Dining

Valley School prioritizes nutrition through wholesome, home-cooked meals. Whenever possible, we source our food from regional organic farmers and vendors in order to obtain the freshest and highest-quality vegetables and fruits. Students enjoy local organic milk, eggs, chicken, grass-fed beef, and a daily salad bar. Foods are prepared healthfully, too. Most sauces, salad dressings, and marinades are homemade. No foods are deep-fried, ever.

However, nutrition is only one of the reasons lunch is such an important part of the Valley School day. The dining hall is a space in which social education happens, and we see lunch as a time that we can work consciously to reinforce our Valley Core Values, and maintain our environment of emotional support and health. It’s when the whole Valley School family comes together to spend time talking, laughing, and taking pleasure in one another’s company. Students help out by setting and clearing the tables. They dine in mixed-age groups, so they get to know children from different grades. Every day, faculty members sit alongside our students, and meals are served family-style. In this way, the dining room serves as a classroom where children enjoy themselves while learning about good manners, etiquette, social graces, and conversation skills. 

Everyone knows that food is only one of the important elements that makes a great meal. At Valley School, we’re fortunate that our lunches are excellent food and more—quality time, shared experiences, and celebration of our school community.