Lunchroom Organization
Our students eat lunch from 12:05 p.m. - 12:50 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Half of our students eat first and then play, and the other half plays first and then eats. There are lunch supervisors attached to each group of students and students are supervised both indoors and outdoors.
All students enjoy a portion of their lunch time outdoors. Please dress your children accordingly. When the temperature dips below -20 degrees C we keep the children indoors. They are entertained with games, puzzles and other age appropriate toys.
We ask all students to take home all their left over food items so that you can monitor what they are eating at school and have a conversation regarding their food likes and dislikes. Encourage your children to use the eating time for eating their food and not socializing and use the recess portion for playing with friends. Sharing food items between students is discouraged because of nutrition/allergy needs and concerns.
Thank you for supporting us to keep all of the students safe by not packing lunches with nut products. (Please note that Nutella has nut products and should not be sent to school in your child’s lunch.)
Lunch Supervision
All students who attend Valley View School and choose to stay at school for lunch must register for the Lunch Supervision program online and pay a lunch supervision fee. Please visit our Lunch Supervision page for information.
Allergies
Please be aware several students have a potentially life-threatening allergy to peanuts. For more information about this and other health concerns visit our Illness & Medical page.
Students Without Snacks or Lunches
If you require support to provide more regular snacks and lunches please contact the office. We will work together with you to establish the best plan for supporting food needs at school. We are here to support all children to ensure they have access to regular nutritious snacks and lunches.
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