District offers catering to parents, workers

Queen Creek parents and employees can now take advantage of a new catering program offered by the school district’s food and nutrition services department.

Parents can buy their child a birthday package, such as a cupcake and milk for 75 cents, and have it delivered to their child’s classroom.

Employees can buy their sandwich and cookie trays or breakfast items for meetings. Principals and teachers can buy food coupons and hand them out for good behavior.

And families and employees can order holiday baked goods, such as pumpkin bread, cinnamon rolls and cookies.

Carol Weekly, the Queen Creek Unified School District’s food services director, said she is encouraging everyone to buy their food items through the district.

The catering program brings in much needed extra money to the district, saves that person a trip to the store or a restaurant, and provides healthier alternatives that meet state nutritional standards, Weekly said.

“Instead of them having to buy it or make it, we can do the work for them, and even deliver it to the classroom,” said Weekly, who is in her second school year in Queen Creek and came from the Creighton Elementary School District in Phoenix.

“(Most) everything is made from scratch in the Queen Creek Middle School cafeteria.”

The money helps the food services department keep meal prices down. It also allows Weekly to buy more “higher-priced, nutritious items,” like whole grain breads and fruits and vegetables, she said.

“Instead of spending money at Walmart and Fry’s, it will keep money in the district,” Weekly said. “Our prices are cheaper. If they find something cheaper, I’ll try and match the price.”

Debra Burgess bought her fifth-grade son, Matthew, a cupcake, Italian ice and milk package for his 11th birthday earlier this month.

“It was real convenient to do it that way because he got to celebrate with his friends at (Queen Creek Middle) school,” Burgess said. “Since me and my husband both work, it was a good option. It’s really a nice service that they offer the parents.”

Parents can also buy their child a snack pack, such as a packaged cookie and 100 percent juice for 50 cents.

Queen Creek Middle School Principal Julie Niven bought about 150 coupons for a free Slush Puppie to hand out to students around campus. She said she gives them out at lunch time or recess to students exhibiting good character, such as sharing, picking up trash or helping others.

“I do it just to recognize the kids, just to let them know how much we appreciate their good character,” Niven said.

Another facet of the catering program is offering holiday baked goods for employees and families. The food services department will take orders up to Dec. 18 for the Christmas holiday.

Breads, desserts and salsa are available. Breads include banana nut, zucchini and fresh baked white bread for $3.75 each, as well as fresh baked dinner rolls for $1.25 a dozen.

Desserts include pumpkin rolls for $3.50 and gourmet baked cookies, such as chocolate mint, maple pecan and white chocolate cranberry, for $6 a dozen.

Homemade salsa is also available in a $3 10-ounce container.

To order any items, call Carol Weekly at (480) 987-5983 or e-mail cweekly@qcusd.org.