The students at the Olchinger Gymnasium will have to get used to new faces.
After the holidays, her cafeteria starts with a new team.
Olching
- The previous manager, Barbara Freitag, will not forget her young guests - and also the many stories she has experienced in the kitchen and at the food counter. Barbara Freitag was the head of the canteen at the Olchinger Gymnasium for 15 years. She set up the food service and has seen three different directors during her time. Now the 62-year-old has retired. The main reason for this is the corona pandemic. "The organization in the past year and a half has been extremely difficult and nerve-wracking," reports Barbara Freitag.
She usually ordered the food from the caterer several weeks in advance.
But that was impossible due to the constant back and forth between face-to-face and alternate classes.
“We didn't know how many students were coming.
It was very difficult to calculate. ”After the first lockdown, the children were also very hesitant and came to the cafeteria less often.
“With the start of the 2020/2021 school year, they overran us.
But the quarantine started again in October, the changing lessons came and I had a flood of cancellations, ”reports Barbara Freitag.
In addition, she and her colleagues had to convert the cafeteria and develop a hygiene concept.
"That was incredibly complex."
The children made up for a lot during the Corona period
During this time she was compensated by the behavior of the children: "They were so happy that they were allowed to go back to school." The high school students are polite and have waited patiently in the queue. "That made up for all of my efforts." The students have always been her greatest motivation. "The best thing was when I noticed that they liked it."
15 years ago, Barbara Freitag spontaneously volunteered to take over the management of the cafeteria for the full-day care association at the Olchinger Gymnasium.
“My children went to school here and I wanted to go back to work.” But she didn't want to go back to her actual job as a photographer.
“You are out day and night as well as on the weekends.
That was too much for me. ”The now 62-year-old was already involved in the parents' council and in the football club.
She always had fun selling cakes there.
So she wanted to try serving food at high school.
"I live only two minutes away from it."
At the beginning the team had to make do with little
At first there wasn't much.
“I was told to make something out of it,” says Barbara Freitag.
She replaced the furnishings that were not suitable for a large kitchen, bought a dishwasher and salad bar, simplified the ordering system and set up outdoor seating.
At the break, she offered waffles, ice cream and burgers to draw the students' attention to the cafeteria.
"I had quite a free hand and could decide a lot myself."
In the beginning, she and a colleague managed the cafeteria together.
As more and more guests came, a third and fourth employee were hired.
The search for personnel was difficult.
"But in the past few years we were perfectly rehearsed and it was a lot of fun."
Over time, the offer also changed: “The children now like to eat vegetarian.
That has become more, ”said Barbara Freitag.
However, one of the most popular dishes has always been the schnitzel with fries.
The Olchinger appreciated the varied work.
“There were so many areas to take care of.
Every year was different because children and teachers changed.
It never ran in.
I found that very nice. "
The team will especially miss the children
Above all, she will miss the children.
Nevertheless, Friday says: "The next school year will probably start again bumpy." The incidence is already high again.
"That's why I think I did everything right."
Before the summer vacation, Barabara gave the children food for the last time on Friday.
With her, the entire cafeteria staff leaves the Olching high school.
But the plates are not empty for the new school year: a successor for Barbara Freitag and her team has already been found.
The Munich-based company “Lebenslust Events” will be offering a vegetarian and a dish with fish or meat, salad and a dessert at the Olchinger Gymnasium from September.
Unlike Barbara Freitag and her team, the company wants to cook fresh on site.
Michaela Arnold, Head of Department at the District Office for Education and Sport, explains: “The extremely low prices of the all-day care association could not be maintained.
The future commercial provider is within the usual range at 4.30 and 4.70 euros, respectively. "
