Noon Hour Expectations
Lunch is to be eaten in a classroom or on a bench that is supervised by staff. Students are asked to not sit and eat on the floor in the building. When the weather is suitable, we encourage students to spend some time outdoors during the lunch break. Students have the opportunity to leave campus at lunch to go home or to eating establishments in the community provided they conduct themselves in a manner that is expected of our students.
Failure to meet behavioral expectations may result in a loss of off-campus privileges. Clean hallways and schoolyard areas are important to us. Garbage cans have been conveniently placed, as requested by students. We show pride in our school by placing all litter, regardless of whose it is, in garbage cans. We all chip in when asked to assist in keeping the school and grounds clean, we’re all in this together.
Allergies
To decrease the likelihood of an emergency medical situation due to allergic reactions, we request that parents avoid sending peanut butter and/or tree nut products to school. For more information on allergies and/or other health concerns visit our Illness & Medical page.
Fun Lunches
Our Parent Council is very pleased to offer Healthy Hunger Lunches.
Proceeds raised from these lunches will go towards helping our School Council pay for the Grade 9 graduation, offset costs for new gym equipment, help sponsor various family fun events such as our “Welcome Back BBQ”, fund campus wide programs. It also provides the opportunity for your child(ren) to have a fun lunch every few weeks! And you don't have to make it. 😉
As the Healthy Hunger system resets every year, you must login and register for an account if you want to participate. Also FYI, some vendors do provide gluten free items but we cannot guarantee these lunches will be suitable for any student with severe intolerances or Celiac disease.
To create your Healthy Hunger account just follow these easy steps:
- Go to https://www.healthyhunger.ca/
- Select the orange button “Sign up for a free account”
- Fill in the necessary parent information
- The system will create your account and then ask you to log in (left hand side of screen)
- Select John Ware Jr High School and then “add” your child
Follow online instructions and proceed to place your lunch order and pay online
Helpful Hints:
- All lunch orders close 7 days before lunch date. No late orders can be accommodated.
- Once you have registered your child and placed an order, Healthy Hunger will send you an email reminder telling you that you have not yet ordered for the next Fun Lunch.
- You can cancel an order any time prior to the order cut-off date.➢ You can order and pay for all your kids at the same time.
- There is no GST on these lunches but a small transaction fee is charged by HealthyHunger. You may want to order all your kids’ lunches at the same time to minimize the number of transactions.
- At any time, you can log into your Healthy Hunger account to view your lunch orders.
- The Healthy Hunger system has been set up to allow you, as the parent, to choose what lunch your child receives. You may choose a complete lunch or opt to supplement a lunch from home.
- Unfortunately we cannot subsidize these lunches.
- Please, parents, ask your child(ren) how their lunch was. If it was not good, please drop me a note, so I can replace that vendor. Let's not waste our money. 😉
- I have tried to find vendors who are reasonably priced with a nutritious lunch. If your child has had a fabulous lunch with Healthy Hunger and the price was reasonable, please let me know.
Should you have any further questions regarding this program, please contact Kondeilenia Kaketsis,
Fun Lunch Coordinator, at kkaketsis@shaw.ca
THANK YOU PARENTS for your continued support in making this a great
school for all our kids!
John Ware School Council
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