Lunch Supervision
Our mandate is to provide a Lunch Supervision service that will be an important part of a child’s educational experience by addressing “What is best for children?” Lunch Supervision is a user-pay service. For those families who qualify, a fee waiver can be accessed to address supervision fees. No noon supervision is offered on early dismissal days.
Students in the lunch program are required to stay at the school during lunch recess. See more on our Lunch Supervision page.
Fun Lunches
Fun Lunches are put on by the O.S. Geiger Parent Association. It is held on the last Wednesday of each month. Parents have the option of ordering a lunch for their child whether or not they stay for lunch or go home. All ordering is made easy online at HealthyHunger.ca. Not only are parents getting a day off from packing a lunch, but they are giving their child a special meal to look forward to and they are also helping our school. A portion of the proceeds goes towards making our school even greater! Order your child's fun lunch today! Thank you for your support!
Order early! A portion of these proceeds goes toward helping our school. Thank you for your support. This program is run by parent volunteers through our Parent Association.
Things to Remember About Lunchtime
- Ensure your child brings a nutritional lunch with them in the morning.
- Students are supervised at all times.
- Lunchrooms do not have access to microwaves, boiling water, or ovens to heat or warm-up food.
- If your child is in the Lunch Program and will be away, please send a message to the school or a note in the agenda so that the supervision staff are aware.
- Students living in the Castleridge area, that go home or to their daycare for lunch, are not to return to the school playground until 12:30 PM, when supervisors go on duty.
Allergies
Many students have allergies to various foods. Sometimes a child eating something that they have an allergy or dietary restriction to poses a danger or threat. For this reason, any prepared or prepackaged treats are not distributed in class, but will be sent home for parents to make a decision on. Parents are always the best judge of what they want their child to eat or not eat. See more about allergies on 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