School serves up Uber ban during coronavirus
A Melbourne school desperate to limit the number of adults on site during the coronavirus outbreak has sent a warning to its students who are turning their noses up at the nutritious offerings from the canteen.
Education
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Students at Melbourne Girls’ College are turning their noses up at spanakopita, Moroccan couscous or Mediterranean vegetables from the canteen and ordering in UberEats.
But MGC, which banned food delivery services early last year, has doubled down, saying during coronavirus it was more important than ever that random people were not coming to the school.
The Richmond school sent a note home to parents last night suggesting the bad habit may be creeping back.
“These policies have been in place since the beginning of 2019, but it is particularly relevant at this time, when we are trying to limit the number of adults on site due to coronavirus,” the school’s principal team said.
Students caught ordering food in will have their food confiscated and be served up a detention.
“UberEats and other food delivery services are not allowed at MGC during school hours. This applies whether students leave school grounds to meet drivers, drivers enter school grounds or food is passed through school fences,” the leadership team said.
The school said the school cafe was open every recess and lunch.
VCE students with study periods could also access the canteen during that time.
A Year 12 student who spoke to the Herald Sun said ordering food delivery, in her experience, was not a big issue at the school with most people bringing a prepared lunch from home or ordering via the canteen.
“I take my own lunch to school but I know occasionally people order and have the food delivered to the school,” she said.
Students can pre-order online from the canteen which offers everything from dim sims to sushi and baked potatoes.
Last year, when the ban was announced the principal said students were nabbed getting food deliveries passed through the fence.
At the time, principal Karen Money, who is currently on leave from the Yarra Boulevard school, said she was looking to “nip it in the bud” and it wasn’t widespread.
She said the school had a duty of care to students and did not know if the people delivering the food had Working with Children clearances.
However, at some schools students have tried to get around the bans by getting food delivered to nearby addresses or at the end of the day so they can collect after school.
Uber Eats often handing out $10 vouchers to students at railway stations.
St Catherine’s, in Toorak, and Canterbury Girls’ Secondary School are among schools publicly banning delivery services.
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