YCMHS principal says where there's a will, students will find a way off campus to eat

By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

The principal of Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School says he isn’t exactly sure how many students stick around school to eat in the cafeteria, but he admits the numbers are low and have been for some time.

As for his take on whether students will still head to downtown businesses to eat lunch regardless of where a new high school is located, Brent Jamieson figures they will.

“Many students drive, and many drive with other students. Otherwise they may walk and they have no trouble getting to places very quickly, all over town,” Jamieson says, pointing out aside from the downtown eateries, students frequent Wendy’s, KFC, McDonalds, Quiznos and other restaurants.

“These are not the closest restaurants and I see many of our students frequenting these eateries,” says the principal. “Whether a restaurant is 0.5 kilometres away or 1.5 kilometres away, if the food is good the students will find a way to get there regardless of the location of the school, or new school.”

Jamieson says there are many variables, from his perspective, as to why students venture off the high school campus.

“So many more students drive, have outside interests, are able to walk so easily to so many food outlets, want to get out of the building for fresh air and spend time with friends, etc” he says, adding the weather, in his opinion, doesn’t appear to be much of a deterrent to students leaving the high school. They’ll head out in sun, rain or snow.

For those who do choose to stay behind, the school offers many noon-hour activities, clubs, sports and more. The library is also always open at lunch.