Lunch Supervision
We provide a four-day a week Lunch Supervision program due to early dismissals on Fridays. Please visit our Lunch Supervision page for information.
Montessori Lunch
We develop practical life skills and Montessori values through lunchtime. Students bring placemats to properly set their space up for snack and lunch.
Lunch Schedule
11:40 AM Lunch
12:00 PM Bell rings to signal end of lunch; students play outside
12:23 PM Classes resume
On cold days, the amount of time spent outside will be adjusted based on the temperature. For students who go home for lunch, their schedule will be the same. When they return to school they will come inside to their classroom for attendance.
Eating breakfast is an important way to be ready for the day. Please send a water bottle and a healthy snack to school; teachers provide opportunities for children to eat their snacks during the morning.
You can visit the Alberta Health Services School Nutrition website for lunch and snack ideas at http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/nutrition/Page2925.aspx.
Snacks at School
We encourage healthy food choices and recommend that students drink water while at school. We encourage students to bring a water bottle (labeled with their name) each day and to take the bottle home each evening for washing. We also encourage students to make healthy snack and lunch choices and discourage them from bringing candy and high sugar foods to school. We provide a snack break in the morning so please think about how you will help your child understand what is for lunch and what would be a good snack. Snack time is part of instructional time so students continue to be engaged in learning while eating their snack.
Utensils
Please remember to send the proper eating utensils to school with your child’s lunch and/or snacks. If our lunch team provide a plastic utensil to your child please wash it and continue to use it.
Allergy-Aware School
Nut allergies are present in our school population, as are other food allergies. We ask that nuts or food containing nuts are not brought to our school. At this time, please do not send in food to be shared with the class or other students.
We ask that students do not share food during lunch or snack time. See our Illness & Medical page for more allergy information.
Healthy Hunger Lunches
School Council volunteers organize the Healthy Hunger lunch program. These lunches are a tremendous treat for the students. A day they look forward and a break from packing lunches for parents. We are using Healthy Hunger, a FREE online management system for school lunches. See attached information and instructions or visit https://www.healthyhunger.ca/
Fun Lunches will occur every other week and participation is optional. Your family may participate as often or infrequently as you choose. We focus on ensuring the cost is minimal and enjoyment is maximized.
Last year and continuing this year we have added 20% to the cost of each item as part of our fundraising. This money helps to provide items such as, but not limited to field trip subsidies, art supplies, technology and Artist in Residence supplies.
We attempt to offer different options on the menu and when possible do our best to consider allergies. If the options do not work for your child we encourage you to provide a special lunch. Please respect the order deadlines as we nor the restaurants can not make ANY changes after the cut-off period. Also if your child is not present for lunch that day, their order will be held in the front office fridge only until the end of the day and then disposed. The school will not keep them longer. Watch the blog for updates and reminders.
Email us if you’d like to volunteer your time for Healthy Hunger Lunches. It’s not a huge time commitment but you do need to have your Police Clearance and volunteer paperwork completed. Volunteers are not permitted to bring younger, non-school aged children during volunteer time. We look forward to a great year of Healthy Hunger Lunches and appreciate your support.
Thank you,
Fun Lunch Team
Home-Packed Lunch Tips for Parents
Lunch is an important part of your child’s day at school. Here are some tips to help you provide a lunch that is safe and nutritious with less waste.
Food Safety
- Keep cold food cold by using an insulated lunch bag and 1-2 ice packs.
- Keep hot food hot by using an insulated container. Preheat your container with boiling water before adding hot food. Microwave ovens are not available for elementary students.
- Pack non-perishables, such as granola bars and whole fruit, that can be kept at room temperature.
- Most CBE schools are nut-aware, please check with your child’s teacher for more information on nut allergies and other allergies in your child’s classroom.
Help Reduce Waste
- Bring a reusable water bottle.
- Pack just enough for a child to eat during lunch.
- Many schools participate in “boomerang lunches” (pack in/pack out), where all leftover items are returned home.
Tip: Pack a sealable bag or container labeled ‘garbage’ for uneaten food or open containers to avoid mess in the lunch bag.
In 2024, ten CBE schools participated in a waste audit conducted by Green Calgary. Here are a few suggestions from the audit to help minimize waste produced by packed lunches:
- Send less selections of food. Younger children have difficulty deciding what to eat when there is a lot of choice and sometimes end up not eating.
- When possible, use reusable containers for foods such as crackers and cut up fruits or vegetables.
Other Tips
- Make sure your child can open all packages by themselves.
- Involve your child in packing their lunch. Children involved in food preparation may be more likely to try new foods and eat what is packed, minimizing food waste.
- Aim to include a food from each food group – lean proteins, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables should be eaten daily (as per Canada’s Food Guide 2019).
- Some items, such as sandwiches, can be made ahead and frozen to save time. Note that some fillings such as fresh vegetables do not freeze well.
- Designate a shelf in the fridge/pantry at home for lunch items. This may help make packing lunches quicker and encourage independence for children packing their own lunches.
References