Attendance Line: 403-817-3568 ext. 1
Our lunchtime schedule has changed please check with the school office for times.
Students who go home or to their daycare at lunch should return to the school playground no earlier than 5 minutes before bell time, when supervisors go on duty.
Lunch Supervision
Students living in the Martindale area who go home or to their daycare at lunch are not to return to the school playground until 5 minutes before the bell time, when supervisors go on duty. A Lunch Supervision Program is available through the Calgary Board of Education. Parents must register and must pay a yearly fee in order to attend. Parents will be informed about the fees for the year through email. Please register and pay on line. (Please see our Lunch Supervision page for instructions).
Students bring their lunch and are supervised at all times. Lunchrooms do not have access to microwaves, boiling water, or oven to heat or warm-up food.
If your child is in the Lunch Program and will be away, please send a message to the school or a note so that the supervision staff are aware. Parents, we remind you to please pack a nutritional lunch for your kids.
Please ensure your child brings his/her lunch with them in the morning. We are not able to take drop off lunches.
Allergies
We are a Nut Free School
We have children at our school who are allergic to nuts, nutella and related nut products. We ask all parents to assist by avoiding the use of nuts and peanuts in foods and crafts sent to school, and ensuring that trading or sharing of food does not occur.
For more details on allergies 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