FLIK Dining at Stratford
At Stratford Academy, dining is about more than meals—it’s about community, wellness, and learning. Stratford’s all-inclusive, farm-to-table dining program supports students from six weeks old through Upper School.
Providing our students healthy options and fostering an understanding of the importance of nutrition not only helps them reach their full potential, but builds a foundation of healthy eating habits for life.
It's really important that we're offering our students a variety of different foods and that we're exposing them to new foods and new flavors. All of these foods, again, prepared by our on-site chefs to make sure that when I tell you what is healthy for our students, our chefs are making sure it tastes fantastic for them.
Nicole Tass,
MS RD LDN Registered Dietitian
Nourishing the Whole Student – One Meal at a Time
As students grow, so does their dining experience—from in-house baby purées and family-style meals to expanded offerings that encourage exploration and support evolving nutritional needs.
FLIK partners with local farms and regional producers to source fresh, seasonal ingredients whenever possible, ensuring high-quality meals while supporting sustainable practices and strengthening our connection to the local community.
In addition to offering a peanut-free dining program, FLIK also updates allergen boards daily, providing families piece of mind by clearly indicating which foods contain common allergens, such as dairy, fish, and eggs. Boards help students and staff make informed choices and ensure a safe, inclusive dining experience.
By reimaging the typical layout of a school lunchroom, Stratford’s dining areas create a welcoming, family-style environment that builds relationships, social skills, and brings students, faculty, and staff together,
Each year, our dining program presents different programs that add to the excitement of our offerings. A few examples are "Culinary Time Machine", "Veg Rev" (featuring a new vegetable each month), and "Cultural Celebrations".
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From house-roasted deli meats and hand-crafted soups to dressings made fresh on-site, our team prepares meals with care and transparency. We take dietary needs seriously with comprehensive staff training, daily allergen boards, and full FARECheck certification to ensure safety and inclusion for all.
The Prentice Robinson Dining Hall
Prentice Robinson's impact on Stratford started in 1972, when the academy was at Overlook Mansion on Coleman Hill. For 43 years, he did it all from changing lightbulbs to painting lockers and holding the record for searching through the most lunchroom garbage cans to find retainers. He was never too busy for a friendly wave, was always willing to lend a helping hand, he was a friend to all, a gentle giant, and the Mayor of Stratford. Shortly after his retirement in 2018, Robinson left the world a little darker but we still feel his laugher in the hallways, the bleachers, and in his dining hall.
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Meet our Director of Dining Services
Joshua Nowell, CDM, CFPP, brings more than 18 years of food service leadership to his role as Director of Dining Services at Stratford Academy.
Since joining Stratford in July 2024 through Flik Independent School Dining, Josh has combined his passion for scratch cooking, farm-to-table programming, and operational excellence to create a dining experience that supports both student wellness and academic success.
A native of Macon, Josh developed an early interest in the culinary arts, which led him to pursue formal training at Le Cordon Bleu where he earned an associate's degree. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Management from Grand Canyon University. He is a Certified Dietary Manager (CDM), Certified Food Protection Professional (CFPP), and a certified ServSafe Instructor and Proctor.
In addition to his work in independent school dining, Josh is an advocate for mental health awareness in the hospitality industry. He serves as a U.S. ambassador for The Burnt Chef Project, an international initiative focused on improving mental wellness among foodservice professionals.
Outside of his professional life, Josh enjoys cooking at home, traveling with his family, and working with textile arts. He and his wife Ashley have been married for 15 years and are the proud parents of Crosby (11) and Zoey (10).
Meet our Dietitian
Nicole Tass, R.D. will ensure students with allergies and special dietary needs are not only accommodated, but enjoy their campus meals.
A registered dietitian, Nicole joined Compass Group in 2013 and began working with Flik in 2014 as a Wellness Manager in Chicago. She has extensive experience implementing food allergy protocols, nutrition education, and student engagement programs. Nicole has supported schools in multiple regions and now lives in Atlanta. She holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois and a Master’s in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Nicole will visit campus regularly to ensure on-going training of the FISD staff and to help educate our campus on how to make healthy choices when it comes to meals and snacks.
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