Lunch Supervision
Our Lunch Supervision program runs four days a week (Monday through Thursday). Please see the Fees page for more information about lunchroom fees. We have four lunchroom supervisors who support and supervise students both on the playground and in the lunchroom. Teachers, administration and other staff members are also deployed to supervise outside as required. Please visit our Lunch Supervision page for more information.
Supervision
Unless you tell the school otherwise, it is assumed that all students will be staying for lunch next year. There is a cost associated with lunch supervision, so if your child plans to leave with you at lunch, please let the school know.
Schedule
This year, all Grades 1-6 students have lunch from 12:15-12:58. Grades 1-4 will eat first, then play outside; the Grade 5/6 and LEAD classes will play outside and then eat. We want to remind families that students have just over 20 minutes to eat, so please ensure your child knows how to open their lunch containers and please send food that can be realistically enjoyed in that time.
We Are Allergy Aware
We are an allergy aware school. If your child or a child in the class has a serious food allergy, that classroom will be informed. If your teacher informs you of a serious allergy, we ask that parents respect the needs allergic students by not sending items that may cause an anaphylactic reaction.
Please help us to keep our students who have severe allergies safe. We have several children at Belfast who, if they are exposed to these foods, may have an anaphylactic reaction. Out of consideration for these students we request that foods containing nut products not be brought to school. Information for specific classrooms will be communicated by your classroom teacher. See more information on our Illness & Medical page.
- Any lunch supervisor may call 911 if a student requires urgent care. All lunch supervisors, both indoor and outdoor, carry cell phones that they will use to communicate with the office in case a student experiences an allergic reaction that requires urgent care and/or an Epipen. Office staff will run the student's Epipen to the supervisor if required. Epipens are kept in the office. Some students may carry them with them.
Forgotten Lunch & Extra Food
At Belfast School, we are supplied lunches from Brown Bag with a combination of sandwiches, fresh fruits & small snacks to be able to supply students who may have forgotten their lunch OR may need a little extra. Further, we have the NEVER ENDING FRUIT BOWL in the office where we strive to provide students with healthy fresh fruit options daily.
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.
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