By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
THE start of this school term saw two schools in the Monbulk electorate join the State Government-supported breakfast club program.
The School Breakfast Club program is a collaboration between the Victorian State Government and welfare food agency Foodbank to give students a healthy start to the day.
According to a survey of teachers conducted by Foodbank, about three primary school students per classroom in Victoria arrive at school without having their breakfast.
The survey found over two thirds of students who miss out on breakfast find it difficult to concentrate and can become lethargic, with over half experiencing learning difficulties or exhibiting behavioural problems.
The School Breakfast Club program aims to address this problem by providing free breakfast in 500 of the state’s most disadvantaged schools.
With the beginning of term three in July, Sherbrooke Community School in Sassafras and Gladesville Primary School in Kilsyth have started serving breakfasts to their students.
Education Minister James Merlino said a healthy breakfast was very important for students to learn and retain information.
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day – it sets our children up to concentrate, learn and be at their best.”
“Unfortunately, not all kids are able to start the day with breakfast at home,” he said.
The program has been rolled out to about half the target schools so far, with another 255 opening during the current school term.
