Lunch Hour Procedures
Students have their lunches in classrooms from:
Grades 1 - 4 - 11:35 to 11:55 PM
Outside - 11:55 to 12:25 PM
Students who need more time eating will be offered more time. Students pack out their food remnants, litter and recyclables and bring them home. We do not have microwaves or hot water for students and parents should provide utensils required for lunch.
Students are supervised outside from 11:55 - 12:25
Lunch Supervision
The Calgary Board of Education provides students with the option to stay at school for lunch. Lunch Supervision is offered to students in Grades 1- 4 for an annual fee. Please visit our Lunch Supervision page for information.
Allergies
Please be aware that students may have allergies to things like tree nuts and that these allergens should not be brought to school. Parents of children with allergies must fill out appropriate forms. See more on our Illness & Medical page.
Special Lunches
Special Lunches are set up in Healthy Hunger and are ready for ordering! Please contact our School Council volunteer, Sarah Simms for any questions or concerns that you may have until we can find a parent volunteer.
Please find the link for the healthy hunger volunteer sign-up sheet below. Special lunch is next week and we need volunteers.
Background
Making lunch day after day can get tedious, so William Reid hosts a monthly “Special Lunch,” where we order-in instead.
The children love the break from the monotony as well!
Who can Order
Students in Grades 1 to 4 are eligible to purchase lunches through the Special Lunch program. Kindergarten students are not eligible, due to the delivery time for the lunches. If your child attends childcare with Seeds of Spice, during the school’s designated lunch time, they will be able to place an order.
Dates & Times
Special Lunches will be delivered once a month on Wednesday. Please order at least one week in advance to ensure placement.
How to Order
For several years we’ve used a free online ordering tool called Healthy Hunger, which enables parents to place individual orders with a wide variety of vendors. Go to www.heathlyhunger.ca or the image on the right and click where it says “Parents.” Follow the directions from there. There is also an instruction sheet under Resources on this page.
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