Lunch Supervision
Our children are supervised by caring and qualified supervisors in the lunchroom and on the playgrounds during the lunch break. Our lead lunchroom supervisor administers and leads this program.
If parents wish to have their children eat at school and/or be supervised during the lunch hour they must register them into the Lunch Supervision Program. Lunchroom fees are paid most easily online via the MyCBE / PowerSchool and are used to pay the salaries of supervisors. A daily drop-in fee of $5.00 will be charged for occasional users.
Students who stay for lunch will not be allowed to leave the school grounds unless signed out by a guardian or an adult authorized by the guardian by letter or email.
Allergens Aware School
Belvedere Parkway is an 'allergens aware’ School. This means that students and staff are aware of all severe allergies within a classroom (students) and school (staff). Student Epi-pens are kept in the front office in accessible pouches and/or in their backpacks. Students will be asked to wash/sanitize their hands before and after eating.
As some students are eating in classrooms at this time we do request that no nut products are brought to school. If there are students in the classroom with life threatening allergies to other specific foods, the teacher will let families know what not to send to school. We strongly encourage parents to support us in keeping all our students safe by complying in this way.
Litterless Lunches
BelPark is a ‘litterless’ lunch school. This means that students will be bringing home all their containers, sandwich bags, and uneaten food back home. In this way we can ensure parents know what their child has eaten that day and what they have decided not to eat. This also keeps fruit flies within the school to a minimum, as composting collection occurs less frequently here than in a typical home.
Our Lunchroom
There is no hot water available for lunches. No oven or microwave oven is available for heating up foods. If children would like a hot lunch they may use a thermos. For safety reasons, students are not allowed to operate the hot water kettles.
We also require that students bring their own utensils, such as spoons or forks, if needed. Students must eat their lunch in the allotted time within the lunchroom. They may not take items outside to eat.
After the children finish their lunches, they will be playing outside except on extremely cold or wet days. Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for changing outdoor weather.
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