Lunchtime Attendance Line: 403-777-8300
It is important that you call the lunchtime program attendance line if your child is absent.
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. More information is available on our Lunch Supervision page.
Our Lunchroom
Eating a healthy lunch is an important part of a successful afternoon of learning. Food not eaten is to be taken home. We encourage students to wash their hands before eating.
Lunch hour is organized into two parts. During lunch, students are welcome to visit with tablemates using an inside voice. During announcements, they are asked to be silent in the event there is emergency information. The lunchroom supervisors dismiss by table once each table area is cleared.
Students are expected to leave in a calm and orderly manner, put on their outdoor clothing and go directly outside. Students are asked to please remember:
- to follow school rules at all times
- remain seated
- use inside voices when visiting with other students.
Supervision
For safety reasons, we take attendance daily in the lunchroom. If students are leaving the school over the lunch hour, the office must be informed by a parent or guardian.
To ensure adequate supervision of students; we do not have microwave services available. During lunch, if help is needed opening containers, supervisors are available to assist students.
Lunch Recess
Students are expected to go outside for a lunch recess from 12:30 - 1:03 PM. As a result, it is imperative that students are dressed appropriately for the weather.
Lunchroom/Nut Free
Parents are reminded that their children require a nutritious snack and lunch (nut-free). We have students who have life-threatening allergies to NUTS. In response to what could be a very serious medical situation, we ask all parents to honour our request to send only nut-free snacks and lunches to school. We discourage the sharing of snacks/lunches between children to reduce the chance of an innocent, but harmful allergic reaction from happening. Please check the ingredients on the packaging for nuts.
We do not provide hot water or microwave service for students. Hot foods (including utensils) need to be brought by the students in a thermos.
Allergies
For more information on allergies and/or other health concerns visit our Illness & Medical page.
Scent-Free School
More information is available on the Illness & Medical page.
Fun Lunches
Our fun lunches gives our students an opportunity to eat lunch, socialize with their friends at school and take part in special activities. If you wish to participate, please ensure that you order your child's pizza online through the Healthy Hunger website one week prior to the date.
Please visit www.healthyhunger.ca to register your child, order and pay for their lunches. Please ensure you get an email confirming your order has been successfully placed. Dates for the entire school year are listed so ordering can be done for the entire year.
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