This September, 11 more public schools will provide students with a healthy, nutritious start to their day.
The School Healthy Eating Program offers breakfast to children in 93 per cent of Nova Scotia’s public schools – the highest percentage in the country.
“There are many reasons children come to school hungry – from busy mornings and early sports practice, to a lack of food options in the home,” said Health and Wellness Minister Randy Delorey. “Breakfast programs not only provide a meal or morning snack to students, but also an opportunity to reconnect with friends, teachers and the community.”
All public schools outside Halifax Regional Centre for Education offer a breakfast program, many five days per week.
The following schools in the Halifax Regional Municipality added breakfast programs during the 2017/18 school year and will serve breakfast to students beginning in September:
— Porter’s Lake Elementary
— Hammonds Plains Consolidated School
— Halifax Central Junior High
— Sunnyside Elementary School
— Inglis Street School
— Bel Ayr School
— Portland Estates Elementary
— Millwood Elementary
— Alderney School
— Joseph Giles Elementary
— Grosvenor-Wentworth Park Elementary
The program has grown steadily since it started in 2005. Last school year, more than 5.4 million breakfast meals were served in Nova Scotia public schools.
Government more than doubled its funding to the program in January, making the total annual investment $1,975,000. As a direct result of this funding, schools across the province were able to open new programs, expand to offer breakfast on more days and add more fresh fruit and vegetable options.
“To learn well, students need to eat well,” said Margo Riebe-Butt, executive director, Nourish Nova Scotia. “This program is an essential ingredient for a successful school day for many students. We’re happy to see this important program offered in more schools, on more days per week and with more fresh and nutritious options.”
School breakfast programs will begin for the year during the month of September.
“None of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication of school and community volunteers,” said Kelly Sherwood, school nutritionist at Halifax Regional Centre for Education. “They plan, shop, prepare and serve healthy foods and offer a warm welcome to all students.”
The School Healthy Eating Program is supported by the Departments of Health and Wellness and Education and Early Childhood Development, the Nova Scotia Health Authority and Nourish Nova Scotia.
For more information about the School Healthy Eating Program, including how you can volunteer, talk to your local school or visit http://nourishns.ca .
Source: Release