High school breakfast program is thriving

Students at Innisfail High School don't always get a healthy breakfast and Brianne Fletcher is doing something about it.

"Out of a school population of around 400 students, we estimate that up to 200 kids don't get a proper breakfast," said Fletcher, the school's home economics teacher. "Last year, our school secretary Anna Allen started to bring food she would prepare at home and leave it on the desk for kids. This year, she doesn't have to."

The home economics teacher prepares breakfast for as many as 50 students daily who stop by her classroom for food early in the morning from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. She added that some students stop by for a snack if they have been up early, and for others the program food is their first meal of the day.

"We have a good variety of breakfasts such as cold cereal, which we have today (Oct. 23), and waffle Wednesdays," said Fletcher.

She worked with Lorraine Dingman, a teacher and past organizer of the program who is currently on maternity leave to establish the program last school year. "I often cut up bananas, strawberries, and we always have yogurt for the kids," she added.

The Royal Canadian Legion and Breakfast for Learning are the program's major sponsors. Even with stable funding, she has to budget carefully to ensure every student is fed.

"As teachers, we have noticed that there is a difference in behaviours in kids who do not eat a breakfast such as attention span, learning abilities and energy levels," added Fletcher. "We want to give them proper nutrition so they can learn more effectively."

The breakfast program will work within a set of guiding principles to ensure healthy meals are available to all children, said Fletcher.

"We want to make sure our students are set up for success," she added. "Providing a healthy breakfast is just one tool we can use."

Interested Innisfail and area businesses or individuals can contact Fletcher at 403-227-3244 if they want to be part of the program.