Elm Hill serves up breakfast in the classroom

Elm Hill School received a check for $3,411 Friday from the New England Dairy and Farm Council to help expand its breakfast in the classroom options.

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2016-02-12 / Front Page Elm Hill serves up breakfast in the classroom By Nancy A. Cavanaugh ncavanaugh@eagletimes.com SPRINGFIELD — Elm Hill School received a check for $3,411 Friday from the New England Dairy and Farm Council to help expand its breakfast in the classroom options to help the students be more settled and ready to learn when they arrive. The money from the New England Dairy and Farm Council will pay for equipment — 15 soft-sided cube coolers that can be used for hot or cold items, which will be kept in each of the 13 classrooms with two to spare, and two carts that will be used in the main hallways, according to Principal Dana Jacobson-Goodhue. “We’re grateful to the New England Dairy and Farm Council. Because the money is for equipment and not food, this program will be sustainable indefinitely,” said Jacobson-Goodhue. The transition started in December with a “grab n’ go” option that allowed students to pick up a bag with breakfast in it and take it to their classroom. Starting on Feb. 1, they were delivering the food to the classrooms on trays. In March, they will have the carts and be able to do more to get hot foods to the classroom. “We’ve always offered breakfast,” said Jacobson-Goodhue. “This takes breakfast from the cafeteria and moves it to the classroom. The students are more likely to eat there. “We noticed right away that on arrival they were able to get more settled,” she continued. “We also noticed that some behavioral concerns dropped.” Jacobson-Goodhue has also noticed a change in the student behavior and culture. “They want more food. When they eat breakfast, they’re primed to eat more. The students are fresher and ready to learn. They’re eating better in general. It has become part of the culture,” she said. Since making the transition to the breakfast in the classroom model, the school has gone from serving an average of 50 students to 128, or about half the student population. The school would like to see greater participation in the program because it increases access to healthy foods. The more students participate, the more ability the school has to offer a wider variety of choices. “We’ve done a poster contest and we’ve sent home posters and letters to the parents,” Jacobson-Goodhue said. “It is early but the response has been positive.” Parents who have children receiving free and reduced meals, which makes up 60 percent of the students, have to opt out of the program, while those who would have to pay for it have to opt in. For more information about signing your child up for breakfast at Elm Hill, contact the school at (802) 885-5154.