All MVSD students have been benefited from the new Nutrition funding provided by the province this year. Here are some of the ways the funding is providing unique programming that supports the needs of the students throughout MVSD.
At Barker School healthy snacks such as fresh fruit and vegetables are offered to students three times a week. At a recent PPC meeting comments were made on how impressed parents and students were with the offering of fresh food. The program has also allowed the student Barker Leadership Team to participate and become even more active in the school.
École Macneill’s Goûter du matin à Macneill (Morning Snack at Macneill) is served three days a week. Food options like muffins and cheese, veggies and dip, cereal, yogurt, toast, crackers, pretzels have been a big hit with the students to complement their personal snacks. Parents have voiced appreciation for the program.
Smith-Jackson provides a healthy snack every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with Grab and Go items available to students. A noon-hour milk program is also available to students free of charge. Smith-Jakson students have been very appreciative of the snack options and the school says дякую to Pani Campbell for all her work behind the scenes planning and preparing for the nutrition program.
Henderson provides a daily “Breakfast Club" with a rotating menu that includes options such as toast, fresh fruit, pancakes, sausages, yogurt, and cheese, giving students access to nutritious food to start their day and fueling their learning. Grade 5 student leaders assist with preparing and serving meals which provides an excellent leadership opportunity. Additionally, there are grab-and-go lunch items for students as needed. HES is incredibly grateful for the nutrition funds, which allow them to meet the nutritional needs of students and foster a healthy, supportive environment.
Gilbert Plains Elementary has approximately 95% of the students accessing the nutrition programming. Staff have been very creative by offering healthy options such as parfaits, vegetables, yogurt and berries, fruit, eggs, and of course cereal. For many, this has become a necessity, and it has created a sense of community for all students as they gather in the morning for a snack to discuss whatever is on their minds. It has brought further positivity to our school.
Grandview School provides breakfast items daily, with a hot breakfast each Monday. As well, they have been fortunate to team up with Tootinaowaziibeeng to help provide daily lunch for students that require it. They have two dedicated Educational Assistants with the help of our custodian assisting in the breakfast program.
Roblin Elementary has used the additional government funding to enhance their existing Nutrition Program, which has allowed them to consistently provide nutritious options for students. RES now offers their Nutrition Program everyday. The funding has also made it much easier to purchase some of the equipment needed to offer the Nutrition Program.
Winnipegosis Elementary provides bagged lunches three days a week for all students that wish to participate. Families sign up through the office, so we know how much to make. They serve on average a third of our school population three days a week.
Ochre River offers a variety of healthy snacks and lunches several times per week. A shift to a balanced school day this year means students have a dedicated time every morning to fuel up. Students are involved in snack selection and preparation to help foster healthy eating habits as well as introducing students to healthy options that may be new to them.
Ethelbert School offers a daily breakfast program. Breakfast includes fruit, in addition to another extra snacks such as yogurt, cheese, and cereal. Students come together for breakfast to start their day with nutrition and friends, often after a lengthy bus ride. The breakfast program has been a great addition to the school community.
At the DRCSS, students access upwards of 300 to 400 items such as fruit, muffins, sausage and cheese, students access cereal, yogurt, and granola bars daily. At lunch, free daily soup is available in the cafeteria. At times throughout the year, students have access to hot breakfasts or lunches provided by students enrolled in the culinary program. The nutrition program, and the staff and student volunteers are appreciated by the whole DRCSS student body.
Goose Lake High School has been running a breakfast program since the 2013 school year. The increase in funding has resulted in delivery increasing from two days weekly to five days weekly. This ensures students have access to food on a daily basis. The tradition of Waffle Wednesdays continues, and the Foods program provides fresh muffins regularly to be served.
Gilbert Plains Collegiate provides breakfast items every morning such as fresh fruit, cold cereal, French toast, pancakes, yogurt parfait, hard boiled eggs, or fresh veggies and dip. Breakfast is enjoyed by all of the students and is something they all look forward to. Lunch items are available in the fridge for student to grab if needed. The Foods and Nutrition class helps by creating fresh baking and lunch options.