It takes a lot of people to keep a high school of nearly 2,000 students running smoothly. One especially important group at Mayo High School is the lunch staff, the friendly faces who make sure everyone gets a good meal each day. Eleven people work in the cafeteria, and today, Martha Bassler and Anne Week are featured.
Martha Bassler
Bassler, one of Mayo’s cashiers, is known for always greeting everyone with a smile. She loves working at Mayo, and her favorite part of the job is interacting with both students and staff. Before coming to Mayo, Bassler worked at Gibbs Elementary School, but she says she’s much happier here.
Ms. Bassler’s favorite school meal is the popcorn chicken bowl.
Originally from Maryland, she once trained to be a geriatric nursing assistant before joining the school district. Her go-to restaurants in Rochester are Victoria’s, Taco Jed, and New China. A fun fact about Bassler is that she loves coconut; she eats it every single day!
Anne Week
Week, like Bassler, loves being part of the Mayo High School community. She first started working here because her children attended the school. Originally from Vietnam, Week came to the United States to study, and actually visited Mayo High School herself many times while learning English. Although she once planned to become an electronics technician, she later earned a teaching license and taught for six years. Food runs in her family, especially thanks to her father, who speaks seven languages and shares her passion for cooking. Week says her favorite part of the job is seeing students happy and excited about their meals. Her favorite cafeteria dishes are the chicken chipotle burrito bowl and the ramen noodle bowl, and her favorite restaurant in town is Benedict’s.
Cooper Hull, a senior at Mayo, says he really appreciates both the school lunches and the people who make them. Even as a vegetarian, he enjoys the wide variety of meal options offered each day. His favorite is the chicken chipotle burrito bowl, minus the chicken. Hull says the lunch ladies are always kind and welcoming, and he thinks the food at Mayo is “by far better” than what he had in middle or elementary school.
It’s clear that Mayo High School’s lunch ladies do more than just serve food; they help create a positive and welcoming environment for everyone. They start their mornings early, work hard behind the scenes, and always manage to stay cheerful, even on the busiest days. Their kindness and dedication make a real difference in the school community. So next time you grab your lunch or breakfast, take a moment to thank the people who make it possible. The lunch ladies of Mayo High School deserve everyone’s appreciation every single day.
