The Addition of Board Games in the Cafeteria
By Sophie Rotstein
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In the cafeteria, you would often look around and see eyes glued to screens, or the occasional conversation between friends. Kids would eat lunch, sit at their table, and once the period ended, would go to class.
In recent weeks however, the addition of games has been added to the cafeteria. Every day, students enter and look through the games laid on the table, picking one out to play for the day's lunch period. Everywhere you look in the cafeteria, kids are socially interacting with each other, and instead of spending time on screens, they are engaging in meaningful, joyful, and competitive activities that give our brains a break from work, and give students a boost of enjoyment.
Students play competitive games of uno, build towers for Jenga, battle one another in chess, or challenge a friend against a game of connect four. Sometimes students will invite other kids over and engage in these games, allowing for more personal connections and bonds.
These games are not just fun. They increase our moods, build connections, and allow students to make new friends, engage in healthy competition, and for once, put down the screens.
The amount of participation of these games at all lunch periods has been so transformative in such a short period of time, and the amount of engagement has been astounding. Occasionally, even Staff members join in on the fun, and sometimes students will head to other tables to watch a competitive game, or learn some tips and tricks.
Overall, the addition of games has had such a positive impact on the community at HSES, and has really transformed the lunch period. It has made the cafeteria not just a place we eat lunch, but a fun, welcoming, and engaging environment.
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