Lunchroom Grades 1 – 6
- Grades 1/2 eat together
- Grades 3/4 are split into two groups for lunch Grades 5 / 6 eat together
Lunch Times
12:15 – Grades 1 – 6 Outside Play
12:30 – Grades 1 – 6 Eat in classrooms, 12:55 – Classes Resume
Grades 7 – 9 in gym from 12:15 – 12:55 (eat, study on stage or free time / intramurals in gym) or on own to go home / community. Students must make a choice to be in or outside at lunch.
Students choosing to eat lunch at school must be registered in the lunchroom program and must pay the appropriate fees. All personal mobile devices: cell phones, smart watches, texting and app devices are kept in backpacks / lockers during lunch and all recess times for K – 9 as per CBE requirements. Staff cannot monitor online/texting use during the school day. See Cell Phone information below for more.
Students from Grade 1-6 can attend the Lunchroom Program either regularly or on a drop - in basis. The fee is set by the CBE. Please refer to the CBE website for current fees. Lunchroom fees may be paid on- line. For more information please refer to the “Lunch Supervision Manual / Students and Families” on the CBE website.
Lunch Supervision
Students choosing to eat lunch at school must be registered in the lunch room program and must pay the appropriate fees. Students from Grades 1-9 can attend the Lunch Supervision Program either regularly or on a drop-in basis. The fee is set by the CBE and lunchroom fees may be paid online. See more on our Lunch Supervision page.
Junior high students who live in the immediate vicinity of the school are encouraged to go home for lunch or eat at school. A supervised lunch room, in the gym, is provided for those students who live too far away.
12:15pm - Grades 1 - 6 outside, Grades 7 - 9 may eat in the gym
12:30pm - Grades 1 - 6 inside for lunch
12:55pm - All classes resume
Grade 1 - 6 Students attending the lunch supervision program:
- Are expected to follow the same rules and expectations as during regular school hours.
- Must inform the lunch room staff if they will not be in attendance. It is the parents' responsibility to inform the school if their child will not be eating in the lunch room.
- Not leave the lunch room until dismissed by supervisor (12:55 pm) for regular classes. Please let us know if your child is away for lunch as we take attendance.
- Students in Grades 1-6 may not leave the school grounds during lunchtime without prior permission. Students in Grades 7-9 must make a choice to eat at school our outside of the school (home or off campus). Students must decide on one choice as entry back to school is at 12:55pm.
Allergies
We are a nut free school and have students and staff who are allergic to nuts, tree nuts etc. Please be mindful not to send nut spreads or granola bars with nuts to school with your child. Parents should remind their youngsters not to share food or snacks with others as they may unknowingly contain nuts or nut products. For more information about this and other health concerns visit our Illness & Medical page.
Sharing of Personal Lunch/Snacks
We have over 160 students eating lunch at Rosedale School Grades 1 – 6. The Calgary Board of Education has a policy that food from student lunch/snack boxes is not shared from Grades 1 – 6. Staff are required by the CBE to ask students not to share food. We are aware that many students know each other well, but students cannot share snacks/lunch at school. Our staff are following safe CBE protocols which do not allow students to share food during the day in case of allergies (new/unknown), sickness from food etc.
Class Treats / Snacks
At times parents have chosen to send class treats to celebrate special occasions. We kindly request parents check with the classroom teacher prior to bringing in treats to be made aware of any allergies or dietary restrictions students in a particular class may have. To be safe: when bringing in special treats please supply a list of ingredients to the class. Keep it simple – no cakes, but cupcakes are great.
Individual treats that can be easily handed out.
Weather Preparedness at Recess and Lunch
All elementary students are expected to go outside for morning and lunch recess every day. Junior High students are asked to go outside as well. All students need to be suitably dressed for the weather so that they may have an active outdoor recess. An indoor recess and lunch are held when weather conditions pose a safety concern.
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