. Notes Are So Last Year
Perhaps the most important component of any school lunch is the well-crafted note. Perry’s mother rarely let a day pass without an encouraging letter signed with a “curly-haired smiley face.” Did it make Perry roll her eyes in embarrassment? “I loved it!” she says, adding that one of her friends was actually so jealous she forged notes from her mother. Scribbling a few loving words on the morning of a major exam, big game, or just a random Wednesday is what separates cafeteria tray lunches from the real deal. And hey: While we’re on the subject of sweet endings, don’t underestimate the morale-boosting power of a square of chocolate, a sliver of leftover pie, or, Leone’s suggestion, an oatmeal cookie.