According to director Taco Stroo, there is no reason not to participate in the School Meals Programme if your school is eligible. “It gives you so many additional opportunities to connect with students and identify problems at an early stage. And it really isn’t complicated!”
How does it work?
Thursday morning, 7:30 a.m.: the four-member team at Mediacollege sets up the breakfast stall for the students. The stall was made by Ed, the caretaker, himself. Every morning, they prepare breakfast here together: the director, the student support coordinator, the timetable planner and the caretaker.
At Mediacollege, they consider this the most normal thing in the world. It gives them an informal check-in at the start of the day, which is very important for these students.
Eline is the student support coordinator at this school. Like Taco, the director, she stands at the breakfast stall every morning to welcome students. If they do not take anything themselves, she asks whether they might like something to eat. Of the 320 students at this school, 150 are growing up in poverty, which is a lot. The student support coordinator asks whether they slept well and had a good journey. Or she wishes them success in an exam and takes a quick look at grades that have just come in. Having a chat while eating a toasted sandwich and drinking some juice is very valuable.
The success of the breakfast stall
Teachers also stop by, and some of them eat a sandwich too. Everything takes place in a very relaxed atmosphere. And that is precisely the success of the breakfast stall, Taco explains: “What you need is the conviction that this school breakfast and connecting with the students are important. For us, this is part of the educational aspect of our teaching. The students trust us and know where to find us when something is going on and they need help.”
Fewer incidents thanks to full stomachs
There have been fewer incidents at Mediacollege since the students started sitting in class with full stomachs. We identify problem areas earlier than before. Eating a sandwich together also contributes to a sense of solidarity, Eline explains. Both the students and the teachers have an interest in continuing the school breakfast.
Doing the shopping
According to Taco, there is no reason not to participate in the School Meals Programme if your school is eligible. “Arrange a stall or a table, choose a central location and do the shopping yourself. We choose toasted sandwiches, fruit and fresh orange juice, but cartons of juice and quick snacks are also available. I also put on some music, which makes for a wonderful start to my working day. It really isn’t complicated! It gives your school so many additional opportunities to connect with students and identify problems at an early stage.”
Curious how other schools do it? For more inspiration and to find out whether your school is eligible, visit www.schoolmaaltijden.nl