Salem Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services Celebrates National School Lunch Week Activities Oct. 13-16
Theme ‘Cafeteria Circus’ will feature guest servers throughout the week
SALEM (Oct. 9, 2026) – Under the theme, ‘Cafeteria Circus: Where Nutrition Takes Center Stage,’ Salem Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services will celebrate National School Lunch Week Oct. 13-16 in each of its school cafeterias and kitchens.
Though a short school week due to the long weekend, SPS Food and Nutrition Services staff staff will serve students nutritious, delicious, and relevant meals. National School Lunch Week is an opportunity to show off the great work happening in SPS kitchens and to remind students, staff and school communities that school meals matter.
Always a mainstay among the festivities, National School Lunch Week will include many ‘celebrity’ servers, including SPS leadership and School Committee, City of Salem officials and members of the Salem Police Department.
Among the guest servers expected include Mayor Dominick Pangallo, Superintendent Dr. Tommy Welch and Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth Pauley; School Committee members AJ Hoffman, Beth Anne Cornell, Mary Manning, and Megan Stott; Salem Police Department School Resource Officers Charlene Sano ‘96, Devyn Ryan ‘11 and Dillon Van Loon, and many others.
Additionally, SPS Food and Nutrition Services staff will distribute fun fact cards detailing the great things happening in our kitchens, and share how students and staff can submit their family recipes to be recreated and served in SPS kitchens.
Simultaneously – and consistent with National Farm-to-School Month – SPS Food and Nutrition Services menus will prominently feature local fruits and vegetables:
- McIntosh, Fuji and Cortland apples from Bolton Orchards in Bolton, Mass.
- Green beans and broccoli from Maine Family Farms of Portland, Maine
- Carrots and kale from Growing Places Farms in Leominster, Mass.
- Cilantro from Langwater Farm in Easton, Mass.
- White onions from Bardwell Farm in Hatfield, Mass.
- Peppers from Applefield Farm and Small Farm in Stow, Mass.
- Red potatoes from Tangerini’s Farm in Millis, Mass.
- Lettuce from Wellspring Harvest in Springfield, 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 | Menu | What’s Local? | *Celebrity Servers |
| Tuesday, Oct. 13 | Mandarin Orange Chicken OrMandarin Orange Tofuwith: Vegetable Fried Rice, Roasted Broccoli, Stir Fried MixedPirates Booty in Carnival Bag (for celebrity school) | Broccoli Peppers (Red, Orange, Green) | Bates: Devyn RyanAssistant Principal Craig Macarelli, and Principal Sue Faria-Smith Bentley: Mayor Dominick Pangallo, Superintendent Dr. Tommy Welch, and School Committee member Beth Anne Cornell |
| Wednesday, Oct. 14 | Roasted Chicken on the BoneOrVegan Chicken Tenders with: Cilantro Brown Rice Stewed Kidney BeansGarden Salad w/ LettucePirates Booty in Carnival Bag (for celebrity school) | CilantroLettuceTomatoCucumber | Sarah Parker Remond School: Associate Principal Lauren Weaver, and Principal Bethann Jellison Horace Mann Laboratory School: Principal Jill Tully, Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth Pauley, and School Committee member AJ Hoffman New Liberty Innovation School/Salem Prep High School: SPHS Principal Lisa O’Neill |
| Thursday, Oct. 15 | Popcorn Chicken BowlOr Vegan Popcorn Chickenwith: Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Buttered Corn, Green Beans Pirates Booty in Carnival Bag (for celebrity school) | PotatoesGreen Beans | New Liberty Innovation School/Salem Prep High School: NLIS Principal Jamaal Camah, Senior Administrative Specialist Hadee Benoit, and School Committee Member Yamily Byas Witchcraft Heights Elementary School: School Resource Officer Charlene Sano, Assistant Principal Nicole Mateo, and School Committee member Megan Stott |
| Friday, Oct. 16 | Cheese Pizzawith: Local Rainbow Bell Pepper StripsCeasar Salad with Romaine Pirates Booty in Carnival Bag (for celebrity school) | Bell Pepper StripsRomaineCMS & SHS: Local Pizza (Gil’s) | Collins: SRO Dillon VanLoon, Assistant Principal Terrell Greene, and School Committee Member Mary Manning Salem High School: School Resource Officer Devyn Ryan, SHS Administrators, Athletic Director Michael Daily, Boys Basketball Coach Tommy DoyleAssistant Athletic Director/Volleyball Coach Angie Giancola |
*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.
