Planning for Success

 

As this school year comes to an end, now is the perfect time to be thinking about setting yourself up for a successful reopening of your breakfast program in the fall.

 

In preparation for 2023–2024, consider the following tips and ideas to step into September with a smile: 

  • Hold a recruitment drive to recruit volunteers for your breakfast program.  
  • Reach out to local organizations and businesses for possible partnerships. A good relationship with nearby stores and store managers can help you tap into community discounts, food donations and other sources of support. You might also want to consider asking for donations or assistance in preparing breakfast for your program. 
  • Recognize breakfast program volunteers and thank them for their contributions through Breakfast in Unisson. 
  • Invite students to share why they love their school breakfast and what they would like to see in the program next year.  
  • Empty your fridges and freezers in case there are power outages during the summer. Be sure to unplug them before you leave. 
  • If you have egg coupons, don’t forget to use them before the end of the year. 
  • Store all dried goods in airtight containers out of direct sunlight, and make sure that the expiry dates extend at least until the opening of your program.  
  • Deep-clean all breakfast areas and equipment.  
  • If you don’t operate under a food delivery model, plan your breakfast menus in advance, make a list and stick to it! Your budget will thank you. 
  • Take care of any pending paperwork, sign everything that needs to be signed and update your schedules. For resources and tools, see the Schools Corner of our website. 

 

Have any questions or need support?
Reach out to your BCC coordinator. They have a wealth of knowledge and are happy to help you maximize your breakfast program’s potential!  

 

Viviane Harbec: Key volunteer in the Antoine-Brossard program

How many young people do you know who have a key to their school?

Secondary 5 student Viviane Harbec is one of a precious few. The administration of Antoine-Brossard High School (Brossard, Quebec) had no reservations about trusting her with this responsibility so she could go about her duties as a highly dedicated breakfast program volunteer. 

 

At Antoine-Brossard, every morning kicks off on a cheerful note, with music and a long line of tables prepped and ready to receive breakfast-goers from the student body of about 1,800 teens. Frédéric Jacques, the school’s spiritual care and community involvement counsellor, Principal Éric Chevalier and Viviane herself are there to greet them.  

 

Viviane has been involved in the school’s breakfast program since it began in September 2020. She was just starting Secondary 3 and the project piqued her interest. At that point, the nascent program was limited to a grab-and-go model. But Viviane’s drive and determination helped turn it into a unique and convenient buffet-style operation. The prep work requires Viviane to come in earlier than anyone else, hence the need for the key. After the food has been put out and the tables set, she sticks around at the breakfast station, along with her fellow student volunteers, to ensure everything runs smoothly until the first bell rings and she heads off to class.  

 

It makes Viviane’s heart sing to see the smile breakfast brings to the faces of those who avail themselves of the program. That’s her primary motivation. At 16, she understands the importance of reaching out to those who might be going through a tough time or need an extra helping hand. Given her caring and compassionate nature, it’s not surprising to learn that she plans to enrol in a nursing program at a nearby CEGEP next year, making good on a dream she’s had since Grade 6.  

 

Since she won’t be around come September, Viviane has started to train other students who will succeed her in this role. And she will be finishing up her high school career and her time with the Club on a celebratory note: she received a letter in April informing her that she had been awarded a Lieutenant Governor’s Youth Medal in recognition of her outstanding community and social engagement. Her parents are understandably very proud of her commitment to making a difference in the lives of the people around her.  

 

On behalf of everyone here at Breakfast Club of Canada, we thank you, Viviane, for everything you’ve done, day in and day out, for your school breakfast program. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavours. You definitely have a very bright future ahead of you! 

 

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Supporting Our Schools, Shaping Our Planet’s Future

 

As we celebrate Earth Day, Breakfast Club of Canada highlights the global movement to raise awareness about preserving the planet. As we work to foster students’ well-being and empower them to achieve their potential, we are proud to support school breakfast programs with equipment and resources to make their programs more environmentally sustainable and commend all our partners who share these green aspirations. 

Read on to learn more about some of the innovative, eco-friendly initiatives that schools in Breakfast Club of Canada’s network are making happen.  

 

Protecting Mother Earth  

Cando Community School, Cando, Saskatchewan 

Protecting nature is valued by everyone at Cando Community School, which serves the Cando area and the Mosquito and Red Pheasant First Nations. In the fall of 2022, the administration at Cando Community School requested support from the Club to purchase a set of insulated containers that can be used to prepare and serve a wider variety of hot and cold breakfast items. This approach has made the breakfast program more environmentally sustainable and helps save on food transportation and storage costs and time.  

“Reducing waste in our school is very important so we can do our part and take care of Mother Earth. Polystyrene, plastic and aluminium foil don’t break down easily in the environment. By not using them, we are generating a lot less waste.”  – Sarah L’Hoir, Principal, Cando Community School  

Waste not, want not 

Charles-Bruneau School, Montreal, Quebec 

In 2020, the administration of Charles-Bruneau School set up a green committee to raise students’ awareness of their environmental footprint and encourage behaviours that reduce food waste. As a result of the committee’s efforts, breakfast is now served in reusable sealed containers, cereal is bought in bulk and students wash their own dishes.  

Congratulations to all students, staff and breakfast program volunteers for your inspiring ideas making a world of difference. Keep up the great work! 

An Inspiring Volunteer and Her « Projet Écolimentaire »!

As the 2020–2021 school year got underway, Saint-Coeur-de-Marie School was still short a site coordinator for its breakfast program.

Having just moved to Saint-Damien, Catherine Rixhon took advantage of the opportunity to get involved in the community and do something positive for the next generation through her twin passions of cooking and gardening. She loved the experience immediately and saw that she would be making a real difference in the day-to-day lives of students. But she was far from done contributing! She reached out to an organization that funds community health projects and secured a grant for the school, which was then used to start an initiative known as “Projet Écolimentaire.” The objective is to make locally grown foods more available to students. Part of the funding went toward procuring new appliances and accessories for the school kitchen. The school already had a seed planter, courtesy of the Municipality of Saint-Damien, which meant that everything was in place to allow students in every class to plant, grow and harvest a variety of fruits and vegetables in their community garden. Potatoes, kale, eggplant, cherry tomatoes, garlic and bell peppers are among the plants they proudly tend.  

 

 

But what about potential food waste? No worries there! Catherine had yet another trick up her sleeve. She and seven other community recruits meet up twice a month to make and freeze healthy, delicious dishes like omelets, kale chips, muffins, breakfast cookies and smoothies to serve in the school’s breakfast program. It wasn’t long until parents were clamouring to join in on the fun. After all, helping out in the kitchen once or twice a month is easier for most than volunteering every day during school hours.  

When asked about why she decided to take the lead on this project, Catherine credited her own sustainability-minded values. She is determined to reduce the quantity of individually packaged foods served at the school and focus on locally grown items. “If you want to change society, I think you have to start by educating children,” she says. That is why she is committed to piquing students’ curiosity by exposing them to different combinations of fresh, healthy foods and encouraging them to talk about what they like and how each food is unique. In addition, twice a week, she delivers special announcements over the school’s PA system about healthy eating and the environment. It’s a great way to raise awareness about nutrition and food waste among students and staff alike. As a result, composting has gradually worked its way into the school’s routine practices.  

Even if she doesn’t consider herself to be a morning person, Catherine is delighted and honoured to be involved in the school’s breakfast program. “I’m always raring to get to the school in the morning. The breakfast program has put a little extra pep into my life!” 

 

 

Some Like It Hot: One School’s Mission to Make Hot Breakfasts Part of Their In-Class Service Model

This year, the staff at Nesbitt Elementary School in Montreal, Quebec, decided to break the routine of serving cold breakfast food items that they had adopted while COVID-19 restrictions were in place. They wanted to see if they could switch back to a hot breakfast while maintaining an in-class service model.  

In September 2022, Nicholas Romano, principal of Nesbitt Elementary School, approached breakfast program volunteer Francesca Lasala to discuss the possibility of offering students a hot breakfast. With Francesca’s open-mindedness, determination and strong team of fellow volunteers, they were able to change their menu while still serving breakfast in class. 

With the support of Principal Nicholas Romano, Francesca Lasala and her team of volunteers came up with a menu featuring waffles, scrambled egg tortillas and grilled cheese sandwiches. The breakfast is prepared before school starts and then delivered to each classroom by bin while everything is still warm.   

The team has gotten off to a great start thanks to volunteers Danielle, and husband-and-wife pair Claudette and Denis, who have been helping out for a few years now. Randstad employees are also pitching in this year by sending employees to volunteer every two weeks.  

When asked for advice about getting enough volunteers, Francesca said, “Send an email to parents! Try it! You just need to stress that their presence needs to be consistent.” Francesca also creates a positive climate for her volunteers and puts a lot of effort into how the breakfast appears in the bin. As she puts it, “A good presentation goes a long way!” 

Francesca sees the value in enriching the breakfast program as much as possible. “Before entering the classroom, the students can already smell what’s on the menu. They get so excited about it!” she said, adding, “The most rewarding thing for me is having the kids say ‘thank you’ during the day. Once they came to the breakfast room while I was cleaning and a girl said, ‘Thanks for everything you do to make sure we eat in the morning.’” 

Advice for switching to a hot menu 

The Nesbitt teachers agree: breakfast in class is no different from snack time. It’s a calm period during which students get the chance to start the day with a healthy meal. It gives teachers time to look at their agendas for notes or end-of-day changes. They all have their routine, clean up their spaces and bring back the class bin.  

If you need support, talk to your BCC coordinator! At Nesbitt, Francesca worked with her coordinator to adjust the original menu of pancakes and oatmeal, which they could sense might be too much to manage all at once, to something that was more manageable but just as delicious and nutritious!  

Duke of Marlborough School Visit

Poster in school

On September 14, 2022, Duke of Marlborough School welcomed two Breakfast Club of Canada staff members and more than 20 other guests on a learning trip led by the Northern Manitoba Food, Culture, and Community Collaborative to get a better idea of how the school’s breakfast program works.  

 

Duke of Marlborough School is located in Churchill, Manitoba, a community of about 1,000 people. The school attempts to offset the food insecurity challenges that come with living in the North by providing breakfast to its students. A thank-you wall in the hallway has been created to thank all the funding partners that have provided support to the program. The students are currently working on making the wall even more visually appealing and adding 3D elements. 

 

Claire Gould, the site coordinator in charge of the breakfast program, spent the afternoon with the guests, enthusiastically explaining that breakfast is open to all students, every morning. She said she has been organizing breakfast at the school for many years, emphasis on “many.” In a community where access to healthy, affordable food is tough, the program has proved to be very beneficial to those who attend. The school also takes pride in building character and instilling virtues that are vital to forging strong relationships and promoting a safe school environment, as the posters below show.

poster in school

The school serves fruit (apples, pears or grapes, depending on availability), cereal, crackers and yogurt to students to enjoy in their classroom before the bell rings. Volunteer support in recent years has been overwhelming. After one local organization offered to cook a hot breakfast for the kids and was celebrated for it in the community, more and more offers rolled in from different groups and organizations who wanted to help. What an incredible culture of community and volunteer engagement has emerged to support these kids in the best of ways! 

 

Claire mentioned that their four dishwashers in the home ec room have transformed their breakfast system. Students are asked to do their part by placing their dirty dishes into the dishwashers after breakfast. A volunteer then checks to ensure they’re all loaded correctly. Once the dishes are clean, they are put away for use the following school day. As a result, everyone involved has a sense of responsibility and ownership. 

Poster in school

Claire still feels there’s so much more she could do. But considering all the difficulties the community faces in terms of food access, the fact that she’s getting a variety of delicious, nutritious foods into kids’ bellies every day is already more than enough! 

 

Thank you, Claire, and thank you to all the teachers and volunteers out there who do so much for these kids.


Read more stories about breakfast programs here.

Build a Collaborative Culture That Includes Recognition

volunteer and student hug

Welcome back, students! Welcome back, teachers! AND let’s not forget the support staff, volunteers and all those who make your school’s breakfast program possible! Collaboration is often the key to a successful program and we are grateful to see so many hard-working individuals on the ground at every school serving up breakfast. Remember, YOU are Breakfast Champions!

 

In the spring, we were thrilled to see so many schools take part in the Club’s Breakfast in Unison event. Your participation created a wave of recognition for all our Breakfast Champions from coast to coast to coast. In June, Jocelyn Dudley, one of our program coordinators, was lucky enough to attend a virtual Breakfast in Unison with Riverside Public School in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The event highlighted the contributions of six staff members who graciously prepare and serve breakfast daily. It was also an opportunity to acknowledge and express gratitude to two community partners, Save-On-Foods Prince Albert and the Prince Albert Food Bank. During the event, we heard from students and teachers about the importance of the daily breakfast program.

Here are some quotes that were shared.  

From students: 

“It helped us taste different things we haven’t had before.” 

“It got rid of the rumble in my tummy.”

“It helped me wake up a little bit more.”

“It made me not talk loud and concentrate on my work and be good.”

“When you eat food, it makes you big and strong.”

 

From teachers: 

“A lot of my students rely on this food program. Breakfast first thing in the morning creates happy students with full tummies and full hearts ready to learn. There would be more setbacks in behaviour if students were hungry.” 

“I can say that when my students are not hungry, they are more willing to participate in class activities! They almost all come to school without breakfast. They are hungrier and they often ask for that second snack in the afternoon. I appreciate the food very much!” 

“Parents often comment that they appreciate the provided breakfast and snacks for students, especially with the rising cost of groceries. For many of the children, they either do not have enough in their lunch kit to fill them up or the food they do have provides limited nutritional value.” 

 

A daily school breakfast makes a difference in the lives of these students, teachers and families, and it takes collaboration to make it happen! We encourage you to integrate recognition into your day-to-day and annual calendars. It is never too early to start planning to celebrate your school’s Breakfast Champions! Keep an eye out in upcoming newsletter articles to learn more about creating a culture of recognition in your program.  

A Great Way to Make a Difference!

Lemonade stand

 

The desire to give back can start at any age, as 7-year-old Béatrice can tell you. Hers is a story of humble beginnings that lead to big achievements!

 

How it All Started 

In 2021, Béatrice and her friends Annabella and Zoé decided to sell lemonade to raise money for Breakfast Club of Canada and give other kids an equal chance to succeed. The idea then grew and grew, with six school friends, siblings and children from the neighbourhood joining in on the fun. With the help of their parents, the small group of young entrepreneurs pulled the whole thing off admirably, bringing in the tidy sum of $495.

Stand de limonade

The beautiful lemonade stand created specially for the occasion!

 

A New Year, a New Goal! 

This summer, the group decided to repeat the experience, only with a loftier goal in mind. 

Even more of their friends, brothers and sisters decided to pitch in as well, as did their parents, who built a lemonade stand, spread the word on social media and put up signs in the neighbourhood.

 

A Perfect Day 

The sale ended up happening on a warm, sunny afternoon in mid-July, in a specially made wooden lemonade stand. Béatrice and her teammates, Mathias, Florence, Abygaëlle, Massoma, Zoé, Annabella, Lee-Anne, Anaëlle and Édouard, went all out, making and hanging decorations, putting up BCC-themed balloons and greeting thirsty customers.  

Lots of people stopped by, intrigued by what was going on and happy to make a donation in exchange for a refreshing glass of lemonade. The great weather meant that the stand could stay open until 7 p.m.

Jeune fille devant le kiosque

Béatrice, 7 years old, ready to sale lemonade!

Proud parents 

This year’s efforts definitely paid off, raising $1,282 to help Breakfast Club of Canada feed children throughout the year. 

The parents who helped out were very proud and touched to see their children lend a hand to such a worthy cause. Maxime and Mélissa, Béatrice and Mathias’s parents, told BCC that they were already talking about doing it again next year — bigger and better than ever! 

Les jeunes et leur kisoque

From left to right: Annabella, Anaëlle, Lee-Anne, Béatrice, Florence, Isaac, Abygaëlle, Édouard, Massoma, Zoé and Mathias.

 

Everyone here at Breakfast Club of Canada would like to thank and congratulate Annabella, Anaëlle, Lee-Anne, Béatrice, Florence, Isaac, Abygaëlle, Édouard, Massoma, Zoé, and Mathias, as well as all those who supported them, for doing such a wonderful job again this year. It is inspiring to see children take the lead on initiatives like this that let them make a real difference in the lives of other children their age.  

See you again next year, we hope!  

Your program in 5 Questions — Maverick School, Swift Current, SK

bénévoles

 

Maverick School joined Breakfast Club of Canada in December 2021. See what their principal, Jayne Nicholson, has to say about their daily breakfast program.

 

 What is the one thing people need to know about your breakfast program?

The most important thing you need to know about our breakfast program is that students are truly appreciative of the opportunity to enjoy breakfast when they arrive at school! They LOVE smoothies!

Student drinking smoothie

What are you most proud of in your breakfast program?

I’m most proud of how the program has been streamlined. Students order their breakfast through a Google Chat with our breakfast program coordinator, and food is delivered right to students’ work area. This began because of COVID, but I think we will keep it in place as it is time-efficient and there is no food waste! I’m also proud and grateful that the additional funds have allowed us to ensure food security over school breaks in the form of food hampers containing non-perishable breakfast items.

 

Is there a student/school staff/community member who has gone above and beyond in your breakfast program?

I’d like to give a shout-out to Alisa Meyer, our coordinator. Lis is kind, caring and efficient! She knows that students value her work, and she is always eager to try new breakfast items to expand our menu and provide variety. On Fridays, she creates a breakfast casserole, pancakes or French toast as a special treat. She is mindful of the budget and keeps our kitchen shiny clean. Our breakfast program is in capable and caring hands. Thank you, Lis!

Student eating toast

Special breakfasts: What do students look forward to?

SMOOTHIES! Wow, do they love smoothies! Our smoothies contain a variety of fruits, greens and Greek yogurt to make sure that hit of protein is part of their morning meal. They also love breakfast wraps.

 

Have students asked for specific foods? What are they? Any interesting, unique requests?

We have not had requests for specific foods. Everyday breakfast items include fruit and yogurt, whole wheat toast, oatmeal, low-sugar cereals and, of course, smoothies!

Virtual Gathering Place: Compilation of Ideas on Indigenous Foods and Practices

Indigenous communities

In early April, schools across Canada joined our Virtual Gathering Place, an online platform where they could share their successes and challenges in incorporating Indigenous foods and practices into breakfast and other meal programming. Participants also touched on ways to honour the values and communities of the tradutional territories within which their programs operate. Three main topics were covered: challenges and solution; cultural practices and interconnectedness of food, and recipe sharing.

 

Successes

There were many challenges shared, ranging from time and space within the school community to prepare meals, to food safety regulations and student preferences. However, along with these came many innovative solutions:

  • Reducing preparation time:Schools had great ideas to share to help cut down on prep time in the mornings, like baking bannock in a large sheet pan and slicing it into pieces with a pizza cutter. Many foods can also be prepared ahead of time in large batches and stored in the freezer, then warmed up in the morning. Bannock, for example, can be prepared the day before. Slightly toasting or heating it up the next day can restore the soft, delicious texture we know and love.
  • Sourcing Indigenous foods:Many schools have found great success in sourcing Indigenous foods through community connections. For example, family or community members who are hunters can provide access to a good supply of meat. Connecting with Elders to gather, harvest or hunt together is also a source of inspiration. Inviting community members or Elders into the school to help make bannock and teach students how to prepare it is another way to introduce traditional foods into your program. Some schools also put out a call to the local community for donations of any meats, foods or produce. Finally, community gardens are a great way to bring foods into your program while maintaining and leveraging local connections.
  • Food safety regulations:It is important to consider and follow the food service regulations relevant to your school. Within these regulations, some schools have created a permission form for wild meat when students register, and others have found success purchasing through a local butcher, as the meat is packaged and date-stamped to meet certain requirements.
  • Introducing students to new foods:Breakfast coordinators have had success introducing unfamiliar foods by including students in the harvesting or preparation process through community gardens or cooking classes. Inviting Elders or Knowledge Keepers to talk to students about what they ate growing up can also help bridge the gap.

 

Cultural Practices, Language and Interconnectedness of Foods and Culture

Using language, valuing togetherness and honouring the ceremony around eating can be great solutions for representing Indigenous ways of knowing and being in your breakfast program. Schools shared with us how they bring singing, language, art and communities together with school events, announcements and classes.

Many schools are limited in time or resources to incorporate Indigenous foods into their daily breakfast program. Hosting a community-wide meal is one idea for incorporating traditional foods and practices. Involving members of the community to help cook foods like bannock or salmon soup is a great way to get the positive energy going. Other school events, like Métis Week or Indigenous Celebration Day, can also be used to get students to try traditional foods and talk about their heritage and families. Some schools hold outdoor cookouts, where students can make bannock on a stick over an open fire, and teachers and community members can share their specialties, like fishing, and harvesting and preparing wild meat. Other ways that some schools have incorporated language and cultural practices into their breakfast programs include announcing the daily breakfast menu in Cree and gathering every morning with singing, drumming and round dancing during breakfast. Another school including learning Cree for students during beading classes.

 

Kicking off Your Breakfast Program and Recipe Sharing 

Some easy recipe ideas to get you started: why not work wild berries into different breakfast dishes? Saskatoon berries, blueberries and other berries can be used in smoothies or parfaits, or served with bannock, pancakes or oatmeal. Fresh summer berries can be preserved by making compote or jam to enjoy all year round.

Bannock can also be served in many ways, including breakfast pizza, breakfast sandwiches, breakfast tacos, French toast or with chili and stew. Try using a blend of whole wheat and white flour, or adding oats or ground oat flour to your bannock, to increase its nutritional value.

Some other ideas:

  • Reach out to Nations in your area for recipes
  • Ask students and their families to share recipes
  • Google or search the local library for a cookbook with local traditional recipes
  • Start a “Bannock of the Month” activity and have students bring in their own family recipes
  • Hold an outdoor cookout and invite local community members
  • View the list of resources from trusted stakeholders that we have compiled here.

 

The Virtual Gathering Place was a part of our dedication to supporting each program’s unique reality, in this case, the focus on an Indigenous worldview. It was also a way to participate in reconciliation. We hope to continue developing our support for traditional and Indigenous foods and to provide more resources for our schools. We are grateful to have learned from the over 160 schools in attendance.