Salem Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services Announces National School Lunch Week Activities Oct. 14-17
Food and Nutrition Services to celebrate the cuisines of El Salvador, Jamaica, Ukraine and Italy
SALEM (Oct. 9, 2025) – Salem Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services will tap into the cultural cuisines of several countries as it celebrates National School Lunch Week Oct. 14-17 in each of its school cafeterias and kitchens.
Students will need a passport to partake.
Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 14, each student will receive a passport upon entry to their school’s cafeteria along with stickers of the flags of the themed countries of the day, to be placed inside the passport. The flags of each country will adorn each cafeteria and even traditional music will be piped in.
Among the festivities for the week will include the scheduled appearances of ‘celebrity’ servers: among them SPS leadership, City of Salem officials and members of the Salem Police Department.
Simultaneously – and consistent with National Farm-to-School Month – SPS Food and Nutrition Services menus will prominently feature poultry, fruits and vegetables from local farms, including Maine Family Farms of Portland, Maine; Plainville Farms from Hadley, Mass.; Bolton Orchards in Bolton, Mass.; and Auburn Hills Orchards in Groton, Mass.
SPS Food and Nutrition Services’ celebration of National School Lunch Week supports the District’s Strategic Plan, particularly its core values of elevating learning and centering belonging.
| Day | Country Theme | Menu | *Celebrity Servers |
| Tuesday, Oct. 14 | El Salvador | Pupusa, Cabbage (Verrill Farms), Apples (Bolton Orchards and Autumn Hills Orchards), Pears (Maine Family Farms) | Bates: SRO Devyn RyanCraig Macarelli & Sue Faria-SmithBentley: Mayor Dominick PangalloSuperintendent Dr. Stephen Zrike |
| Wednesday, Oct. 15 | Jamaica | Jamaican Jerk Chicken Thighs and Cilantro (Maine Family Farms), Apples (Bolton Orchards and Autumn Hills Orchards), Pears (Maine Family Farms) | Carlton: SRO Jessica Rondinelli, PrincipalLauren WeaverHMLS: Principal Jill Tully, Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth Pauley, City of Salem Health & Wellness Coordinator Kerry Murphy |
| Thursday, Oct. 16 | Ukraine | Pierogis, Zucchini, Summer Squash, Lettuce, Cherry Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers (Plainville Farm, Maine Family Farms) | Saltonstall: SRO Jessica Rondinelli, Principal Bethann JellisonNew Liberty: SRO Dillon VanLoon,Principal Jamal CamahWitchcraft Heights: Detective Charline Sano, Assistant Principal Nicole Mateo |
| Friday, Oct. 17 | Italy | Stuffed Crust Pizza, Cucumbers, Tomato Basil Salad, Apples and Pears (Plainville Farms, Maine Family Farms) | Collins: SRO Dillon VanLoon, Assistant Principal Terrell GreeneSHS: SRO Devyn Ryan, Select SHS Administrators |
*Subject to change
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts, a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens through which we view our work. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff unconditionally serves each of our 4,000 students across 11 schools regardless of ability or language.
