By CHAT News Today

School nutrition program showing benefits for students: report

Nov 20, 2017 | 9:40 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The provincial government says last year’s school nutrition pilot project, which involved a local school division, has been successful in ensuring no student is hungry at school.

The government released a report from the first 14 school divisions on Monday, showcasing how students in the school divisions, which included SD76, has impacted students.

“This program has been overwhelmingly positive in the communities where it’s already been introduced, and the results are quite impressive,” said Education Minister David Eggen in a news release. “We’ve seen improved student attendance, a decrease in negative behaviour and an increased sense of healthy food choices among students. This program is one of the ways we’re making life better for Alberta students.”

This year, the province announced it was expanded to project to every school board in Alberta. The 48 boards not part of the initial project received $141,000 in provincial funding, while the 14 that did received $250,000.

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In SD76, the initial project began at Vincent Massey School. The program has been serving 35 breakfasts each day to students, and between 214 to 245 lunches each day. The program also includes a food safety component for students, and snacks are provided when needed.

Jerry Labossiere, secretary/treasurer with SD76, says the school’s have seen a positive impact on students since the program began.

“They’ve noticed that kids seem to be more relaxed and regulated and they’re told now during the day that if they’re hungry, they can get up and go get a snack, and that has helped some kids’ attention spans.”

According to the report, Vincent Massey has also seen overall attendance at the school improve since implementing the program.

This year, Labossiere says they have expanded the program to Herald and Southview Schools, which have been underway since September. Labossiere says the two schools were chosen due to “socioeconomic factors.”

In the other two local divisions, the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education have set up their school nutrition programs at Mother Teresa School and St. Louis School. Mother Teresa School has a daily breakfast program which feeds more than 275 students, while St. Louis has a daily lunch program which feeds as many as 100 students.

“The feedback has been extremely positive,” said Joe Colistro, Catholic Board superintendent. “I think parents are very appreciative of the opportunity that their children have been given, and I’m sure it will be reflected in student performance.

“Probably one of the comments I appreciate the most comes from one of the students. The comment was ‘ There’s something really special about going to school to have breakfast with my friends.’ It creates a sense of community.”

In the Prairie Rose School Division, the program has been set up at I.F. Cox School in Redcliff, where lunch is served to more than 200 students daily.