From the Highlander: The Future of Food at St. Margaret’s

 

 

For much of history, meals have brought us together — a collective experience that has connected people to loved ones, to their cultural roots and to the communities they call home.

 

The St. Margaret’s Commons, upon its completion in the fall of 2026, will serve as the school’s new heart of the campus and a hub for student health, wellness and movement. Yet through the nutritional programming and gathering spaces planned for the 30,000-square-foot facility, the Commons promises to be something else — a community-building space where Tartans come together over the shared experience of a delicious meal.

 

Student life will change with the completion of the St. Margaret’s Commons, and school leaders are hard at work piecing together the logistics and programming that will best optimize the facility for students and the greater school community.

 

“We are so excited for the St. Margaret’s Commons and all it will do to enhance the Tartan experience,” Head of School Dr. Jeneen Graham said. “As we watch the progress of construction with anticipation, school leadership is hard at work planning the operations of this space. It’s important that we ensure the high quality of our nutrition services and the use of this spectacular dining hall to bring students together. It will be a game changer for all Tartans, and we look forward to our students, parents and professional community coming together experience all the Commons will offer.”

 

St. Margaret’s has partnered with CulinArt, a dining services company with a proven track record of providing nutrition solutions for boarding and day schools, higher education and corporations. CulinArt will have chefs on-site at St. Margaret’s every school day, preparing fresh meals and snack options inside the Commons’ state-of-the-art kitchen. In its work with other independent schools, CulinArt has earned praise for its preparation of mindful, balanced and tasty meals that appeal to palates of all types. CulinArt and St. Margaret’s are collaborating to create a menu with variety, nutritional benefits and great taste that appeals to students of all ages, from Early School to Upper School

 

In preparation for the Commons and its dining services, several St. Margaret’s school leaders visited Francis Parker School in San Diego during the spring to observe the logistics of its food services. As a fellow PreK-grade 12 independent school which also partners with CulinArt, Francis Parker’s operations provide an insightful look into how food services in the St. Margaret’s Commons might work.

The Tartan delegation — including division principals and other administrators — observed details such as the flow of students during lunch hours, the silverware used and the food options that proved popular with school-aged children. St. Margaret’s administrators had conversations with Francis Parker leaders about menu creation, accommodating picky eaters and food allergies, managing meals for special events on campus, and other logistics.

 

“We were able to see what we could replicate and what we may do different in terms of food options, as well as flow and routine with our younger students,” said Lower School Principal Jennifer Blount. “We were also able to talk to school leaders about healthy food choices, limiting waste and more. It was an insightful visit, and it built excitement for what’s to come here at St. Margaret’s.”

 

The St. Margaret’s Commons will provide lunch for every division of the school, a daily snack for the Lower School, and grab-and-go market options for Middle and Upper School students available throughout the day. The Commons’ kitchen area features amenities like a pizza oven, a “Tartans To-Go” counter with snack options, multiple food stations and a beverage station. In addition, a renovated Sillers Hall kitchen will serve as a second location for serving food prepared in the Commons, specifically for Lower School students. Early School students will have lunch delivered from the Commons to their division each day.

 

To learn more about how you can support Tartans Thrive, the capital campaign for the St. Margaret’s Commons, please visit TartansThrive.org or reach out to Jonathan Tufo, St. Margaret’s Executive Director of Advancement, at jtufo@smes.org.