I’m sure that of many of you are familiar with the popular Discovery series “Mythbusters.”   In each episode “Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage the MYTHBUSTERS mix scientific method with gleeful curiosity and plain old-fashioned ingenuity to create their own signature style of explosive experimentation” to bust or prove popular myths and urban legends.

Last night I posted this blurb on the Midvalley FaceBook page: “Our new lunch schedule seems to be going well. Of course the 1st graders will slow us down until they really get their lunch numbers down. What do you all think?” Judging by the response there are still some reservations so I feel the need to do some mythbusting myself.

Responses ranged from mildly supportive to politely concerned as well as in-between.  Parents were concerned that students didn’t have enough time to eat, that the lines were too long or that the new schedule had children eating later than last year.  I’ve included a spreadsheet for comparison of this year’s schedule and last year’s schedule.  Upon closer examination, I think you’ll agree that most of the myths are fairly well busted.

I am pleased that our youngest students are eating significantly earlier than last year.  Although the 2^nd graders are eating twenty-five minutes later this year, they are eating five minutes earlier than the 1^st graders did last year.  Similarly, the 5^th graders are eating fifteen minutes later this year.  However, that is still ten minutes earlier than the 4^th graders ate last year.

It is easy to forget that the beginning of the year is always slower and more challenging in the cafeteria.  Each 1^st grader is learning a whole new routine, as well as memorizing their lunch number and punching it into the computer.  Many of the younger students need practice to remember their numbers from last year.  The amazing thing is that in a matter of weeks, things will be running smoothly and the old way will fade from our collective memories.

I want to thank all of you for your patience and your constructive feedback.  I am excited for the road ahead.  I am confident that a continued focus on what is best for all kids will bring us success and satisfaction.  Change can be frightening and exciting at the same time.  I’d like to share this quote from King Whitney Jr.

"Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better". ~ King Whitney Jr.

I hope that we will all find inspiration in change and continue to pull together for our students.