The District School Board of Niagara has introduced a schedule in some elementary schools that promotes a better learning environment, meets the nutritional needs of students in a more balanced way, and provides more quality time for physical activity and play. This organization of the school day is called a balanced school day. This is in use in other boards across Ontario.

The balanced school day will consist of two nutritional/activity breaks in which children have time to eat and time to play. The new schedule will replace the current system of two recesses and one lunch break. Schools that piloted this new schedule have reported an increase in concentration levels of students, more positive play time, more physically active students, and better opportunities for learning through uninterrupted blocks of teaching/learning time.

Click here for a sample Balanced School Day Timetable

BENEFITS
Students receive many benefits from the balanced school day schedule including:

Academic Performance – Studies on brain compatibility support a balance of learning, physical activity, and nutrition throughout a school day. In the pilot schools and in schools in other boards where it has been implemented, students are better able to focus on their school work for the full day rather than running out of energy towards the end of the day.

Balanced Nutrition – Health authorities indicate that children need frequent food breaks each day. This schedule provides two opportunities during the school day when students sit down to eat together, rather than eating on the run at recess. Students who are nutritionally satisfied can concentrate better and learn more effectively.

Physical Activity – At a time when physical inactivity and obesity are of increasing concern in school-age children, this schedule will give students two opportunities every day to take part in 20-25 minutes of uninterrupted play. Currently, much of the 15-minute recess is taken up with washroom breaks, eating snacks, and dressing, particularly during the winter months. Children often have little or no time to play. The quality exercise time energizes students, helps them to concentrate better on schoolwork, and promotes a healthy lifestyle.

More Time for Learning – To maximize learning for children, the new schedule provides a significant block of intensive teaching/learning time without interruption. Under the old schedule, each of the three breaks during the school day results in at least 10 minutes of dressing/undressing time. With two scheduled breaks, students will spend less time entering/exiting the classroom.

Literacy Program – School schedules have significant blocks of uninterrupted time for literacy programming (reading, writing, media literacy and oral communication) during each school day. This provides an excellent opportunity for teachers to fine-tune the literacy initiative that they have been developing for a number of years.

COMMON QUESTIONS...

Q. Why are you making this change?
A. The balanced school day schedule is organized so that there are longer periods of uninterrupted learning/teaching blocks; it is more nutritionally balanced for students, allowing them to eat more appropriately for the needs of their young bodies resulting in increased concentration and energy levels.

Q. How will longer breaks help students in the classroom?
A. To learn properly, students need to eat and be energized. The Balanced Day schedule ensures that there is an opportunity to eat/snack during the day and still take part in physical activity. A student who is nutritionally satisfied and physically healthy has better concentration levels, more focus, and more energy. All of these help a child to learn better.

Q. When will my child eat lunch?
A. The students will have two breaks each day. The breaks are divided into a time for eating and a playtime. Your child will eat during both breaks in the schedule.

Q. Can my child still come home for lunch?
A. Pine Grove has designated the second nutrition break as the “go-home” break for students living close to the school and wishing to go home. Crossing guards will be on duty during this break period.

Q. What if my child eats all their lunch during the morning break and then has nothing left to eat for .....the rest of the day?
A. Parents can send two snacks in two different containers or they may wish to number them so the children know when to eat them. Students may need help deciding what to eat until they become accustomed to the new school day. Both parents and teachers will need to work with the students in the adjustment phase.