Kitchen, Lunchroom & Recess Assistant

Location: Global Village Academy - Thornton, CO

About Us:

Global Village Academy is an innovative charter school where students learn core academic content through language immersion. Language offerings vary by campus: our North - Thornton campus offers Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and Russian, while our Aurora and Douglas County campuses offer Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and French. GVA is truly a "global village." Our immersion teachers come from all over the world, each bringing their unique culture and language into the classroom. United by a common core, students are challenged to become world class thinkers, capable of engaging ideas using multiple languages and cross-cultural perspectives, through an internationally benchmarked curriculum spanning each language village.

Summary

The Kitchen, Lunchroom & Recess Assistant supports a safe, clean, and positive school environment by assisting with lunchroom operations and supervising students during lunch and recess. This position promotes appropriate student behavior, reinforces school expectations, and helps ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all students. The ideal candidate enjoys working with children, demonstrates patience and professionalism, and collaborates effectively with school staff.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Lunchroom Supervision

• Supervise students as they arrive in the lunchroom and transition through the lunch period.
• Monitor student behavior while students wait in the lunch line, encouraging orderly and respectful conduct.
• Supervise students during lunch, promoting appropriate table manners, respectful interactions, and adherence to school expectations.
• Assist students as needed during meal service while encouraging independence when appropriate.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and safe dining environment for all students.
• Monitor student safety and promptly report concerns, accidents, or incidents to appropriate staff.

Kitchen and Cafeteria Support

• Clean and sanitize lunch tables between lunch periods.
• Wipe up spills promptly to maintain a clean and safe environment.
• Assist with cafeteria cleanup throughout the day.
• Help with trash collection and disposal following established health and safety procedures.
• Support kitchen and cafeteria operations as directed by supervisors.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of the lunchroom throughout each lunch service.

Recess Supervision

• Supervise students during recess to ensure a safe, orderly, and inclusive playground environment.
• Monitor playground activities and enforce school rules and expectations consistently.
• Encourage positive social interactions, good sportsmanship, and respectful behavior.
• Assist students in resolving minor conflicts using appropriate conflict resolution and de-escalation strategies.
• Promote safety awareness and help prevent injuries by actively monitoring playground equipment and student activities.
• Respond appropriately to accidents, injuries, or behavioral concerns following school procedures.

General Responsibilities

• Collaborate effectively with other lunchroom and recess assistants, teachers, administrators, and school staff.
• Model professionalism, respect, and positive behavior for students.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding students and school matters.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support school operations.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Previous experience working with children in a school, childcare, recreation, or similar setting preferred.
• Previous experience working in a cafeteria, food service, or supervising student lunch and recess activities is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to establish positive relationships with students while maintaining appropriate supervision and authority.
• Ability to supervise large groups of children in a calm, organized, and positive manner.
• Demonstrated patience, flexibility, and the ability to remain calm in challenging situations.
• Ability to de-escalate student conflicts and encourage positive problem-solving.
• Ability to work effectively with students from diverse backgrounds and with varying abilities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Basic understanding of safety practices and emergency procedures.
• English language proficiency required; bilingual skills or fluency in a second language are preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, and reach frequently.
• Ability to lift, carry, or move up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to work both indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to respond quickly to student safety needs and emergencies.

Working Conditions

This position requires active supervision of students in a busy cafeteria and outdoor playground environment. The employee may be exposed to varying weather conditions, moderate noise levels, and frequent interaction with students throughout the workday.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Regular attendance is required for this position.

Global Village Academy shall not discriminate in its employment or hiring practices on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, creed, citizenship, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or any other characteristic prohibited by law. GVA is committed to cultural diversity among school personnel as a means of enriching the educational experience. GVA shall identify, solicit, and consider applicants for employment from a broad spectrum of qualified individuals who will contribute to that effort.

Relocation is not provided for this position.