Attendance Line: 403-817-3404 ext. 1
Hours
Lunchtime is from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM for students in Kindergarten, Grade 1 & Grade 2.
Due to safety and supervision, student lunch is staggered throughout the lunch hour.
Grade 1 & 2
Lunch 11:30 AM - 11:50 AM
Common Recess 11:50 AM - 12:10 PM
Kindergarten
Common Recess 11:50 AM - 12:10 PM
Lunch 12:10 - 12:30 PM
Preschool is not in session between 11:15 AM and 12:15 PM, however, there is always food available for all students at the beginning of the program.
It is important to call the lunchtime program attendance line if your child is absent.
Lunch Supervision
The Niitsitapi Learning Centre offers a Calgary Board of Education lunch program, please visit our Lunch Supervision page for more information.
Food Guide
To support healthy growth and development, it is important to provide nutritious snacks in school. A variety of fruits and vegetables are always available throughout the day. The Canada Food Guide is referenced in meal planning. Water is served with lunch daily.
We request that students do not bring sugary items such as pop, chips, cookies, and candy to school.
Our Nutrition - Administrative Regulation 3047 applies to food and beverages served or sold by CBE staff or CBE contracted food service providers. It does not apply to the lunch or snack items parents send with their child. See the CBE's Health & Wellness website for more details and resources.
Nut-Free School
The Niitsitapi Learning Centre strives to be a nut-free school. For more information regarding our nut policy, please visit 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