Many students eat lunch at Tom Baines and it is important to respect our learning environment by cleaning up after yourselves. We are proud to recycle and compost.
Lunch Times
Lunch hour is from 12:16 p.m. to 12:58 p.m. Monday through Thursday. There is no lunch hour on Fridays due to the 1:10 early dismissal time. There is an extended morning break on Fridays from 10:53 - 11:03 a.m., but students do not go outside and are not permitted to go home. On Monday-Thursday, Grade 6 Students who go home for lunch may do so, but must have written permission from a parent. Direct supervision is provided for grade 6 students only. Students eat their lunch for for the first half of the lunch period and then go outside for the second half. If it is colder than -20 degrees Celsius, students have an indoor lunch period. Grade 7-9 students are permitted to leave campus provided they return to school on time.
Most students bring their own lunch to school. Students have access to a microwave, as well as hot water for pre-packaged noodle soups. For cafeteria information please look at the Cafeteria and Menu tab. https://school.cbe.ab.ca/schoo...
Grade 7-9 Lunchtime Activities
Many activities occur at school over the lunch hour for students that are supervised by teachers. Students in Grade 7, 8 or 9 are permitted to leave the school campus; but are expected back at school on time. The decision to leave campus at lunch for students in this age group is between the parent/guardian and the student. Our lunch hour times are 12:16 PM to 12:58 PM. Students must be back in their classrooms by 12:58 or they are considered late. If students are consistently late they will denied off campus privileges.
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 information.
Grade 6 Lunch Supervision
Grade 6 students pay a four-day Lunch Supervision fee and have three supervisors designated just for them.
If a student has written permission to go home for lunch they would leave at the beginning of the entire lunch hour (Monday to Thursday 12:16 p.m.) and return by 12:58 for a 1:02 start to afternoon classes.
Allergies
Students need to be aware of food allergies when eating lunch and bringing snacks to school. 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.
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