Lunch Supervision
The Calgary Board of Education provides students with the option to stay at school for lunch. Lunch Supervision is offered to all students in Grades 1- 6 and in our full-day kindergarten programs for an annual fee. Please visit our Lunch Supervision page for more information.
Fun Lunches
We have fun lunches that are organized by Highwood’s School Council. If you would like your child to participate in this program, please register and pay at healthyhunger.ca.
Fun lunches occur on our Spirit Days; you are welcome to register and order for your child any time throughout the school year!
Milk Cards
We have returned to our milk program. One card contains 15 milks at the cost of $20 per card. Please note that milk card purchases are OPTIONAL. You can send the money with your child and they will then come to the office to purchase the milk card.
Allergies
Please ensure that teachers are aware of all severe allergies and the actions that should be taken should your child have an allergic reaction. See more on Allergies.
Due to student allergies, we always tell students that they cannot share food with each other during lunch or snack time. We are a nut free school and we ask that you be considerate of those with allergies and not pack lunches or snacks with nuts. If your child has any allergies, please ensure that the office and your child’s teacher know of this and also has an emergency plan in place. Any medications need to be left at the office along with a signed consent form to allow office staff to administer the medication as necessary. Students are not to take medication on their own for safety reasons.
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