Dear Parents,
Is the morning rush at your house a mad dash to get out the door with your children barely having time to grab their homework, much less eat a nutritious breakfast? If this sounds familiar, you will be relieved to know that getting that important morning start will no longer be a challenge.
Beginning on December 9, 2019 your child can take part in an innovative program called “Breakfast in the Classroom.” Just as the name implies, a nutritious breakfast will be served to each student, right in the classroom, every school day. Students will have an opportunity during the first 10 minutes of class to eat breakfast with their classmates and get the fuel they need to be ready to learn. Breakfast is still FREE.
The direct impact of breakfast on academic performance has been well documented and we are happy to be working with the Office of Food and Nutrition Services to bring you this proven approach to creating classroom environments that promote maximum learning.
How does Breakfast in the Classroom work?
Each day, breakfasts are packaged in unitized meals by OFNS staff. Once in the classroom, students eat at his or her desk while the teacher takes morning attendance, does review work and reads announcements. Breakfast normally takes about ten minutes. Trash is put into a trash bag provided by OFNS. The bags are then collected and returned to the kitchen, no food is left inside the classroom.
What foods are served in Breakfast in the Classroom?
Milk is offered daily, as is fruit or juice. Entrees are nutritious and easy to eat quickly. Meals often include popular breakfast items such as cold cereal, bagels and string cheese. The nutritional value of the Breakfast in the Classroom meal is studied specifically to be the same as the traditional breakfast that was served in the Cafeteria.
What are the advantages of Breakfast in the Classroom?
Traditional breakfast in the cafeteria does not meet the needs of many students. Only one quarter of the students who eat lunch at school eat breakfast at school. Research shows that students who do not eat a nourishing breakfast are not able to concentrate well, become irritable more quickly and show hunger-related symptoms such as headaches and stomachaches. When breakfast is moved into the classroom and served to everyone, every student is able to start the school day ready to learn without hunger-related disruptions.
Share this exciting news with your child and be ready on December 9, 2019 for the start of this new program! As this program rolls out, we would like to hear your feedback on how it’s going and areas for improvement. Please email, the District Supervisor, Ender Gozler (EGozler@schools.nyc.gov) with any questions, comments or suggestions.
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