I am writing this letter on behalf of myself, many parents, and some high school students, to express our concerns in regards to the lunch schedule at the Olds High School.
To give you some background information on the issue, when I attended the Olds High School, our lunch hour was consistently scheduled between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.
When my own children attended the same school several years later, their lunch hour still occurred at the same time: between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.
My oldest grandchild also attended the same school, and his lunch hour varied only slightly, going from 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
I now have four younger grandchildren that are attending the same school; however their lunch hours now occur at random intervals throughout the day.
Their lunch hours can begin as early as 10:10 a.m. and as late as 2:30 p.m.
The Canada Food Guide states: all men, women and children should eat a regular well balanced meal a minimum of three times per day, with snacks in between if possible.
I would like to emphasize: A regular well balanced meal three times per day.
I find it impossible to believe that our children can eat a regular well balanced meal, if they have such considerable gaps in time between meals.
I cannot understand how well educated adults can expect a student to learn effectively on an empty stomach.
It seems that you schedule students to eat their "lunchî at 10:10 a.m. and then starve for the remainder of the school day.
It also does not make sense for a student to have to go without a lunch hour from the time they eat breakfast until 2:30 p.m.
It is common knowledge that school students do not absorb information as well on an empty stomach when compared to students who are full.
It is my understanding that our schools are supposed to be teaching our students how to live a healthy lifestyle.
The Olds High School is not encouraging healthy eating habits when they require students to be subjected to this lunch schedule.
The current schedule needs to be modified.
Our children deserve to learn the benefits of eating healthy, well balanced meals three times daily.
I may sound old-fashioned; however I believe we need to get back to the basics of real life.
Our children should respect their teachers, their parents, their peers, and the elderly.
Change the lunch hour back to a normal time!
Ensure that your students can stay healthy in both body and mind while in school and give them the best possible chance to comprehend what they are being taught!
Charlotte Chatt,
Olds
Editor's note: Olds High School principal Tom Christensen said students are given the choice of which period they take off during the day for the purposes of lunch or studying. He added that when students were surveyed earlier this year about the scheduling arrangement, they "overwhelminglyî favoured the opportunity to choose their lunch period.
