The cafeteria at Shadow Ridge High School is a place where students are able to enjoy their food, laugh, and talk with one another. Lately, a major problem has been that many students are not picking up their trash after lunch. This causes staff members to clean up after students, which is disrespectful and unfair to them. After creating a mess during lunchtime, picking up is important because it teaches students to be responsible, take accountability for their actions, and show respect for the school and the cafeteria. If everyone does their part, the cafeteria can remain a clean and welcoming space for all students.

“Students should be picking up their own trash,” Maya Cuilty, sophomore states. “It is their responsibility, not the staff’s. Cleaning up after yourself shows respect for the school by not making the environment for others dirty and gross. No one wants to be in a disgusting environment.”

Many students have noticed the recent issue of trash being left behind and feel strongly that students should clean up after themselves. Not only is it unfair to the staff members who have to pick up the trash, but it also shows a lack of respect. Keeping the cafeteria clean is a shared responsibility among students, and everyone should do their part in maintaining a clean environment.

“As a supervisor, supervising during lunch, it takes me extra time to pick up after some students who won’t just walk a couple steps to a trash can,” David Kivett, a monitor during lunch states. “I’m actually a little disappointed that some students don’t take pride in their own school.”

Staff members are affected by the mess left behind each day. For them, monitoring the cafeteria during lunch turns into extra work because they have to clean up messes that students are more than capable of throwing away themselves.

“When students don’t clean up themselves, it shows us that they don’t have pride and integrity for themselves, let alone Shadow Ridge,” Stephanie Jordan, Assistant Principal states. “The reason why we instill that our students should pick up after themselves, not only because of manners, but to show pride in your school, and to show pride in something that you love and truly care about. Students should pick up after themselves, display the Ridge Way, and just help out in the community.”

Cleaning up after eating lunch goes beyond simply throwing away trash. Picking up reflects a student’s integrity and who they are as a person and shows whether they have pride in themselves and their school. When students take responsibility in the cafeteria and clean up after themselves, it shows that they truly care about Shadow Ridge and want it to remain a clean place for not only themselves but for others as well.

Overall, keeping the cafeteria clean is a responsibility that belongs to every student at Shadow Ridge. When students choose to clean up after themselves, they show respect for the staff members who work hard each day and for their fellow classmates who share the space. If everyone does their part and displays the Ridge Way, the cafeteria can remain a clean and welcoming environment.