Lunch Supervision
The Calgary Board of Education provides students with the option to stay at school for lunch. Lunch Supervision is offered to all students in Grades 1- 6 and in our full-day kindergarten programs for an annual fee. Please visit our Lunch Supervision page for more information.
The following schedule for Grades 1-6 is adopted by our lunchroom supervisors in order to provide a safe and welcoming environment to eat.
Lunchroom
Grades 4-6: 12:33 – 12:54
Grades 1-3: 12:54-1:15
Sit quietly in designated spots and eat until attendance is taken. Students are then allowed to visit and socialize while eating.
Pre-bell Announcement
Silent/Quiet time to allow students to have time to focus on finishing their lunch and tidying up their eating area. If a bathroom break is needed during lunch, students are to raise their hands and ask for permission.
Lunch Recess
Grades 1-3: 12:33 - 12:54
Grades 4-6: 12:54 - 1:15
- Good Weather: Students are dismissed to the outdoors for fresh air and exercise.
- Poor Weather: Go to the gym for dance/movement exercises OR Go on a fun walk with exercises interspersed throughout the hallways.
The goals of the lunch program are:
- To provide a safe, clean and welcoming environment for students to eat a healthy lunch
- To provide a relaxing space for visiting/socializing with friends
- To provide an opportunity for students to have body movement, both in times of outdoor and indoor lunch (poor weather conditions)
Grades 7 – 9: 12:33 – 1:15
There are designated eating areas in the school for the Grade 7 – 9 students. These students may also leave the school grounds at lunchtime, but are reminded they are responsible to their parents and the school for their behaviour in the community.
Lunchtime Expectations
- Sit quietly in designated spots and eat until attendance is taken. Students are then allowed to visit and socialize while eating.
- Pre-bell Announcement: Silent/Quiet time to allow students to have time to focus on finishing their lunch and tidying up their eating area. If a bathroom break is needed during lunch, students are to raise their hands and ask for permission.
- Supervised activities are available during the lunch hour and participation is encouraged.
- Good Weather: Students are dismissed to the outdoors for fresh air and exercise.
- Poor Weather: Go to the gym for dance/movement exercises OR go on a fun walk with exercises interspersed throughout the hallways.
Allergies
To decrease the likelihood of an emergency medical situation due to allergic reactions, we request that parents avoid sending peanut butter and/or tree nut products to school. For more information on allergies and/or other health concerns visit our Illness & Medical page.
Fun Lunches
Our fun lunches give our students an opportunity to eat lunch, socialize with their friends at school and take part in special activities.
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