Emerald Hill returns with orderly methods

Cafeteria manager Emily Nicholson is responsible for feeding an entire elementary school.

On Wednesday, she prepared 260 hot dogs, 40 barbecue sandwiches and 15 chef salads for those who ordered ahead.

Nicholson, a 10-veteran at Emerald Hill Elementary School, is used to handling the large task.

She began preparing menus and ordering lunchroom staples such as milk, wheat and vegetables at the end of last year.

In the morning, classroom teachers take head counts and send totals of what kids want for lunch to the cafeteria.

Nicholson loves the new computerized system that allows students to key in their identification number as they walk through the lunch line. That code coincides with the child’s account.

Nicholson remembers the old system where tickets were used.

“The new way works great,” she said.

Down the hall, Emerald Hill school nurse Joan Pannill had a significantly less amount of traffic through her office.

She reported three little visitors by 10 a.m.

Pannill said her first one arrived by 8:30.

The diagnosis: homesickness.