National School Breakfast Week is March 3-7. The week celebrates the importance of a nutritious school breakfast in helping students succeed. Cafeteria teams throughout Prince William County Public Schools work to make sure students receive the fuel they need to thrive throughout the school day.

At Osbourn Park High School, the food service team’s impact is felt beyond the cafeteria walls. Nidia Bruno, cafeteria manager at Osbourn Park High School, has been at the school for over 15 years and said she loves serving breakfast so she can greet the students each morning.

“My favorite part is the students. These kids are like my family,” Bruno said. “Every time I see them, they are happy, even though we don’t have the time to have a conversation because the line has to move fast,” Bruno said. “I feel like when you ask them, ‘What can I get for you?’ their smile is always there.”

"Our cafeteria team members go above and beyond to connect with students, making them feel welcome and valued. From greeting students with a smile or by name to ensuring that every student has access to nutritious meals, their efforts create a positive and supportive environment,” shared Lisamarie Kane, principal at Osbourn Park High. “Their dedication to the well-being of our students and the kindness they show every day are evident in everything they do."

The Osbourn Park team works to ensure students get what they need each day in a smooth and timely process. One way they have achieved this is by opening an additional breakfast line in the mornings. 

“We try to move the line as fast as we can, and opening one more line gives more students the opportunity to eat,” Bruno said. 

Additionally, when introducing a new item in the cafeteria, Bruno mentioned that she sometimes offers samples to students so they can taste it and decide if they want to order it again. 

“In addition to offering a wide range of fresh and healthy choices and serving more than 600 students each morning, Nidia and her team provide students with incredible kindness, explained Andrea Early, director of the PWCS Food and Nutrition Department. “Students are noticed and valued in the OP cafeteria and these actions contribute to the positive climate and culture that we value here in Prince William County Public Schools."

In the future, the goal is to serve more students breakfast along with opening two more lines during lunch. 

The Virginia Department of Education awarded the Osbourn Park cafeteria team the School Breakfast Award. Read more about the team’s recognition.