Colorado Springs, Denver, Grand Junction, Greeley, Longmont and Pueblo area schools striving for gold
DENVER (Nov. 29, 2012) – Being breakfast champions continues to be a competition amongst schools throughout Colorado. From bringing breakfast into the classroom to creating “breakfast clubs,” more school officials and students have embraced the challenge of improving their breakfast programs and increasing participation throughout the year, thanks to the Colorado School Breakfast Challenge, presented by the No Kid Hungry Colorado Campaign. The 2012-13 challenge is underway, with 24 high schools vying for the gold.
This year’s Colorado School Breakfast Challenge, also referred to as the “Breakfast Games,” opened in September 2012 and runs through January 2013, with one primary goal—to increase student participation in the School Breakfast Program. Schools are competing in three categories, and the top two schools with the highest overall participation rate in each category will be crowned champion in March 2013. The winners will be awarded prize money—$4,000 for “gold” and $2,000 for “silver.”
The 2012-13 School Breakfast Challenge participating high schools are:
- Colorado Springs / Pueblo
- Mitchell High School and Wasson High School of Colorado Springs School District 11
- Centennial High School, Central High School, East High School and South High School of Pueblo City 60 School District
- Pueblo County High School of Pueblo County School District 70
- Denver / Front Range
- Adams City High School of Adams School District 14
- Westminster High School of Adams School District 50
- Gateway High School of Adams-Arapahoe 28J School District
- Overland High School of Cherry Creek School District
- Abraham Lincoln High School, East High School, George Washington High School, Martin Luther King Jr. Early College, Montbello High School and South High School of Denver Public Schools o Jefferson High School and Wheat Ridge High School of Jeffco Public Schools
- Skyline High School of St. Vrain Valley School District RE 1J
- Greeley Central High School, Greeley West High School and Northridge High School of Weld County School District 6
- Grand Junction
- Central High School of Mesa County Valley School District 51
Creative ideas are fueling each school’s participation, including student-run promotions and activities such as “breakfast clubs” and displays to showcase the importance of breakfast. School officials are rallying around the competition as well by implementing innovative serving models like Breakfast in the Classroom. One school administrator even promised to shave his head if their school wins.
The annual Colorado School Breakfast Challenge is presented by the No Kid Hungry Colorado Campaign, a statewide, public-private initiative of Hunger Free Colorado, Share Our Strength and the Office of Governor John Hickenlooper. Together, the Campaign partners are working to ensure that all children have nutritious food at home, at school and in their communities.
“The No Kid Hungry Colorado’s hope is all children in Colorado will have access to a nutritious breakfast that will help them learn and succeed in school,” shared Gov. John Hickenlooper. “We challenge the participating high schools to be breakfast champions and increase participation in their breakfast program.”
The Campaign’s comprehensive five-year plan details 10 goals to end child hunger by 2015, with one focused on the statewide expansion of the School Breakfast Program. For the 2010-11 school year, 108,509 daily school breakfasts were served, a growth of 11.25 percent compared to the previous year.
Studies show that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, particularly for children. Those who do not eat a regular, nutritious morning meal may be more likely to struggle with poor academic performance, exhibit behavior problems and experience poor health. Eating breakfast can contribute to improved math and reading, along with standardized test scores. It also can help decrease tardiness and suspensions as well as improve memory, attentiveness and overall health.
The School Breakfast Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, offers students a healthy start to each school day; yet, according to the Colorado Department of Education, of the more than 217,000 low- income students in Colorado who ate a daily free or reduced-price lunch in 2010, only 87,000 participated in the School Breakfast Program.
“One in five children in Colorado is at risk of hunger and a recent Share Our Strength survey showed that three in five teachers say children regularly come to school hungry,” said Summer Gathercole, Director of Share Our Strength Colorado. “Models like Breakfast in the Classroom make school breakfast more accessible and ensure our students are prepared to learn each day. The results show that simple changes to a school’s breakfast program can create long-lasting change.”
As part of the Campaign, Hunger Free Colorado works with schools and communities to increase participation in the School Breakfast Program by assisting with the implementation of innovative serving models that incorporate breakfast as part of the school’s morning routine. Instead of the traditional method of serving breakfast in the cafeteria before classes start, elementary to high schools can make it easier for students with serving models like Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab and Go and Breakfast After First Period.
“The School Breakfast Program is proven to improve children’s nutrition, education, behavior and overall well- being, and it’s also one of the most effective ways to end child hunger in our state,” said Kathy Underhill, executive director of Hunger Free Colorado, the state’s leading anti-hunger organization. “Together we can provide more students with a nutritious start to the day and ensure fewer children go hungry at school.”
For more information on the No Kid Hungry Colorado Campaign, visit NoKidHungry.org/Colorado. To learn more about Hunger Free Colorado, the issue of hunger in Colorado and how you can be a part of the solution, visit HungerFreeColorado.org.
Media Contact: Michelle Ray, Director of Communications, (720) 432-0255