“Breakfast makes students so much readier to start school. They think better, they’re more awake—we can tell a difference.” – Gloria Harrison, Food Service Director, Granite City School District 9. With the assistance of a breakfast coordinator, Granite City experienced a 74.3 percent increase in breakfasts last year.
“We have seen an increase in attendance and decrease in tardiness. I know that for our kids, their two best meals of the day are in school. I know there are kids who don’t have food at home.” – Scott Riddle, Principal, Beardstown Middle School/High School. With the assistance of a breakfast coordinator, six times as many Beardstown students began consuming school breakfast in 2013-2014.
Gloria Harrison, Food Service Director at Granite City School District noted, “With the new Grab n’ Go system, our participation has more than doubled from the previous school year. Kids are taking to it well and love having an alternative to the traditional breakfast in the cafeteria.” Granite City increased school breakfast program participation by implementing new ways of serving school breakfast. Students are fans of the changes too, “I like the Grab n’ Go line because it’s faster and gives me more time with my friends,” enthused a student at Grigsby Middle School in the Granite City School District. Breakfast can be served in the classroom, distributed in the hallways, or offered before second period; the flexibility to allow children to eat in the morning at school is crucial to encourage high participation.
“Breakfast makes students so much readier to start school. They think better, they’re more awake—we can tell a difference.” – Gloria Harrison, Food Service Director, Granite City School District 9. With the assistance of a breakfast coordinator, Granite City experienced a 74.3 percent increase in breakfasts last year.
“We have seen an increase in attendance and decrease in tardiness. I know that for our kids, their two best meals of the day are in school. I know there are kids who don’t have food at home.” – Scott Riddle, Principal, Beardstown Middle School/High School. With the assistance of a breakfast coordinator, six times as many Beardstown students began consuming school breakfast in 2013-2014.
Gloria Harrison, Food Service Director at Granite City School District noted, “With the new Grab n’ Go system, our participation has more than doubled from the previous school year. Kids are taking to it well and love having an alternative to the traditional breakfast in the cafeteria.” Granite City increased school breakfast program participation by implementing new ways of serving school breakfast. Students are fans of the changes too, “I like the Grab n’ Go line because it’s faster and gives me more time with my friends,” enthused a student at Grigsby Middle School in the Granite City School District. Breakfast can be served in the classroom, distributed in the hallways, or offered before second period; the flexibility to allow children to eat in the morning at school is crucial to encourage high participation.
WCIA News 3 Springfield covers the success of Breakfast in the Classroom at Memorial Elementary in Taylorville, Il. With the help of a Rise & Shine Illinois grant, Memorial was able to implement the model in Fall of 2014. Full story
“The breakfast program has a definite impact on the students’ ability to stay focused on learning throughout their morning. There are fewer queries about, “When is it time for lunch?” at 10:00am.” – Teacher, School District 100, Berwyn
“We are able to get started with work quicker. Also, students used to have a lot of problems with others in the cafeteria and those problems would roll over to the classroom. – Teacher, Hope Elementary, Decatur
“One of the most positive effects the breakfast program has had on students is that it has almost eliminated children coming to the nurse’s office mid-morning complaining about headaches and stomach aches.” – School Nurse, Irving Elementary, Berwyn
“It gives me a chance every morning to connect with my students. I can check on those who need to touch base with me as to how their day will go, if they need any help with any subjects, and more importantly it helps me build relationships.” Teacher, Hope Elementary, Decatur
Grab N Go increases breakfast participation by over 120% in Beardstown
With the help of a Rise & Shine Illinois and No Kid Hungry grant, Beardstown was able to implement a Grab N Go service model for the 2014-2015 school year.
“These Kids are Hungry” – Chicagoland school helps fill critical need
Jane Addams Elementary in Melrose Park sees 30% increase in breakfast participation since implementing Breakfast in the Classroom, helping to fill a major meal gap in an area of high need.
Taylorville School District: A shining example of breakfast success
WAND 17 News covers the success of Breakfast in the Classroom in Taylorville School District following the receipt of a Rise & Shine Illinois and No Kid Hungry grant.