The Bush SchoolAnnouncements
Interview with SAGE Food Services Director Helen Jones
What are your impressions of The Bush School?
I really like The Bush School. You know, I’ve lived in Seattle for fifty-plus years, and never knew that this school was here or existed! I like the kids and I like the people. Everyone is friendly, the kids are well-behaved and well-mannered. It’s such a chill place.
How do you design the menus?
SAGE has a giant database filled with recipes, and dietitians have already looked at them for our criteria. Here at Bush, our job is to pick so many of each group for each day’s menu. Going forward this year, there’s some exciting new changes at SAGE—they are going back to the basics. For the most part, we’re feeding kids, so why not feed kids the kind of food kids want to eat? In a healthy way, of course. We are now putting together more kid-friendly menus, based on our communities, because we know them best.
What are your values as a leader? How do you lead your team?
My values as a leader are to let people grow and flourish in what they do best. I’m pretty hands-off because that’s how I like to function, but I will step in when I need to. It can be challenging. I came in with temps and some people who had already worked at Bush, all of who needed to be trained to do things the SAGE way. Now that I have my full team, it’s even better. Now everyone gels and meshes, they are a community. It’s been good.
What’s your favorite meal in the Commons?
I do the salad bar a lot. I like the variety, I think we have a lot of variety. Of all the meals we did this year, I don’t think I can pick a favorite, but I can tell you what some of your favorites are!
What are the kids favorites?
Oh, they will eat pasta all day any day every day. Spaghetti and meatballs, number one. Anything alfredo, number two.
What’s coming next year?
I want to incorporate some menus that encompass some of the larger cultural communities here. I’ve already been looking at recipes to find some good ones. I know there’s a big African community here, so I want to do some more African staples. Same with South Asian cuisine. I’m going to expand the grab-and-go section, add some protein packs. I want to add some new breakfast options on certain days of the week. I’m planning on doing some smoothie bowls. I’m so excited about that. We’ll have a base, for example a raspberry yogurt with chia, and will give you toppings to fix it yourself. We’ll also do a toast bar with different kinds of bread, and then toppings like avocado, tomato, scrambled eggs, etc. For you to build your own breakfast toast. My final plan is to get a drinkable smoothie machine—hopefully that will inspire the kids to cut back on coffee.
Any other highlights from this year?
The snowstorm was a highlight! I loved it. We hadn’t had a big snowstorm in a while. I’m really looking forward to graduation, just because it’s going to be our biggest event of the year to pull off out of here, with a few hands. This week is a big week, and I’m excited to see us pull it off.
The Bush School is an independent, coeducational day school located in Seattle, WA enrolling 735 students in grades K–12. The mission of The Bush School is to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities
3400 East Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98112 (206) 322-7978
The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment, recruitment, admissions, or administration of any of its programs on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. In addition, The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment on the basis of age or marital status