Lunchroom Organization
12:30-12:50 – Students eat lunches in classrooms with supervisors.
12:50-1:10 – Students play outside for recess.
If your child is not eating his/her lunch please talk to the classroom teacher who will work with the lunch supervisor.
While lunchrooms are not supervised by teachers they are the key contact and can help to support the lunch staff and your child.
Lunch Supervision
All students who attend Queen Elizabeth School and choose to stay at school for lunch must register for the program online and pay a lunch supervision fee. Please visit our Lunch Supervision page for information.
If there is a change of lunch plans for the day please send a note in the agenda or call the office at 403-777-6789. Students must be “signed out” either in person or with documentation clearly dated and signed by a parent/guardian. Students not registered, but who would like to stay on occasion can pay a $5 drop-in fee. A receipt will be issued for this fee. Mrs. Downs will handle all drop-in fees.
Optional Fun Lunch Days
School Council hosts 6 to 8 Fun Lunch events each year. You can order and pay for Fun Lunches online through Healthy Hunger. Instructions to register, order and pay can all be found on the Healthy Hunger website.
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. Our preference is to send nut-free products in all school lunches.
Students Without Snacks or Lunches
If students forget their snacks we will generally not be providing an alternative. Missing out on a snack for one day is not harmful. If students forget their lunches we will call home to see if family members can bring a lunch. If not we will work to locate a light alternative.
If you require ongoing support to provide more regular snacks and top ups for lunches we ask that you contact Mr. Robertson. She will work closely 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.
We ask all students to take home all their left over food items so that you can help to monitor what they are eating or not eating at school. Sharing food items between students is discouraged because of nutrition/allergy needs and concerns.
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