“The best way to influence student attitudes and behaviour regarding healthy living is to provide them with  opportunities  to  learn  about where their food comes from, how it is produced and how they can prepare it." http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au

The Cottage  School's food  policy has been a cornerstone of the school since its inception 45 years ago and the preparation and sharing of healthy, nutritious food is an important part of our ethos. Though much of this policy talks about food in the shared context, our commitment to healthy, nutritious food is clear and we think that this is the way to best set up children for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

Unfortunately we have not been able to share fruit/vegetables or lunch in the same way since COVID but we hope to get back to that in term 4. We believe that the practice of sharing lunches encourages children to share at a broader level. Eating lunch together as a group creates an important communal time between the children and their teachers and other staff. By eating food prepared outside the family home, children learn to enjoy a variety of foods they may not normally eat.

Weekly cooked lunch brings the whole school together at the beginning of the school week and provides children with the chance to practice the life skills involved in planning and producing a meal. We hope to resume children being involved in this preparation process from the beginning of term 4. Taking turns to work with our Cooked Lunch Coordinator and food educator, small groups of children prepare a vegetarian meal for all staff and students. Where possible, the ingredients are sourced from our school garden, supporting our aim to educate children about sustainability. The children learn about the safe handling of food; the need for hygiene and safe methods for using tools and knives. Importantly, they learn about the need for balance in a diet and the different components of a meal (protein foods, grain/energy foods, and fruit/veg). The cooked lunch usually provides  2 veg serves, 1/2 serve protein, 1 dairy and 1 grain serve. We ask that all children at least try cooked lunch each week. The children were consulted on the menu through Student Forum and it is published in the weekly Friday News. Food allergies are catered for and certain foods, such as nuts, are not allowed in the school. This educates students about individual differences and the need to respect these different needs.

In term 4, each class will once again have designated shared lunch or shared fruit/veg days when children bring whole-meal or wholegrain sandwiches with healthy fillings to share. For morning tea, children bring a piece of fruit or salad vegetable to share with the class. The children drink only water whilst at school. On other days children bring their own lunch or snack which must comply with our Food Policy. Students bring food to school in environmentally aware packaging and we do not have any plastic wrappings. All food scraps are turned into compost or sent to the cook’s chooks.

From the beginning of term 4 we also hope to be able to allow parents back into the school to help with class cooking in Choosing times. Teachers who are going to do this will put up a roster but please ensure you have let Annette take a copy of your Working With Vulnerable People card before you put your name on the roster. You will also need to sign in and complete the COVID contact tracing form which is in the front office.

• Monday – football
• Tuesday circus or dance
• Wednesday dance or circus
• Thursday soccer
• Friday chasings, skipping, non-ball play