Mercy College Koondoola students get ready to re-open their successful CSL Breakfast Club program.
The Christian Service Learning (CSL) Breakfast Club is an important part of Mercy’s College culture.
The school has this week reported its doors are set to re-open to ensure that children have not skipped what is often considered to be the most important meal of the day.
In a media release issued this week, the school reported that for a variety of reasons, a number of students come to school having missed breakfast.
This can have a significant impact on their attention span, ability to learn and overall physical well-being, the school reported.
“The Mercy College community is attempting to address this issue by making sure every student is ready to learn once the bell rings,” the statement said.
The statement went on to say that much research has been done into the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast as well as looking into Australian children’s current breakfast habits.
The research highlighted that:
- Eating breakfast can have a significant effect on a child’s ability to learn, pay attention and retain information depends on a healthy and nutritious meal before they begin their school day.
- One in four children go to school hungry (the reasons for this vary).
- One in five primary school children who are overweight do not eat a nutritious breakfast.
- One in three children from low socio-economic backgrounds who are overweight do not eat a nutritious breakfast.
- People who eat breakfast have better eating habits than people who skip breakfast as they are less likely to snack on high fat/sugar food items during the day.
In light of these facts, the breakfast prepared by the CSL Breakfast Club is an important meal for Mercy College students, the school reported.
Supplying the body with fuel after an overnight fast and having a healthy breakfast provides the students bodies’ with the nutrients and energy needed to get through the day.
“Breakfast Club is a great way to give kids a healthy start to their school day” said long term staff volunteer Ms Christobel Thaung.
Christian Service Coordinator at Mercy College, Karen Wilson, also commented on the benefits of the breakfast club on those students seeking to lend a helping hand.
“Our students also volunteer at our breakfast clubs, helping setup, cooking, cleaning and packing up. This type of Christian Service Learning is meaningful for all the students involved”.
For children who are not able to have breakfast at home, alternatives such as a school based breakfast clubs ensure students commence their day in the best possible manner.