Lunch Supervision
Bowcroft offers a Lunch Supervision program. Bowcroft is an allergy and nut-aware school.
All students who stay at the school for lunch must be registered for Lunch Supervision.
Students eat lunch from 12:15 PM to 12:35 PM and are then dismissed to the playground from 12:35 PM to 1:00 PM. Please note we will continue to have a large number of adults supervising outside at lunchtime, which remains well above the required supervision ratio.
Fun Lunches
Bowcroft School is partnering with Healthy Hunger to offer a monthly ‘Fun Lunch’ to students.
Orders are placed online through Healthy Hunger. Please see the provided instruction on how to register your student and order menu items. Payment may be made online by debit, Visa or MasterCard. If you would like your child(ren) to participate in this program, but require financial assistance, please contact the office.
Participation in the Healthy Hunger program is voluntary and a modest fundraiser for Bowcroft School. We receive approximately $1.50 for each meal ordered. Please note that daily breakfast will be available at no cost to students beginning on Friday, January 6. As always, free snacks and sandwiches are available to students through the FANS and Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids programs.
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