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.
Lunch Hour Expectations
Working as a team, students, school staff and parents make our Lunch Supervision service successful! Our partnership is strengthened by clear expectations.
School is expected to:
- provide a safe and secure place for students to have their lunch break.
- provide lunch supervision to: students as user-pay service.
- accommodate a drop-in program
Children are expected to:
- be considerate of each other, staff and other adults (be it on the playground or within the building)
- demonstrate proper respect and care for articles belonging to self, school, and others
- follow school regulations and lunch supervision service rules
- resolve differences without physical violence or abusive language or gestures
- display appropriate positive and polite behaviour in gatherings
- move in the hallways in an orderly fashion which is quiet and non-disruptive to others
Parents are expected to:
- submit a completed registration form and pay the required fees
- confirm that they are aware of the school’s discipline policy and that they understand their child’s participation in the service is contingent on complying with the policy
- identify any allergies or medical conditions that their child may have
- provide their child with a lunch that meets their child’s needs and weather-appropriate clothing
- provide advance notice for a full-time student who will be absent from the lunch supervision service
- provide advance notice to have a drop-in student stay for lunch
- agree to work collaboratively with lunch supervision staff to resolve any inappropriate behaviour by their child during the lunch supervision service.
Students registered for full-time Lunch Supervision are expected to remain on school property for the duration of the lunch hour. Permission to leave the school (visit a friend for example) must be given in writing by a parent or guardian for each occurrence. Our duty to supervise safely does not allow for ongoing or open-ended permission to leave the school over the lunch hour. Permission should be given to the classroom teacher.
Fun Lunches
You've been asked to order your Fun Lunches online... now what?
Go to www.healthyhunger.ca and register. After your account is created, you will be able to view all upcoming Fun Lunches, place orders and pay for them online with Visa, MasterCard or Interac Debit.
This initiative is organized by the New Brighton Fundraising Society.
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