Lunchtime Hours & Supervision
Lunch hour = 12:07 PM - 12:46 PM Monday to Thursday. (No lunch on Fridays although students are given a 12 minute snack break from 11:43 - 11:55. Students are encouraged to bring a snack. A "Snack Cart" is available for students to purchase small snacks from if they choose. Cash only) Cafeteria service is available through our Snack Shack to all students Monday to Thursday (Cash only) Check out the daily menu on our Cafeteria & Menu page under Culture & Environment
Microwaves are available for students to warm up lunch. Hot water is also available. Families are reminded to send their student with any needed cutlery each day. Students are expected to leave tables and floors clean and put all waste materials in the garbage cans inside and outside the school. All Grade 5 and 6 students staying for lunch are required to register. Please visit our Lunch Supervision page for more information.
Grades 5 - 6 students must remain on school property during the lunch hour
Grades 7, 8 & 9 students have the privilege to leave the school campus for lunch with the provision that they are able to return to school prior to the warning bell. SouthCentre Mall, parking lots and alleys are out of bounds, as are the playground and picnic tables on the far west end of the field (belonging to the City of Calgary).
FUN LUNCH – HEALTHY HUNGER
In collaboration with our School Council, we are happy to provide Willow Park families with several fun lunches for the school year. Our School Council uses Healthy Hunger to help support their fundraising goals. We typically will do 1-2 lunches a month on Wednesdays.
Please note- any students absent on the day of the fun lunch will have until lunchtime the next day to pick up their meal. After such time, the school will donate the meal to some hungry teenagers. Booster Juice is the exception and drinks will be donated immediately due to quality/freshness concerns.
Please sign up below:
Check out Healthy Hunger to sign up and purchase fun and delicious lunches 2x/month. Healthy Hunger is a School Council initiative. Upcoming Fun Lunch Dates are:
- Sept 17 – Dominos Pizza
- Oct 8 – Booster Juice
- Oct 29 - Boston Pizza
- Dec 17 - A & W
- Jan 14 - OPA
- Feb 4 - Dominos Pizza
- Feb 25 - Subway
- March 18 - A & W
- April 15 - Boston Pizza
- May 6 - Booster Juice
Allergies
Please remember that Willow Park School is a “nut aware” and “scent sensitive” campus when planning lunches for your child. Do not bring the following:
- Nuts of any kind
- Nut spread (nutella, peanut butter, almond butter etc)
For more information on allergies and/or other health concerns 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