Cooper's Crossing School in Airdrie got a chance to show off its very successful Breakfast Club program to an Alberta government official today (January 18).

Annie McKitrick, MLA for Sherwood Park and Parliamentary Secretary for Education Minister David Eggen came to the school to see the program in action and to see how the program, which is government funded, is doing.  The Breakfast Club is led by teacher Trena McKinnon who says it's been in existence as long as the school has been.

"Our school was new last year and we started our breakfast program immediately.  We then got some different funding this year, which has been amazing, and we've been running it all year."

McKinnon is helped out with the program by students at the school.  On this day, students Salma, Aidan and Griffin served breakfast meals to their classmates in grade three and the other students.   McKinnon says all the students at the school get a chance to help out with the program if they're interested, serving the meals and keeping track of the number of kids who utilize the program every day.

McKinnon explains the program is popular with Cooper's Crossing students.  "On average over the course of the year, it's about 60 kids a day, all K through grade four.  We have a few kindergartners but less kindergartners than the other grades, but it's available to everybody."

McKinnon says breakfast is served every day of school, but every Friday is special because the school works with a partner.

"Her name is Kady from Social Supper, it's her business in Airdrie.  She comes and provides most Friday breakfasts and it's usually a warm breakfast, it's all four food groups.  Things like breakfast burritos, fruit kabobs, or a breakfast cookie that's healthy with some fruit on the side."

In McKinnon's view, the most important aspect of the program is its focus on nutrition.  "I think it's really important that everything we do is nutritious.  We really pay attention to how nutritious the food is and make sure that there's fruits, we even do vegetables and the kids eat vegetables.  We do green smoothies some Wednesdays so they're getting a real nice variety of things and trying new things.  Sometimes they just want to try what's on the plate, and that's okay too."

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