Vi
T
he
rg
i ni
aF
ran
co
fun + free + favorites
= MORE FOOD EATEN!
M
os
t Im
p o rta n
a yS
D
t M ea
M
t h eross C
l of c
Free breakfast now of
T
by
fer
ed a
here may be no such thing as a free lunch, but, in
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, more students may
be enjoying a free-to-them breakfast.
All schools saw more kids eating breakfast at school,
according to pilot findings, with the biggest increase at
the suburban elementary school.
CMS has joined ranks with a growing number of states,
cities and school districts to initiate efforts to increase
participation in school breakfast programs.
Morning Eating Takes Off
Under the “Universal Free Breakfast” program, all CMS
students are allowed one free breakfast each school day
during serving times regardless of family income,
according to the CMS website.
Preparations began shortly thereafter to feed upwards of
147,000 preK-12 students, with Harkey and her team
calculating estimates for how much food they would
need. Harkey also modified the menu to include more
grab and go items, while ensuring protein is included.
• two, high-poverty K-8 schools with already strong
breakfast participation.
• a high-poverty, magnet with a late bell schedule.
• a south suburban elementary school where fewer than
10 percent of students qualify for lunch/breakfast aid.
24 – My School Rocks! | December 2013
WHATCH
A
The breakfast-for-all pilot took place at four schools,
according to the CMS website:
Elizabeth Traditional
Elementary School
• Last year: 80-110 students
• This year: 255 students, and rising
• The school serves breakfast from a
kiosk near where children hop
off their buses. Café Manager Judy
West Charlotte High School
Mitchell said favorites include
• Last year: 290 students
yogurt and graham crackers,
• This year: 400 students, and more
mozzarella cheese sticks and
every day
sausage biscuits.
• Senior Cafeteria Manager Chef Joe
Johnson says: “We’re in talks to come
Alexander Graham Middle School
up with a breakfast satellite area
• Last year: 250 students
where athletes can eat, and maybe a
• This year: more than 450 students
senior den for just those graduating
• Cafeteria Manager Marie Watson
this year.” Favorites are steak and
says favorites include sausage
chicken biscuits, breakfast pizza
pancake on a stick and
bagels and chicken biscuits.
blueberry muffins.
The results thus far are promising,
according to Harkey, with
participation rates more than doubling
from 31,000 in 2013 to 64,000 during
the first month of the 2013-2014
school year. Increased participation
has been greatest at the elementary
school level, Harkey says, likely
because older kids tend not to be
hungry early in the morning.
A Great Way to Begin Learning
“We’ve always offered breakfast,” notes Child Nutrition
Services Director of Operations Amy Harkey, “but there
was always a poverty stigma behind eating it.”
CMS launched its universal breakfast program after a
successful month-long pilot last May. According to
Harkey, the pilot greatly elevated participation among
low-income students.
Breakfast participation is growing at
elementary, middle and high schools
across Charlotte. A sampling:
SOURCE:
Amy Harkey MS,
RD, LDN, SNS
Director of
Operations
N
EATI ’?
How Much Do CMS Students
Eat Each Month?
• 467,000 cartons of 4 oz.
calcium-fortified orange juice
• 34,000 pancakes on a stick
(only offered once a month!)
• 160,000 chicken sausage
biscuits and egg and cheese
English muffin sandwiches
Harkey and her team are trying to
increase program visibility by going
out and visiting across the area.
“Now that the dust has settled we are
going to focus on those schools with
greater need,” she said.
Additionally, the group hopes to
spread the word that a healthy school
breakfast is a great way to begin a day
of learning.
Virginia Franco is a freelance writer,
a certified professional resume writer
and a busy mother of four.
YOUR
OLYMPIC
DREAMS
BEGIN
HERE!
PUBLIC SKATING
LEARN TO SKATE
LEARN TO PLAY HOCKEY
FIGURE SKATING
HOCKEY
BROOMBALL
CURLING
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
GROUP & CORPORATE
OUTINGS
SUMMER & WINTER CAMP
CENTER ICE TAVERN
EXTREME FITNESS CENTER
TOP 3 R PT????[?]?\??[??XZ?\?\?[\?[?B??B?????][[Z[?]\? H ?Y?XH? ???????XZ?\?\?H ?\? HY[?Y?Y\????\?X\?????H?\?H?\??? ?[?? ???Y [??H ?????[ ?[? ??X]H?????XZ?\??[? ? \???H?] \?[? ???? ?]?HH?] \?] [?[??H ?X???[?^X?]?]?\??Z]?[?? ??[\??YX[ ? ??]\?[???[ ?[?B?[YH ? ???X[^?H?] ?YH??X\??[?? [YH[? H?\????K???
?
H[?X[? ?Z[ Q?Z\??Y]?? ?[?X[? ?Z[?? ?
?K??
?
H ?LN ?????X?[?\????B???P?[?\?????^\???? ???????H ^H?????????B???B??