Providing our children with the opportunity to have the best start to their day is the vision for the Breakfast program, Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education
The program began back in 1999, when the “Nutrition for Learning Committee” came together to address child nutrition. This committee was made up of school board staff, administrators, principals, and community members. One member, the late Sr. Peggy Butts, during her time as a Senator, was able to obtain federal funding to start breakfast programs in 10 schools. This pilot of 10 schools has now grown in Breakfast Programs in 100% of our schools!
As a child is learning and growing, they need fuel for their minds and bodies. Research has shown us that there is a strong link between nutrition and learning. The evidence is seen in the classroom; children who eat well perform better in school. Those who do not have breakfast tend to be more tired, have a shorter attention span, and may not reach their maximum potential at school.
We encourage all children to have a nutritious breakfast at home before coming to school. However, did you know that 31% of elementary school students and 62% of secondary school students do not eat a nutritious breakfast before heading to school in the morning?
There are many reasons why a child does not have breakfast prior to coming to school, including not making the time to eat, or simply not having an appetite that early in the morning. For some children, the resources are not at home for breakfast while other children, after a bus ride to school, feel hungry for a breakfast or snack.
For whatever reason they did not eat, all students benefit from eating breakfast at the beginning of the school day, allowing them the opportunity to meet their maximum potential in the classroom. All students are encouraged to feel free to access the program at school. There is no charge for the breakfast. It is a healthy, nutritious menu that is open to all students. In addition to breakfast, our school food programs often support snack time in the school!!
Breakfast Model:
We run a very unique centralized model in the CBVRCE. There is a lead Dietitian that orders the food for direct delivery to the schools; supports volunteer recruitment at the school; and supports general operation for school food. An important piece of the work is fund development.
How is the program funded?
The Provincial Government provides approximately half of the funding for the School Healthy Eating Program.
Nourish Nova Scotia is a charitable organization that provides us with support and funding for school food.
A huge piece of our funding is based on Donations and Corporate Sponsors. It costs approximately $1.30 to feed a child breakfast. Fundraising is essential to the success of the program. Some of our school breakfast programs have partnered with businesses and service clubs. Such groups have donated money directly towards a specific school as Donor Designated Dollars. Listed below are all sponsors for Breakfast Programs.
Major Sponsors over the past few years include
Kiwanis Club of Sydney Brookland Elementary
Glace Bay Kinsmen Glace Bay Elementary
Kiwanis Ceilidh Golden K, North Sydney Northside Schools
Rotary Club of Sydney Riverview High School
Louisbourg Seafoods Ltd Riverside Elementary
Kiwanis Cape Breton Golden K Mountainview Elementary
New Waterford Credit Union Greenfield
Sydney Canadian Tire Harbourside Elementary
Rotary Club of New Waterford New Waterford Schools
New Waterford Kinsmen
General Donations:
Castle Building Centres
Ramsay’s Honda
Nourish Nova Scotia
Breakfast Clubs of Canada:
President’s Choice Children’s Charities
Toonies for Tummies –Grocery Industry Foundation Together (GIFT)
Payroll Deduction Program
Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board staff donate directly to Breakfast
programs through Payroll Deduction.