Since 2005, students at F.H. Huffman School here have been benefiting from the “Breakfast Buddies” program through a partnership with the United Native Friendship Centre.
Tonight, the Rainy River District School Board will recognize the “Breakfast Buddies” program—and the volunteers who make it possible—with its monthly Recognition of Excellence Award.
The purpose of the program is “to ensure a balanced nutritional start to the students’ day before they begin their focus on literacy and numeracy,” Huffman principal Donna Kowalchuk explained in her report to the board.
“Under the guidance of the executive director of the UNFC, Sheila McMahon, Charlene Strain, and her volunteers—Peggy Loyie, Melanie McPherson, Albert Calder, Anabelle Jourdain, and Debra Ross—plan, prepare, and serve breakfast to the students at our school three mornings a week [Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday],” the report reads.
“Even if they’ve already had breakfast, they get a little bump up,” explained Loyie.
“Some kids get on the bus very early in the morning,” she added, noting that by the time they get to school, they could be hungry again.
“Kids burn off energy so quickly.”
Loyie said the volunteers try to choose healthy foods that meet at least three of the four categories in the Canada Food Guide.
“It’s also an opportunity for us to introduce different foods to the kids,” she noted.
For example, one morning they brought in cantaloupe for the kids to try. Many had never tasted it before, she said, but most ended up loving it.
The funding for “Breakfast Buddies” comes through the UNFC via the Urban Aboriginal Homelessness Initiative, under Human Resources Development Canada.
The UNFC also provides breakfast program funding to J.W. Walker and Robert Moore schools.
“The goal of the UNFC is to provide programming for all students: urban aboriginal, aboriginal, and non-aboriginal,” Kowalchuk’s report noted.
“Beyond nutrition, these volunteers are developing relationships with our students,” she added.
The volunteers will receive their Recognition of Excellence Award at tonight’s regular school board meeting, which gets underway at 7 p.m. at Robert Moore.
Also tonight, the board will hear a presentation from Atikokan High School teacher Shane Fiore about the aging school bus there, which the board has decided not to replace.
As well, paramedic John Beaton will give a presentation on the First Responder Team at Fort Frances High School.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
