This fall, Naperville North High School’s Half Caf announced that it would be closed during fourth, fifth and sixth periods, and would be solely serving drinks with 60 calories or fewer.
In a contract between NNHS and its new food provider, Organic Life, the Half Caf is prohibited from selling drinks throughout lunch periods due to a rule restricting competitive food and drink sales. Many students are still unaware of the reasoning behind the change and are angered by their inability to purchase drinks during select times. NNHS Junior Sana Akbari, a Half Caf customer last year, said how she feels there’s a missing piece in her day, as lunch was and continues to be her only free period.
“The fact that you can only get drinks if you have a study hall or are blended during a period that isn’t during lunch is kind of annoying,” Akbari said.
Both changes fall under the jurisdiction of District 203’s 6:50 School Wellness policy. The policy complies with Organic Life’s no-compete condition, which does not permit the Half Caf to serve during lunch periods, as it would directly compete with the current lunch providers. The policy states that it is to ensure that the school can safely monitor and promote student health and prevent adolescent obesity. This follows an incident that happened mid-second semester of the 2023-2024 school year, when the school ordered the Half Caf to shut down due to the high sugar content in its drinks. After its reopening in April, the Half Caf followed the school’s guidelines on nutrition, serving drinks containing only 60 calories or fewer.
One notable difference between the Half Caf’s new menu and its old menu is that the smoothies available from last year have been removed due to their sugar levels. With the new 60-calorie-or-fewer drinks, it was impossible to keep the smoothies, which were high in calories. Freshman Hailey Gregory stated her annoyance at the removal of one of the more popular drinks last year.
“Students know that what they are ordering has a lot of sugar, so the choice should be up to us and not the school what we drink,” Gregory said.
Though the school announced the Half Caf’s closure during lunch, many students are still unclear as to why the Half Caf has undergone such dramatic changes. Additionally, the Half Caf has largely been forgotten, as North Star staff now rarely see customers waiting for drinks at the Half Caf. Sophomore Phoebe Champouret, who started as a barista this semester, said she constantly is asked questions during and outside of her working period as to why it has closed.
“Most students are upset because lunch was the only time they could get a drink since they don’t have a study hall or their blended classes are during lunch periods,” Champouret said.
Although many students are distraught, the school has few options to change anything. The Half Caf must abide by the contract with Organic Life. Learning Commons Director Mark Skarr said that students can still get drinks before school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 -7:25 a.m.
“We’re still here and the drinks are delicious and much better for you with less than 60 calories,” Skarr said.
