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.
What is the routine in the Lunch Supervision program? i.e. When do the children eat / when do they play?
Our lunch hour generally begins at 11:30 AM. Students start with an outside recess until 12:00. All lunch students move to their designated classroom and sit at desks and tables. Supervisors take attendance; report any unexcused absences, assist children with opening thermoses, supervise behaviour, etc. Children have approximately 20 minutes to eat their lunch (longer if required).
We do not offer microwaves or hot water kettles. Experience has proven their popularity creates excessively long lineups and a multitude of safety concerns. Thermoses are recommended for providing your child with hot lunches.
What happens when the weather is very cold or raining?
We insist that children take advantage of the fresh air and freedom to play that comes with being a part of our Lunch Supervision. However, during extreme weather conditions, such as temperature dropping to –20 degrees Celsius (including wind chill factor) or persistent rain, children will be kept indoors. On such days, we will offer multiple, supervised indoor activities in the gymnasium, and other rooms in the school. These activities may include drawing / coloring, board games, card games, Lego, hula hoops, skipping ropes, hop balls, shuffle board, puzzles, bingo, and short movies. There are no sharable games this year.
Fun Lunches
Approximately twice a month, our School Council organizes a Fun Lunch day operated by parent volunteers. They offer a hot lunch at a cost. These Fun Lunch days are completely independent from the Lunch Supervision program and parents are expected to join in and help out with organizing, delivery, and supervision on these special days. See our Calendar page for Fun Lunch dates.
Milk Program
There is no milk program this year.
Allergies
My child has food allergies. Are special eating arrangements made for him/her?
We take the approach that education is the best safety preventative measure. Prince of Wales School is an allergy aware school. Keeping students and staff safe from a variety of allergen is a shared responsibility of students, staff and parents.
For more information about this and other health concerns visit 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