Thread: Lunch Periods

We have a 25 min recess, from 11am to 11:25. School starts at 8:40am.
Then we have lunch break from 12:50pm to 1:30pm. School finishes at 3pm.

We don't have a canteed, or vending machines, or cafeteria. Everyone brings their own lunch and we sit outside to eat. Year 12's have a special area where they can sit inside and have use of microwaves, kettles etc.

Our classes run on a 90-minute block. We eat lunch during the third block- we split the school up into four 25 minute lunch periods, the first beginning at 11:15 and the last ending at 1:15. We have a seven minute passing time between classes, except between 1st and 2nd block when we have a fifteen minute break. The non-carbonated drink machines run during most of the day, but the carbonated machines operate after lunch. We have snack machines in our multiple lobbies and they are on most of the day. Eating and drinking is not held to a consistent school policy- cafeteria serves food during break and lunch, but it is SUPPOSED to stay in the cafeteria. Each teacher sets the policy for food and drink in their classroom. (No eating or drinking in my class.) We've had some issues about the machines recently- seems Federal law wants them cut off most of the day if they give you $$ for free and reduced lunch.

We do not have "lunch" because our schools work in two shifts, but the first break/recess is 15 minutes long and doubles as a snack time (9.35-9.50). There is also the second break/recess of 10-15 minutes (depending on the school, usually 11.25-11.35). The breaks are scheduled after second and after fourth period.
Identical breaks are scheduled for the afternoon shift: 15.35-15.50 and 17.25-17.35.

Most schools have a kind of vending cafeteria (you buy food items from a person not machine). Most popular are various starchy items, such as pretzel sticks or rings, and maybe pizza (it looks dry and uninviting to me, but kids eat it ravenously).

There are numerous stores strategically placed in vicinity of schools, so if kids are allowed outside, they buy there (mostly burger shops and general candy/juice shops).

Kids may also bring sandwiches and fruit from home (our shops are mostly customer-unfriendly for buying individual pieces of fruit, as our cultural custom is to buy fruit and vegetables by kilograms not pieces).

Eating and drinking in class is mostly strictly discouraged (kid may ask to go drink from the faucet or fountain). Bottled water may be permitted. Candy and gum are mostly permitted by individual teachers but not all.

15.35-15.50 and 17.25-17.35.

You guys use a 24-hour clock at school over there? (Sorry for the off-topic question, y'all).

Originally Posted by JohnBoy

15.35-15.50 and 17.25-17.35.

You guys use a 24-hour clock at school over there? (Sorry for the off-topic question, y'all).

Well, for the official stuff like schedules, yes. In conversation we use "seven o'clock" without any problems.

Our kids begin arriving at 7:50 and classes begin 8:10. The first group of kids begins eating at 10:30AM. They're all finished by 12:45PM. At the beginning of the year they began at 10:45 and went until 1:15, but the superintendent wouldn't let us keep that schedule because of the hours for the cooks. That meant that EVERYTHING changed, and we now have kids going to lunch from core classes--so some kids get 30 minute classes and some get 60 or 70 or 90. They get 20 minutes in the cafeteria.

I liked our lunch schedule at the beginning of the year because I didn't have to take a class to lunch since I teach a core class. However, once they rearranged the schedule, the cafeteria is CLOSED before I get a break. If I want cafeteria food--which is often good, by the way--I have to send a KID to get it and eat it cold later or while the kids are in the room.

We have 4 25 minute lunch periods, with a 5 minute break between each to get the cafeteria cleaned up before the next crowd comes in. School starts at 8, the first group eats at 11 and the last group eats at 12:30, school gets out at 2:30. My team usually eats during the last lunch period, so I allow students to have a snack during their language arts block (all students at my grade level are in the 2 hour block at the same time), which begins at 11. We have a "snack bar" that sells baked chips, cookies, and ice cream. We have no vending machines, but then we're an elementary school.

At the local schools they have 25-minute lunches with the Kindergarten group going at 10:00 and the senior high finishing at 12:25. There are talks of having splt lunch periods next year due to cafeteria overcrowding during the junior high shift and making senior high go later. School ends at 3:30 here.

The vending machines are only accessible during the junior high and senior high lunch periods. No drinking or eating in any of the class rooms as it is a school-wide policy. But during jr/sr lunch periods there is an al a carte line, and a regular line, and a salad bar along with an ice cream crate.

I think the local schools have a fairly old-fashioned food policy thats been around ever since I went through the school. But the ice cream crate is fairly new.

Hmm. My tummy is grumbling... Kinda missed lunch AND morning tea today

BUT... When I do decide to take it...

We have School START at 8:40 with home room and two periods then at 11:10 - 11:30 we have morning tea. Then we have another two periods. At 1:45 - 2:30 we have our lunch "hour" and then back for fifth period. School ends at 3:25.

They USED to have two periods after lunch but found that the kids were too hyper.

I love having HOUR LONG periods because you (generally) can get through quite a bit of work. I think it would drive me insane trying to get through everything in a 40 minute lesson like at some of the other (mainly boys only) schools.