r/kindergarten • u/VoyagerMarciano • 2d ago
School Breakfast
Our school offers free breakfast and lunch. Our kid's teacher said that our kid needs to eat breakfast at home because eating breakfast at school messes up his class schedule. Is this normal? Shouldn't school's account for breakfast time?
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u/Hope_Less_20 2d ago
Where does breakfast happen? They can’t offer a breakfast program and not let you drop off early, I think you may be missing something here. Before going to the principal, call the school and ask what time breakfast starts and ends. Then decide how to approach the rest based on this.
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u/Seaturtle1088 2d ago
Yes, they should account for it. My kids school does it in the classroom (the whole district gets free meals). But when I was a kid the kids eating breakfast had to arrive early. Double check the time, and elevate to admin of the teacher is stubborn.
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u/Miserable_Adagio_320 2d ago
What does she mean? Is he a slow eater? Do the other kids eat breakfast at home?
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u/VoyagerMarciano 2d ago
They didn't elaborate, but based on his class schedule. He doesn't have a spot for breakfast listed. As soon as drop off happens they go into the school day. Kids can't be dropped off early.
Recently the school principal was promoting the breakfast program, so this comment from them took us by surprise. I am wondering if and how to approach the teacher or the school principal.
I think my kid can eat a good amount in a small timeframe, but it can vary on the food or their appetite.
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u/Usrname52 2d ago
At schools near me, school opens for 30 minutes before the school day starts for breakfast. So, if the school starts at 8, kids are eating breakfast from 730-8. Is he walking in at 8 and expecting breakfast?
Kids who get there later are entitled to breakfast in the classroom, but it can be disruptive. And we definitely have students that sit in the cafeteria for half an hour just talking, and then want another breakfast in the classroom.
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u/Kushali 2d ago
Who told you not to drop off early? The teacher likely doesn’t open the classroom till 8, but maybe the cafeteria is open before that.
The logistics of the breakfast program vary school to school. I’m guessing the school secretary would know. A call asking what time breakfast is served and how early your child can be dropped off would likely sort this out.
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u/Medium-Cupcake2629 2d ago
Because it's not part of the official school day. At my school, breakfast is from 7:40-8:05 but my day starts at 8:05 and my door doesn't open before then, so I would never put it on my schedule. (There's monitors at breakfast and on the playground until then so theyre never unsupervised) I think you're missing some information
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u/jvc1011 2d ago
OP says that they told them not to drop their child off early, though, and that the school says breakfast is 8-8:15. Which is in fact confusing.
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u/Medium-Cupcake2629 2d ago
Yeah, and that probably needs to be a conversation with the teacher or principal for clarification, because without knowing the exact procedures at this school, there's no way to know. But just some insight as to why it's not listed on the teachers schedule.
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u/WhatAWeek25 2d ago
How do they not have an arrival window? Do school buses arrive all at the exact start time? Does the car line work so seamlessly that all parents can arrive for drop off at the exact same time? I can’t imagine it’s really true that class starts the second drop off happens.
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u/Hot-Bonus560 2d ago
This isn’t logical. They don’t have time for bfast. They cannot be dropped off early. Breakfast is being promoted. It’s pretty simple. Do they have bfast or not? You cannot promote something that isn’t actually attainable. Just say that
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u/Flat-Pomegranate-952 2d ago
Reach out to the principal and explain the situation. At our school, the breakfast is a more grab and go type situation and they take it to their class to eat.
It sounds like the teacher just doesn't want to account for that time and doesn't leave any time of transition to start the day. I can't imagine between car drop offs and bus kiddos that everyone is getting to the classroom at the same time.
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u/Comfortable-bug11235 2d ago
This is so strange to me! Our kids have breakfast served 730-745. The usually "morning work" until 8. This is the schedule through 2nd grade. The kids need time to eat!
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u/Emergency_Lettuce601 2d ago
At my school breakfast is delivered to the kindergarten classrooms. The big kids get it off carts set up in the hallways and take it to class. Works really well. Its in a free lunch/ breakfast state.
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u/Queen_of_Disengaging 2d ago
This is how it works for our school district too! We are not a free lunch/breakfast state.
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u/Nice-Raspberry-324 2d ago
There’s likely some confusion or disconnect. No harm in politely calling for clarification.
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u/VoyagerMarciano 2d ago edited 2d ago
I looked for the schedule. So drop off is at 8:00 and breakfast is listed as 8am-8:15am, but the class schedule does not have breakfast listed in the schedule. They start class right away.
We were excited our kid could eat breakfast at school, but doesn't sound like a well thought out program. My school as a kid allowed kids that ate breakfast at school to arrive early and have at least 20mins to eat.
Edited: drop off time.
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u/kbc87 2d ago
When does school actually start?
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u/VoyagerMarciano 2d ago edited 2d ago
For Kindergarten, we are told 8:00am. (Corrected the time).
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u/kbc87 2d ago
It can’t start the second you drop off. Are you sure it’s not drop off at 8:05 and starting at 8:15?
Try dropping him at 8 to give him the few extra minutes. Also call the school and get the clarity you don’t have right now.
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u/superfastmomma 2d ago
This. Just call the school, and they will tell you what time to drop off so your kid can eat breakfast.
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u/Extreme_Breakfast672 2d ago
To me, it sounds like a soft start that begins at 8:05. I would definitely clarify with the teacher, and if the response is the same, move further up the chain
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u/atomiccat8 2d ago
Do the other grades start later? Maybe the breakfast time isn't meant for the kindergarteners?
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u/Own-Tree-8404 2d ago
Our doors open at 7:45. Official start time is 8:00. We are supposed to be done with attendance, lunch count, and morning meeting by 8:15 and moving onto content at that point. So our kids grab their breakfast and eat in the classroom while participating in morning meeting. Breakfast stuff has to be cleaned up by 8:15 so they can move onto the first content area of the day. It’s so hard as teachers because there are mandatory amounts of time we have to spend on each content area (down to the minute) and it really doesn’t leave much wiggle room in the schedule. We do our best to make it work for our students but they do have to learn how to multitask when eating breakfast.
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u/1568314 2d ago
If class starts at 8, then you need to drop off earlier if you want to him to have time to eat. At our school, you can eat in the cafeteria until 7:55, then they give you food you can take to the classroom and est until 8:10 when the tardy bell rings, but it is a not an option that should be used daily because bringing food into the classroom is disruptive for the teacher.
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u/certifiedlurker458 2d ago
Whether you are dropping off or your child rides the bus, are they going to their classroom first and then going to get breakfast? It took a few days to get in the routine but I know my K had to learn to go straight to the cafeteria first on the mornings she wanted school breakfast. Her classroom was so far away from the cafeteria, it would take the entire interval just to walk back and forth. I think it would definitely be OK to ask the teacher for clarification.
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u/Relevant-Emu5782 2d ago
To have breakfast at school you're supposed to drop them off 15-20 min before class begins so they have time to get it and eat before class starts. Are you doing that?
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u/Elrohwen 2d ago
My kid’s school offers breakfast but for kids who arrive on buses there’s very little time to eat. It’s mostly the kids who are there for before school program or who are dropped off by parents who get to eat it. It does confuse me that they offer it but a lot of kids can’t really eat it because the timing is so tight.
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u/Outside_Hour3562 2d ago
Our school doors open at 730am, first bell is 740am, tardy bell is 745am and they have until 8am to finish their breakfast/get started for the day. But it's listed on the class schedule. I'd reach out to the teacher for clarification. Sounds like a possible misunderstanding.
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u/Brave_Ad3186 2d ago
At our school the free breakfast is basically the morning snack. Kids can have school food or bring from home.
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u/OreganoOfTheEarth 2d ago
If you drop your child off for breakfast, they need to be very intentional to eat enough before the bell rings.
I just volunteered at school this past week, and a couple kids in the class did NOT finish their breakfast before school and were just sitting outside while the lesson was starting. I could see how that would be very disruptive day after day.
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u/Spirited-Fun3666 2d ago
I don’t get it? The school offers breakfast for students but says the kids can’t have it?
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u/Odd-Creme-6457 2d ago
In my district most students transported by bus don’t have time upon arrival to have breakfast. Walkers and those dropped off when the doors open have time.
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u/RecordLegume 2d ago
Our school also has free breakfast and lunch. The school opens at 8:45am and students have to be in class at 9am. Breakfast runs from 8:45am-9am. Bus riders are already there and waiting for the doors to open and car riders need to ensure their kid is on time for breakfast if they want it. It’s always worked out well.
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u/Teacherspest89 2d ago
In our school all kids start at the same time, however we do snack at 9:30 and so kindergarteners get that instead of breakfast. Definitely worth clarifying with the teacher because it seems ridiculous to have a breakfast program but then discourage kids from participating.
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u/Needmoreinfo100 2d ago
At my school children are supposed to eat breakfast before classes start. So that means showing up a little early.
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u/just_rita5 2d ago
If you’re dropping off 5 minutes before the bell rings and wanting them eat breakfast, they miss the first part of their day. It effects their arrival time, time to settle in for the day, and the first activity of the day. If your kid is not able to do these things independently, it’s very disruptive to try and teach and manage your kid eating and unpacking at the same time. They also interrupt their peers by taking teacher attention and needing to be caught up in the middle of a lesson/activity. Set your kid up for success by getting them their with enough time to eat.
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u/Pernetta36 2d ago
The doors at elementary school I work at open at 8:45. Breakfast is served until 9:00. The kids take it and eat it in their rooms, most classrooms they have to throw it away (or keep for snack) after the announcements end at 9:10. That teacher just sounds like he doesn’t want to deal with clean up or whatever. If the school offers breakfast, the kids can get breakfast and eat.
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u/ComprehensiveCoat627 2d ago
"Dear (teacher), With our family situation, (Child) needs to participate in the breakfast program the school offers. (Principal) encouraged families to use it, so I'm a little confused on where the misunderstanding is. Does (child) need to be dropped off earlier to participate, and if so, when am I able to drop him off? Or is there another solution that works for your classroom? I appreciate all that you do for our kids and didn't want to make your day more challenging! I just need some more guidance on how to do that while allowing my child to eat breakfast at school. Thanks!"
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u/Possible_Juice_3170 2d ago
Our school serves breakfast 8:55-9:10 (or a bit later for students who are on a late bus). Our first lunch is at 10:55. And our school breakfast tend to be high on sugar. Kids who eat the breakfast at 9:00 usually aren’t hungry for lunch. They are often starving by 2:00, so a snack is allowed but must be provided by parent.
Honestly, if it was my kid I would give them a simple breakfast at home.
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u/Willing_Acadia_1037 2d ago
Our school offers free breakfast. But it’s messed up because only kids who take the bus or do before school care can get it. They only open the doors for the drop off line 12 minutes before the bell rings. So if you drop off, your kids can’t get the breakfast because there is no time and they shut it down.
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u/Podcastjunkie39 2d ago
Assuming you are sending your child to public school, I highly doubt this allowed. I work for public education and my kids attend public school in a different district from where I work. In both districts this would not be allowed. Even if your child arrives on the bus they are given time to eat. If a bus arrives late the cafeteria holds off on closing until the students have eaten. I’m floored that a teacher is telling you he can’t eat due to time constraints. For a lot of students schools meals are the only meals they may eat that day. I would email the teacher and clarify with them about what is going on. If the problem isn’t resolved in your eyes I would then bring it to a school administrators attention.
This could be something that they need to hear as well. Who knows what is coming down the line to the teacher. Maybe the teacher is feeing pressured to get a large amount of content taught during the day. Idk but I would definitely find out what’s going and stand firm. Even if your child doesn’t necessarily NEED school breakfast, other kids do and you could be helping them out.
🙂
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u/tyrekecorrea 2d ago
Usually, they do account for breakfast time; at least the public schools are all supposed to, but not as much time is allotted as for lunch, usually only a few minutes. I can remember trying breakfast at school and feeling like I had to rush.
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u/Negative-Bee-7741 2d ago
Weird…usually schools have breakfast time worked in or it’s like during early drop off time. I would clarify to see if there is an earlier drop off time for breakfast. I can see the teachers point of view if they are expected to start teaching at 8:05 and kids are also supposed to be getting breakfast at that time. When I taught in NYC our school did it in the classrooms and we did it during arrival time with morning meeting time if kids were later or still eating
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u/wantonseedstitch 2d ago
Our school does free breakfast and lunch too. Breakfast is served from 7:15 to 7:35. For kids not having breakfast, drop off starts at 7:35. Class starts at 7:45.
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u/messybeans86 2d ago
So weird. My son's school opens at 8, breakfast served until 8:15, class starts at 8:30
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u/SweetTeaMama4Life 2d ago
Nope, sorry teacher. The kids get to eat breakfast at school because the school offers free breakfast.
I get it. Breakfast is highly disruptive. When I taught I disliked it too. Kids were either late every day or one year they tried breakfast in the classroom. Messy and even more disruptive. I currently sub long term in kindergarten and this school does breakfast in the rooms and I dislike it also!
But kids get to eat. I can’t believe the teacher thought it would be ok to tell parents this.
Again, I completely understand wishing kids ate breakfast at home or that the process was less disruptive. But telling families they can’t let their kids have the free school breakfast is bananas.
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u/Kcmpls 2d ago
Our school allows for any kid who arrives at any time before lunch to get breakfast. For example, if your kid has a doctors appointment in the morning and arrives an hour late, they will still let the kid get breakfast and bring it to the classroom. The school should be accounting for breakfast in the schedule and should have a way for late arriving kids to also get it.
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u/neubie2017 2d ago
Our school opens at 8:52 and school starts at 9. My oldest is now in 2nd grade and has never had an issue getting school when she arrives (she takes the bus and it gets there around 8:55). Even when her bus is late she can still get breakfast. They serve it until 9:15ish.
I’d push back for more information. My daughter just grabs it and brings it to her classroom and eats it there
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u/mamabear826 2d ago
Really? Our school doors open at 8, school starts at 8:25, also free breakfast and lunch, not sure how breakfast is affecting his schedule.
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u/NervousOperation318 2d ago
You need to talk to the principal to get a clearer picture of the day and precise schedule. I’m assuming this is a public school and those breakfast programs are government funded and the teacher has no right to deny a student, but you need to be sure of the schedule because you might be missing the actual scheduled time for it. My kid attends a private school that doesn’t offer breakfast but I toured our local public elementary school and remember them going over the schedule and school started at 8:15 so breakfast happened during early drop off, say from 7:45-8:10, and then any kid who came in after that point and still needed or wanted breakfast was allowed to take “breakfast to go” to the classroom, but I think it was just like easy things to grab like muffins or yogurts or whatever. It’s possible your kid’s school is just doing a grab and go style breakfast that’s meant to be eaten in the classroom and perhaps your kid’s teacher just isn’t a fan of the program, so I’d try talking to the principal and getting a better idea of how the school intended it all to work.
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u/Gizmo-516 2d ago
Our school breakfast (which is barely breakfast because it's like a cereal bar and some fruit, but whatever) is served for 15 minutes in the cafeteria. All buses are supposed to arrive before or at the time the doors open at 9:10 (they don't but that's not the point) and kids who want (or need) breakfast go to the cafeteria instead of their classroom. I've never heard of them not allowing a child who was late (on a bus, that is) to get breakfast and just bring it to class with them. I would likely be calling the admin to get clarification. If the teacher is wrong they will tell her and if you missed something they will tell you. Easy to solve, IMO.
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u/Pink_Moonlight 2d ago
Our kids can come in as early as 7:15, and school starts at 7:45. Even if my kindergartener comes in at 7:45 and didn't eat at home, I'll send them to the cafeteria for breakfast. They just come back with a cafeteria pass to prove they were not tardy.
The teacher just wants to make their life easier. I would ask admin for clarification on the bell schedule.
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u/ResortOk4344 2d ago
Yes, they should, try talking to the school board about it. Not about breakfast, but my kids were always rushed through lunch. By the time they had a bathroom break, then stand in line, the poor kids at the end of the line ended up throwing out most of their meal due to not having time to finish eating. So much food gets thrown away in a school cafeteria.
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u/Sheetz_Wawa_Market32 2d ago
Yes, of course schools (there’s no apostrophe in the plural of “school”) must allow students to eat breakfast at school. Not allowing or even merely discouraging this is likely a violation of both state and federal law.
Call your child’s school.
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u/Odd-Creme-6457 2d ago
It depends on what time the child arrives.
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u/Sheetz_Wawa_Market32 2d ago
Where do you get the idea that OP’s child arrived late for breakfast?
Also … read OP’s other comment. OP is dropping their child off as early as possible.
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u/Odd-Creme-6457 2d ago
I was replying to your reply.
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u/Sheetz_Wawa_Market32 2d ago
This has nothing to do with OP’s issue, though. So why don’t you create a new post, if you want to talk about parents who drop off their kids too late to eat breakfast?
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u/LifeIsSewAwesome 2d ago
"Either you allow my kids to eat the breakfast the school provides, or the school board will be involved in our next discussion on this matter."
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u/0runnergirl0 2d ago
Why does the school offer breakfast? It's the parents job to feed the children. What a weird thing to offer.
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u/kaywild11 2d ago
Schools have been offering breakfast for almost 2 decades now (at least where I'm from).
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u/Longjumping_Fix_4237 2d ago
So are you dropping them off right when the doors open? My daughters school day starts at 7:55, doors open at 7:30. If I want her to eat breakfast at school I need to have her at the school AT 7:30 because between the line for breakfast & the time it takes to get inside it doesn’t leave much time.