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#1
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Changing Recess and Lunch
Hello,
Our school board seems to be changing from a schedule of 15 minute morning and afternoon recess plus 60 minute (30 minutes eating + 30 minutes outside for kids who stay at school) to one of two 40 minute "nutrition breaks" (20 minutes eating + 20 minutes outside). Does anyone have any experience with this type of schedule? My kids thrive with a routine, so I'm a bit concerned about moving around their mealtimes, and it also means that they won't be getting a break by coming home in the middle of the day for lunch since the time is too short to make the round-trip. Carol Hulls |
#2
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In article , Carol Hulls says...
Hello, Our school board seems to be changing from a schedule of 15 minute morning and afternoon recess plus 60 minute (30 minutes eating + 30 minutes outside for kids who stay at school) to one of two 40 minute "nutrition breaks" (20 minutes eating + 20 minutes outside). Does anyone have any experience with this type of schedule? My kids thrive with a routine, so I'm a bit concerned about moving around their mealtimes, and it also means that they won't be getting a break by coming home in the middle of the day for lunch since the time is too short to make the round-trip. Well, any change will impact some families' current schedules. Are all the kids are your childs' school within walking distance home and have a parent at home during the lunch hour? Probably not. Do you know the rationale for this change? What does the school board say? Also, are they planning on serving hot meals for one or both breaks? For my family, since I work and it would be too far to come home for lunch in any case, to have two nutrition breaks would actually be beneficial. More frequent, smaller meals may be better for growing bodies anyway. For my son, some years he had aa too-early lunch schedule (the school did lunch in shifts), and that meant he'd not be hungry enough for the lunch (we always have breakfast), and he was starving during the latter part of the school day. If it were much later, though, he'd be on low fuel for the latter part of the morning. So it depends. It would be interesting to hear what the reasons are for the change. Banty |
#3
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"Carol Hulls" wrote in message ... Hello, Our school board seems to be changing from a schedule of 15 minute morning and afternoon recess plus 60 minute (30 minutes eating + 30 minutes outside for kids who stay at school) to one of two 40 minute "nutrition breaks" (20 minutes eating + 20 minutes outside). Does anyone have any experience with this type of schedule? My kids thrive with a routine, so I'm a bit concerned about moving around their mealtimes, and it also means that they won't be getting a break by coming home in the middle of the day for lunch since the time is too short to make the round-trip. When the fall comes, they will have a totally new routine, anyway. So, as long as they stick the new routine all year, they shouldn't have a problem. It looks like they are adding 10 minutes to the school day + there is less disruption with putting coats and away (going from thrice a day to twice a day for this). Jeff Carol Hulls |
#4
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Carol Hulls wrote:
Hello, Our school board seems to be changing from a schedule of 15 minute morning and afternoon recess plus 60 minute (30 minutes eating + 30 minutes outside for kids who stay at school) to one of two 40 minute "nutrition breaks" (20 minutes eating + 20 minutes outside). Does anyone have any experience with this type of schedule? My kids thrive with a routine, so I'm a bit concerned about moving around their mealtimes, and it also means that they won't be getting a break by coming home in the middle of the day for lunch since the time is too short to make the round-trip. Carol Hulls You don't say your kids' ages, but I'll guess elementary school. One whole hour of lunch seems like an awfully long break to me. The times I've gone to DS's school for lunch with him, he is invariably finished eating in 5 minutes. After eating the kids go outside to play. As I recall, the total break is maybe 35 minutes? I suspect the move will disrupt your kids' schedule routine for a grand total of 1 or 2 days. It doesn't seem like that big of deal to me -- now, they'll be eating with peers instead of at home. They might like it -- I know I did when I switched from going home to eat (K-4) to eating at school (5), when I changed schools. Scott DD 11 and DS 9 |
#5
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In article ,
Scott wrote: Carol Hulls wrote: My kids thrive with a routine, so I'm a bit concerned about moving around their mealtimes, and it also means that they won't be getting a break by coming home in the middle of the day for lunch since the time is too short to make the round-trip. I suspect the move will disrupt your kids' schedule routine for a grand total of 1 or 2 days. It doesn't seem like that big of deal to me -- now, they'll be eating with peers instead of at home. They might like it -- I know I did when I switched from going home to eat (K-4) to eating at school (5), when I changed schools. I'd prefer not to go into too much detail on the net, but I will say that unfortunately for one of my kids the transition time is likely to be measured in months. They've unfortunately not been too successful with staying for lunch in the past, so changing meal times, plus staying 5 days a week is likely to be quite a change. |
#6
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In article ,
Banty wrote: In article , Carol Hulls says... Our school board seems to be changing from a schedule of 15 minute morning and afternoon recess plus 60 minute (30 minutes eating + 30 minutes outside for kids who stay at school) to one of two 40 minute "nutrition breaks" (20 minutes eating + 20 minutes outside). Does anyone have any experience with this type of schedule? My kids thrive with a routine, so I'm a bit concerned about moving around their mealtimes, and it also means that they won't be getting a break by coming home in the middle of the day for lunch since the time is too short to make the round-trip. Well, any change will impact some families' current schedules. Are all the kids are your childs' school within walking distance home and have a parent at home during the lunch hour? Probably not. In my neighbourhood, very few kids actually go home for lunch. I can't say how things are for other schools in the board, but I suspect the number is quite low. Unfortunately in my case, one of the reasons we'll be affected is that my kids ran into difficulties when we tried lunch at school five days a week. In the end the solution for my family was for me to adjust my working hours so that I could return home for lunch - fortunately I work very close to home. It was our earlier difficulties that have me concerned for the fall and wondering how the transition can best be handled. Maybe I should be asking how does one get a shy child who needs a break from their peers to actually ingest food at school.... Do you know the rationale for this change? What does the school board say? Also, are they planning on serving hot meals for one or both breaks? The rationale is to adjust the teachers' schedules so that all get one continuous 40 min break during the day and to try and give the teachers more prep time. There is also the expectation that the students will be better focused later in the afternoon with the two food breaks. The school doesn't serve hot meals except for pizza day. Otherwise it is bag lunches. For my family, since I work and it would be too far to come home for lunch in any case, to have two nutrition breaks would actually be beneficial. More frequent, smaller meals may be better for growing bodies anyway. For my son, some years he had aa too-early lunch schedule (the school did lunch in shifts), and that meant he'd not be hungry enough for the lunch (we always have breakfast), and he was starving during the latter part of the school day. If it were much later, though, he'd be on low fuel for the latter part of the morning. Did you find a way to solve things with the too early lunch or was it just something that you had to survive with until the end of the year? If so, what did you do? |
#7
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Carol Hulls wrote:
It was our earlier difficulties that have me concerned for the fall and wondering how the transition can best be handled. Maybe I should be asking how does one get a shy child who needs a break from their peers to actually ingest food at school.... This is something I would discuss with the teacher. Perhaps they can eat in a quiet unused classroom rather than venturing to the mayhem that is the cafeteria. Maybe you could join them for lunch in the unused classroom? Or maybe there are other kids who need a break from peers who can club together in a quieter corner of the school. Scott DD 11 and DS 9 |
#8
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In article ,
Carol Hulls wrote: Unfortunately in my case, one of the reasons we'll be affected is that my kids ran into difficulties when we tried lunch at school five days a week. In the end the solution for my family was for me to adjust my working hours so that I could return home for lunch - fortunately I work very close to home. It was our earlier difficulties that have me concerned for the fall and wondering how the transition can best be handled. Maybe I should be asking how does one get a shy child who needs a break from their peers to actually ingest food at school.... Hmm, would it be possible for you to arrange your hours so that you can pick your child up at school during one of the breaks? Even if you can't get home and back in a reasonable timeframe, maybe you could picnic somewhere nearby in nice weather, and even just eat together in the car in poor weather. I know it's not a great solution, but perhaps something you could do sometimes during the transition if it seems necessary. Otherwise, I imagine that even a reluctant child will be hungry enough to eat during the second break, so the two breaks may work to your advantage in that respect. If there's a serious problem with the child not eating and being hungry all day, perhaps the school guidance department could step in and work out some way of helping him/her. In my children's last school some children had a "mentor" who came to spend lunch time privately with the student, eating and then playing games or whatever, which could give a child a needed break from peers (though in most cases, I don't think that was the primary goal). For some kids the mentor would sometimes have them invite a friend or two, which might be used to help transition a child into eating while socializing, in a less overwhelming environment, and with an adult advising as needed. As far as routine, you might try eating at those times during the summer, to get the child's body used to the physical aspects of the new routine. Good luck, --Robyn .. |
#9
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"Robyn Kozierok" wrote in message ... (...) As far as routine, you might try eating at those times during the summer, to get the child's body used to the physical aspects of the new routine. DOH! Excellent idea! Why didn't I think of it? Jeff Good luck, --Robyn . |
#10
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Carol Hulls wrote:
Hello, Our school board seems to be changing from a schedule of 15 minute morning and afternoon recess plus 60 minute (30 minutes eating + 30 minutes outside for kids who stay at school) to one of two 40 minute "nutrition breaks" (20 minutes eating + 20 minutes outside). Does anyone have any experience with this type of schedule? My kids thrive with a routine, so I'm a bit concerned about moving around their mealtimes, and it also means that they won't be getting a break by coming home in the middle of the day for lunch since the time is too short to make the round-trip. Carol Hulls Wow. I am amazed at having that much "break" time. At the elementary level (K-5) my kids got about 20 minutes of outside playtime and about a 25 minute lunch. In middle school, lunch is 25 minutes and the sooner they finish the sooner they can get some outside time. Leaving campus for lunch is not allowed, so going home for a break is not an option. So what you're going to is the norm for us. Lesley |
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