Nashwaaksis Middle School Breakfast Program

At Nashwaaksis Middle School in Fredericton, New Brunswick, a breakfast program is more than just a healthy meal – it’s a way to build community and provide students a safe and welcoming environment.

“If kids are fed a nutritious meal, they have better attention in class, their behaviour improves, and we see better attendance rates at school,” says Kim Hepditch, program coordinator for Nashwaaksis Middle School. “But not only does a breakfast program improve their ability to learn, it provides a safe space for them to be with friends, to learn to relate and respect their peers, and appreciate the volunteers who serve them.”

Nashwaaksis Middle School’s Breakfast Program, initiated fully in 2006, takes a team approach to keeping their program running smoothly.  A group of students help prepare and serve cereal, toast and milk each morning, and teachers and volunteer parents are on-hand to help with special events such as pancake and muffin days.  The program builds a positive environment for youth through pajama days or hat days at school, bake sales, and the popular Charity Angel Program, in which students sell $1 angel cut-outs at the local supermarket in a team effort to raise funds for their program.

The program is also helping to build community by connecting students, parents, sponsors and government through their school blog.  “Through our school website and blog, we post stories and information about the program, and also use it as a way to reach out to the community for food donations, which has been successful,” says Hepditch.

“The breakfast program has become such a positive environment where children can feel safe and can be fed a nutritious meal to start their day.  It has been a huge benefit to our school and no matter what, you do what you can to give these children every opportunity to learn.”