Mama Mayra Keeps Our Students Thriving with Full Bellies & Clear Minds
You’re feeling impatient and sluggish. What’s wrong with you, why can’t you seem to make any decisions? Oh wait, have you eaten lately? Feeling hungry really affects our minds and bodies and sometimes you don’t even notice, especially when you’re a child. At Ivy Academia, a tuition-free Woodland Hills TK-8 school, we offer free breakfast and lunch for all students as we take advantage of California’s Community Eligibility Provision. No growling bellies here!
Secret to Our Mealtime Success
Who is in charge of making sure our TK-8 students get free meals twice a day every day? Ivy Academia’s kitchen manager, Mayra Blanco Cruz. Mayra came to us on her sister’s recommendation– Ana Cruz, lead yard supervisor. Mayra loves the people she works with and how small the school is. Mayra is also a mother to three Ivy Academia Pumas: two alumni, Linett (Class of 2019) and Ever (Class of 2021), and Chelsea who is currently in our middle school.
There is a definite rhythm to Mayra’s day. She arrives on campus, makes sure everything is clean and preps breakfast. As students sleepily trickle in, she greets them with conchas, coffee cake, banana muffins, or maybe even waffles! After the students have left for their first class, she cleans up and preps lunch. Classes come in with their grade and eat crunchy turkey tacos with pinto beans, Pizza Hut pizza, chicken sandwiches, or corn dogs, depending on the day. Mayra is there to serve up some broccoli florets and cucumbers too- we know the fabulous benefits of vegetables so it doesn’t hurt to offer! Usually students eat right there in the cafeteria but sometimes they take their outside on our beautiful campus. When lunch is over, she cleans everything up and heads home to spend time with her kids and watch some TV. And maybe clean a little? After all, crumbs aren’t confined to school!
Mealtime at Ivy Academia
Breakfast:
All Grades: 7am - 8:30am
Lunch:
Elementary (TK-5th Grades): 11:15am - 12:15pm
Middle School (6th-8th Grades): 12:30pm - 1pm
Want to know what’s on the menu today? Our Nutrition Services page keeps you up to date!
Know that when your child attends Ivy Academia, they are well-fed with nutritious meals that help grow their bodies and minds. Enroll today!
About Ivy Academia
Ivy Academia is a tuition-free public charter elementary & middle school serving transitional kindergarten through eighth graders in Woodland Hills, California. At Ivy Academia, we empower our students to realize their fullest potential through meaningful and innovative educational opportunities. We use a cross-curricular approach, focusing on an entrepreneurial mindset. We believe in a high-quality, customized education, setting high expectations and offering robust academic support. Our small, TK-8 program partners with families and the surrounding community in preparing students to become dynamic leaders in the 21st century. Join our growing school, enroll today!