Brilliant Beginnings
Brilliant Beginnings is the Food Bank's breakfast in the classroom program. We partner with schools to provide an opportunity for all students to enjoy a healthy breakfast to begin their day. In order for students to be able to participate in eating breakfast, Brilliant Beginnings supports school district staff throughout the county to transition their breakfast into the classroom at a time when most students are present. Rather than serve breakfast while students are still arriving to school or during morning recess, teachers utilize the first 15-20 minutes of the day to ensure all students have an opportunity to learn on a full stomach.
How it works
As the first bell rings, a student volunteer will be asked to pick up an insulated bag of breakfast items and milk from the cafeteria and transport it back to their class to share with their classmates. Additionally, students are empowered by having the responsibility of distributing breakfast to their peers as well as cleaning up after they finish eating. Furthermore, teachers may incorporate curricula into breakfast to keep from losing valuable instruction time.
Program Goal
The goal of Brilliant Beginnings is to provide a healthy meal for every student in the county; however, studies have shown that implementing an alternative meal service at a time when students are present provides them with much more than nutrition. Specifically, past studies have shown that students who begin their day with a nutritious meal are able to retain more subject matter, increase test scores, miss less days of school, and are more likely to attend the entire school day with fewer behavioral problems.
