Lunch Supervision
All lunchroom students must register for the lunch supervision program. Register through MyCBE / PowerSchool or in the Abbeydale School office. More information on our Lunch Supervision page.
Lunch Hour Expectations
Working as a team, students, school staff and parents make our lunch supervision service successful! Our partnership is strengthened by clear expectations.
Hours
Lunch rotation 1 11:00am – 11:49am
Lunch rotation 2 11:55am - 12:44pm
Lunch Supervision
The school provides a safe and secure place for students to have their lunch break. All students must be registered in the lunch program to stay at school. Daily drop-in fees are also available. Please visit our Lunch Supervision page for more information.
Allergies
Abbeydale is a nut-free school. We kindly ask that families refrain from sending nuts and peanut butter to school in lunches. We recognize that this may cause on inconvenience, however, with a number of students in our school with nut allergies, as a community we need to do our best to ensure a safe lunchroom environment for everyone. We thank you for supporting our efforts for all students.
Lunch Procedures
- If you are bringing your child lunch, please leave their food to the office before their scheduled lunch time and we will make sure that they get it at the appropriate time.
- If your child requires the use of a utensil (fork or spoon) please send it in their lunch kit as we don't have any utensils to provide the students.
- If your child is eating something hot, please be sure to put it in a thermos as we have no microwaves in the lunch room.
We thank you for your support and patience with our new lunch room procedures.
To help support our lunch program, parents can:
- Send nutritious lunches in a lunch bag labeled with their child’s name. It is appreciated when students bring their lunch to school in the morning.
- Help students dress appropriately for the weather with all clothing items clearly labeled.
- Remind your child not to share food.
- Inform the school of any allergies and/or medical conditions.
- Encourage packing litterless lunches.
In the event of inclement weather, students will remain in their lunchroom. Students that go home for lunch should return just before their bell time and enter through the front doors as soon as they arrive at school.
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