(June 8, 2015) GARLAND,TX. Striving to provide the most important meal of the day to all students, Garland ISD introduced Breakfast in the Classroom at 14 elementary schools this year. Since its roll out, the nutritious program’s benefits have been revealed quickly, prompting high praise from the Garland ISD community.
“The program was implemented in February, and there turned out to be some unanticipated benefits,” said Williams Elementary School Principal Ellen Mooney. “Students began arriving to school earlier, cutting down significantly on tardies. The nurse also reported a reduction in the number of kids with headaches and stomach aches in the morning.”
Breakfast in the Classroom was established at campuses with at least 80 percent of students qualifying for free or reduced-priced meals. Students at the participating schools now head directly to their classrooms at 7:45 a.m. to begin eating their district-provided meal.
Launching a new district wide initiative can be quite an undertaking. But the importance of a program like this one made the process worthwhile.
“It was a struggle to change teacher arrival and duty times,” Mooney revealed. “But hungry kids have a difficult time concentrating in school, so providing children with a breakfast option means the teacher has students who are ready to learn. Their basic need—food—has been met.”
Making sure that students are given the tools needed for success is the district’s main concern, and sustenance is a major player. Because of Breakfast in the Classroom, the number of students receiving breakfast at participating campuses jumped from approximately 50,000 to 94,000.
“Ensuring that each student has the opportunity to begin their day with a healthy breakfast is a priority of our department,” said GISD’s Assistant Director of Nutrition and Menu Operations Jennifer Craig. “Student Nutrition Services is thrilled with the results from the first year of Breakfast in the Classroom. The success of this program has been a team effort.”
That community effort will carry on into the 2015-16 school year, as Breakfast in the Classroom continues to thrive at current campuses and is introduced to students, teachers and parents at Cisneros and Parsons pre-kindergarten schools.
Submitted by Caren Rodriguez, Garland Independent School District Staff Writer.
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