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October Lighthouse award - Breakfast Clubs of Canada make a difference to CBE students
Recent research has provided definitive evidence that eating breakfast has significant associations with positive student academic and health outcomes. As reported on the Breakfast Clubs of Canada website, a new Angus Reid poll commissioned by Quaker Canada surveyed 1,004 Canadian teachers from elementary schools to colleges on breakfast-eating habits in the classroom. Teachers at school see first-hand what happens when a student has not had the opportunity to come to school with a full belly. According to this poll, sixty-eight per cent of teachers believe they teach students who come to school hungry. Sitting in class with an empty stomach can lead to headaches, shakiness and lack of concentration. Ninety-six per cent of the teachers noticed the students they thought were hungry in class showed reduced attention spans, while 72 per cent believed they had poor memory function. Seventy-one per cent thought they had trouble problem solving. Fifty-four per cent of the teachers say they have used their own money to buy food for students. Another study found that children who ate a healthy breakfast had higher energy levels and better learning ability than similar students who did not eat breakfast. A further study conducted by Harvard researchers found that students who ate breakfast were "…significantly more attentive in the classroom, earned higher grades in math, and had significantly fewer behavioral and emotional problems." The evidence is clear. Breakfast may just be the most important meal of the day. Breakfast Clubs of Canada is a national organization dedicated to supporting community-based breakfast programs for school children. They raise funds for programs and help to sustain them by providing appliances, food donations and management tools. Breakfast Clubs of Canada assesses grant requests from registered not-for-profit organizations and/or schools that provide breakfast to schoolchildren in need. Breakfast Clubs of Canada approached the CBE in 2008 to be a partner along with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary have provided food for CBE schools for many years and by engaging with Breakfast Clubs of Canada, schools benefit from additional food resources and much needed equipment. In 2009, we started with a pilot project in four schools, Catherine Nichols Gunn, West Dover, Buchanan, and Douglas Harkness. Through the generosity of Breakfast Clubs of Canada, these schools received commercial refrigerators, freezers, toasters, dishwashers and regular deliveries of juice, cereal, yogurt, cheese, bread, and bagels. In addition, funds were made available for schools to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. Without question, this pilot was a huge success with hundreds of CBE students able to start their school day with a full stomach and ready for learning. This school year, Breakfast Clubs of Canada have expanded the number of CBE schools they are serving including three junior highs. G.W. Skene, Ernest Morrow, Rundle, Children’s Village, Dr. Gladys McKelvie Egbert, Clarence Sansom and Pittoayis Family School are benefitting from the Breakfast Clubs of Canada support. What a difference this is making in support of the CBE End – Academic Success. With exceptional partners like Breakfast Clubs of Canada, the CBE is supported in reflecting our values of Students come first, Learning is our central purpose, and Public education serves the common good. The feedback we receive from Breakfast Clubs of Canada schools is that teachers see the difference in improved attention in class, decreased behavior issues, and a more positive school environment, because so many students feel cared for. Students share a meal in a safe, caring atmosphere. The words “thank you” do not adequately capture the gratitude we have for this organization’s involvement with our schools. Their contributions are making a significant difference for many of our most vulnerable students. We are grateful that the CBE is part of the expansion in western Canada and look forward to continued opportunities to work with the dedicated individuals that represent Breakfast Clubs of Canada. It was a pleasure to introduce Jenna Drinnan, Alberta Coordinator for Breakfast Clubs of Canada, to come to the podium to say a few words and receive the plaque from Chair Cochrane.
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