The reason is that most teachers' unions give classroom teachers a duty free 30 minute lunch so there is no one else to watch the class during this time except in the cafeteria. In our school the only aides are with special ed students so they are not available to cover classes (and they wouldn't be allowed to cover a class anyway; only certified teachers are allowed to be in with a class full of students). So, someone has to eat early. I would contact the teacher and ask if the kids could bring an afternoon snack. Not a big deal.

What school is this? All fairfax ele
Entary schools? Falls church city too?
Ridiculous !

17:42 -- I'm the person you quoted. I'm glad to know that you do have experience with it and you all adjusted. I do find that reassuring. I hope you are right and it works out.

Clearly this is a building/planning issue as this school is not over capacity (probably about 100 under full capacity). They short change the size of the cafeteria to save money -- and it's not something that can be easily adjusted later. Frustrating.

I guess we all have something we aren't thrilled with at the beginning of the year -- be it class sizes, lunch times, or supply lists!

My DD has lunch at 2:00....

No afternoon snack required.

I remember being shocked a couple of years ago when I heard my nephew's lunch time was 10:30 am, and then snack time was in the afternoon. Our child heads to kindergarten next year and count me as one who hopes that other solutions are found. I get that the kids need to adjust to all aspects of school, but lunch so early seems like a recipe for cranky kids from noon onward.

Are parents changing up the breakfast routine to help ensure their kindergartner/first/second grader will actually be hungry to eat lunch at 10:15 or 10:30?

It's all the schools, not just Arlington. It's an issue throughout VA, because the schools are all bursting at the seams. Until they build additional space in the cafeterias to accommodate more students at "normal" lunch times, this is the reality. Make sure your local politicians support more money for schools! (And pack an afternoon snack--most teachers now have a snack time built in.)

Anonymous wrote:Do you recommend that teachers forgo their own lunch breaks to supervise the children while they eat in the classrooms?

maybe. or perhaps the administrators could cover. or the classroom assistants. or the specials teachers. or ask for parent volunteers. maybe the schools have tried these options, but given how uncreative and chaotic our NArlington elementary schools seems to be, i highly doubt it.

Also... make sure they are eating snack in the afternoon. If it's not already set up, inquire about the possibility.

Also... make sure they are eating snack in the afternoon. If it's not already set up, inquire about the possibility.

Anonymous wrote:Well, I'm sure you mean to be comforting, I doubt that you would adjust to having your lunch break at work at 10:15. It's easy to look at the bright side when it's not your problem.

As for peer pressure --- that works for some things, but evidently it doesn't work for food given the amount of food that is thrown away every day during "normal" lunch hours in FCPS (it's really sickening to see so much good food thrown out). My child is 6 and a whopping 38 lbs. S/he has to be REALLY hungry in order to eat. Lunch at 10:15 is just not realistic.

Yes, I realize that we will have to deal with it. I just think it's detrimental to kids' learning, pm behavior, and general health. Another example of where we aren't exactly seeing the proclaimed "gold standard."

I was a teacher with that lunch time I'm the PP. I adjusted and so did the kids.

Well, I'm sure you mean to be comforting, I doubt that you would adjust to having your lunch break at work at 10:15. It's easy to look at the bright side when it's not your problem.

As for peer pressure --- that works for some things, but evidently it doesn't work for food given the amount of food that is thrown away every day during "normal" lunch hours in FCPS (it's really sickening to see so much good food thrown out). My child is 6 and a whopping 38 lbs. S/he has to be REALLY hungry in order to eat. Lunch at 10:15 is just not realistic.

Yes, I realize that we will have to deal with it. I just think it's detrimental to kids' learning, pm behavior, and general health. Another example of where we aren't exactly seeing the proclaimed "gold standard."

It depends on when school starts, how many lunch shifts they have, and whether or not they do a snack time. When school is from 9-3, for example, there aren't that many options of times when you have 3 separate lunch shifts or you'd have kids eating way too late.

Your little one will adjust -- the "peer pressure" of seeing everyone else eating should help...

Do you recommend that teachers forgo their own lunch breaks to supervise the children while they eat in the classrooms?

totally agree -- i think it is ridiculous. i'd rather have them eat in their classroom at a normal time than eat so early. my K'er will eat at 11, which is certainly better than 10:15, but still too early given his school ends at 3:40 (and then he goes to aftercare). disappointed that the school can't come up with more creative alternatives.

Isn't it getting a little ridiculous when first graders are eating lunch at 10:15 everyday?

Seriously -- they aren't old enough to appreciate that they need to eat lunch at that time b/c they will eventually be hungry around 12:30. I know there isn't a lot that can be done in the short term, and yes they are allowed to bring a snack, but something is wrong in the planning of the school space when they can't accomodate students for lunch at a reasonable hour. What's going to happen in my child's case is that s/he won't eat lunch and then will essentially subsist on a small snack. This kid doesn't need to lose weight s/he needs to gain weight -- this isn't helping.

High school students eating early is one thing -- early elementary school kids --- > not a good idea.