Here's something not all parents may know: Most schools in Warren Township and Hancock County keep out the welcome mat for any moms, dads or grandparents interested in coming to the school cafeterias and eating lunch with their children.

"Students see the parents coming in, and it just builds a sense of community for the school and the families," said Dena Cushenberry, Warren Township's assistant to the superintendent for elementary instruction.

At Moorhead -- one of the district's 11 elementary schools -- parents know about that option, said Nancy Rankin, the school's administrative assistant.

"Most days, we have quite a few people visiting throughout the different lunch periods," Rankin said.

The same welcome is extended to parents with children at schools in the Greenfield-Central, Mount Vernon and Southern Hancock districts.

Parent Susie Eason eats lunch almost weekly with one or the other of her two children at Mount Comfort Elementary School. She has a first-grade daughter and a third-grade son.

"I like to be able to stay involved with my kids," Eason said. "It's an extra little opportunity to spend time with them since they're gone all day at school. It's a chance to make them feel special."

The lunches have other practical benefits for a parent, she added.

"I can see who they're hanging out with," Eason said. "When they're at home talking about kids, I'll know who's who and be able to put faces with names from seeing the kids at lunch. It's just a way to stay involved with what they're doing."

At most schools, administrators prefer that parents either purchase offerings from the school cafeteria or bring a sack lunch from home -- as opposed to bringing in items purchased from a fast-food outlet, for example, which several administrators said has proved distracting to other students.

In addition, schools may discourage guests at lunchtime on certain days when special events are planned that change students' schedules or affect cafeteria staff members' ability to serve additional meals.

Parents should call their children's schools to learn specific policies.

Stephen Burt, principal at Weston Elementary School in the Greenfield-Central district, said most schools have learned the value of welcoming parents and encouraging their involvement in school as much as possible.

"We basically have an open-door policy," Burt said. "We're just wanting to keep an intentionally inviting environment. Kids love to see their parents or grandparents at school."