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 information.
Lunch Behaviour Guidelines
Students are expected to behave in a respectful, courteous manner during the lunch period. Generally students must:
- Remain seated while eating, engaging in quiet conversation
- Dispose of garbage appropriately in containers provided
- Participate in clean up of the lunch area
- Engage in appropriate indoor activities
- Request permission to leave the lunchroom area
- Show respectful behavior to the adults and other students in the lunchroom
- Engage is safe and respectful behaviour when outside over lunch break
Routines for 2024-2025
- Grade 1 to 6: Monday - Thursday 12:15 PM - 1:00 PM (no lunch on Friday as 12:35 PM dismissal)
- Outside 12:15 PM - 12:37 PM
- Eat: 12:37 PM - 1:00 PM
Students will eat in both their classrooms and in the Learning Commons. This schedule will change throughout the year. Learning Commons: September - December Grade 3 & 4's, January - March Grade 5 & 6's, April - June Grade 1 & 2's
A reminder that students are not to share food or drinks.
Allergies/Nuts
We have a number of students who have an allergy to nuts so ask that you do not send nuts to school. Learn more about allergies and other health concerns on our Illness & Medical 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