** We no longer offer a cafeteria service.
Lunch is a 46-minute break, beginning at 12:12, unless otherwise stated. All students not involved in a lunch activity must go outside at 12:32.
Lunch Supervision
The Calgary Board of Education provides students with the option to stay at school for lunch. Lunch Supervision is offered to all students in Grades 1- 6 and in our full-day kindergarten programs for an annual fee. Please visit our Lunch Supervision page for more information.
Lunch Procedures
All Students are expected to eat in their designated lunchroom or designated areas and are responsible to lunchroom supervisors and teachers for behaviour during lunchtime. Students need to bring a lunch that does not require heating and the appropriate utensils with which to eat their lunch. It is the student’s responsibility to keep the school tidy, pick up their garbage and clean their eating area before leaving. Our school has many recycling bins and composts, so waste should be discarded appropriately. Please keep food wrapped up in lockers and ensure that uneaten food is disposed of appropriately, or taken home. All lunch containers should be taken home on a daily basis.
Grade 4, 5 and 6 students will eat in their homeroom location. During the second half of lunch they may access the designated outside area for their grade group. They must stay on school property when outside for lunch recess.
Grade 7, must eat in their designated lunch space and remain on campus for the second half of lunch.
Grades 8 and 9 are allowed to leave the school campus during the lunch break. Although Grade 8 – 9 students are not restricted to the school campus for lunch, students are responsible to their parents and the school for their behaviour in the community. Should they choose to eat their lunch inside, they will eat in the lower gym hallway, lower east hallway area or cafeteria space as designated. Should students choose to exit the building at the beginning of the lunch break they will not be allowed re-enter the school until the end of the lunch break, weather permitting.
On nice weather days, students must go outside during their lunch break if they are not in a teacher supervised activity.
Students are not to be in classes at lunch unsupervised.
No Slurpees, slushy drinks or ice cream cones in the school.
No disposable cups with lids.
Allergies
We are an “Allergy Aware” School. Please let us know if your child has food allergies and requires support. For more information about this and other health concerns visit our Illness & Medical page.
Fun Lunches
Fun lunches give our students an opportunity to eat lunch, socialize with their friends at school and take part in special activities. Fun lunches are organized by Fairview Parent Society and they are used as a fundraiser for the school. Fun Lunches will be scheduled on the following Fridays:
October 21 November 18 December 22
January 20 February 24 March 24
April 21 May 19
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