esté a tiempo la comida. Y lo que mas disfruto es cuando los niños vienen por su comida, y ver su carita feliz.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
¿Qué disfrutas hacer fuera del trabajo?
My hobbies outside of the school are enjoying time with my children and grandchildren.
Mis pasatiempos fuera de aquí de la escuela es disfrutar con mis hijos y mis nietos.
If you were a condiment, what would you be and why?
¿Si fueras un condimento, ¿cuál serías y por qué?
The condiment that I would be – that I identify with – would be the maple syrup you put on pancakes.
El condimento que sería, yo me identifico con el, sería la miel maple que le ponen a los pancakes.
Heat and Serve Onsite
Partnership Academy is a public charter school in Richfield that serves grades pre-K through 8th grade. Through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), every student has access to both breakfast and lunch each school day.
Lulu typically works alongside another team member during the school year. Throughout the summer, however, meal service is smaller, and she takes the lead in running the kitchen.
Partnership Academy uses the Heat & Serve Onsite service model, an excellent fit for schools with refrigerated storage and either a traditional oven or a self-contained cook-and-hold unit. CKC Good Food delivers freshly prepared meals the day before service, and Lulu warms them and preps them for serving, ensuring everything is ready for students at mealtimes.
The school also utilizes Offer vs. Serve (OVS) for its food service, which gives students the opportunity to choose the foods they want on their trays. For lunch, for example, all five meal components are offered – fruits, vegetables, grains, meat/meat alternates, and milk – but students only need to select at least three components. One of those selections must include at least ½ cup of fruit or vegetables. This helps reduce food waste while encouraging healthy choices.
Example Of Meal Served
- Roasted Chicken Drumstick
- Mashed potatoes
- Whole-grain dinner roll
- Fruit cup
- Choice milk