Updated 4/2023
- Q: Can/Should I send my child to school with a snack?
- A: Yes! Students have the opportunity to eat a snack twice a day. The first opportunity is during our morning recess and the second is during our afternoon indoor play time. Not all kids choose to eat at these times, but it is helpful to have a snack as an option should they choose to eat. We also recommend placing their snacks in the outside pocket of their backpack to help them more easily find them!
- Q: What can my child bring for a snack?
- A: Please send your child with a HEALTHY snack. Our days are long and these snacks fuel their bodies for the day. Please do not send chips, cookies, sweets, or any other beverage besides water for a snack. You are welcome to send these items as part of their lunch. If a child brings unhealthy foods or drinks into the classroom for snack we will ask them to put it away and save it for lunch instead! (To help minimize bugs and sticky messes in our rooms and on the playground we do not allow any beverages except water for snack).
- If there are any food allergies in your child's classroom you will be notified and asked not to send that item as a snack for your child. (For example, nuts).
- Q: Do you provide snacks?
- A: Due to allergies and health concerns, we do not provide snacks. If your child chooses to have breakfast at Birch they are welcome to save something for their snack from breakfast. They can also bring snacks from home. Your child's classroom teacher will provide any additional information or policies for their room in the fall.
- Q: Should I send a water bottle/do you have drinking fountains?
- A: You are welcome to send a water bottle to school with your child. Please be sure that their name is written on it and that the lid is secure to help avoid spills!
- A: We have drinking fountains in each of our classrooms. Depending on the teacher your child has, they may be asked to only get drinks from the drinking fountain while in the classroom and use their water bottles for snack, recess, and lunch times (to avoid unsupervised trips to the hallway). Especially during the warmer months we encourage kids to drink lots of water!
- Q: Do all students eat Breakfast at Birch?
- A: Stay tuned for updated information about breakfast for the 2023-2024 school year!
- **PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER OR THE OFFICE FOR EXACT PRICING AND TIMES FOR THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR.
- A: Stay tuned for updated information about breakfast for the 2023-2024 school year!
- Q: Does my child have to eat breakfast?
- A: No, breakfast is optional. They do need to be at school by 7:50 even if they don't eat breakfast.
- Q: What is the breakfast menu?
- The menu rotates, but some of the consistent options include: Whole Grain Cheerios, Apple Cinnamon Bars, Breakfast Burritos, Yogurt & Granola, Mini Whole Grain Bagels, Muffins, and Fruit Smoothies. Breakfast always has a choice of milk, fruit and often string cheese. For more information about breakfast visit the BVSD Food Website: http://food.bvsd.org
- Q: What does the lunch period look like?
- A: Students have about 40 minutes total for lunch. This includes 20ish minutes to eat followed by a lunch recess. Classroom teachers do no eat with students, but our Kindergarten paraprofessionals do supervise them in the cafeteria and outside on the playground.
- Q: Do I need to send a lunch? Can my child get a school "hot" lunch?
- A: Each child and family is different. Some kids only bring lunches from home, others only eat a "hot" lunch from school, and others do a little bit of both! You are welcome to either pack and send a lunch from home or purchase a lunch from school. Menus and school lunch calendars are sent home at the beginning of the school year. The BVSD Food Website (http://food.bvsd.org) also has this information.
- Q: Do I need to send money to school for lunch?
- A: Please setup an online lunch account for your child. You can find the link for this on the BVSD Food Website or here: https://food.bvsd.org/meals-nutrition/meal-accounts (Please stay tuned for more information about lunches for the 2023-2024 school year. Lunches will be FREE to all students in Colorado!)
- Q: Is there any sort of assistance for meals and other programs?
- A: Yes! In fact we encourage EVERYONE to fill out a form even if they think they are not eligible. For more detailed information on how to do this please visit this site: https://food.bvsd.org/meals-nutrition/free-reduced-meals
- Q: Can I visit school to eat lunch with my child?
- A: Yes! You are welcome to check in at the office to eat lunch with your child from time to time. If you're interested in volunteering during lunch time there may be opportunities for this in the fall. Please check in with the office or your child's teacher in August! Your child's teacher will verify our lunch time in August.
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2021-2022 School Year Note:
Breakfast and Lunch: Due to a generous grant from the USDA, breakfast and lunch are free for all students this year! However, we also want to let you know that school meal applications are good for more than just free meals.
- Benefits for your student and family
- Meal Benefits applications can be used to determine eligibility for:
- Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits to help purchase food
- Discounted school fees
- Free or reduced internet service
- Discounted phone service
- Meal Benefits applications can be used to determine eligibility for:
- Benefits for your school
- Schools receive important funding and resources based on the number of Meal Benefits applications. Learn more .
- Benefits for your student and family