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Blakelock's breakfast club is for all students by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 11 | Thursday, December 18, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville's T.A. Blakelock High School understands the importance of having breakfast and is helping students get that healthy meal every morning. With assistance from parents and Halton Food For Thought (HFFT), the T.A. Blakelock Breakfast Club was launched by former vice-principal Sharon Casey six years ago, with the intent of providing a nutritious breakfast to students struggling financially. During the first two years, the club fed close to 80 students every morning, but now it serves more than 200 daily with the help of 20 weekly volunteers, according to program co-ordinator and Grade 12 student Liam Rondeau. "The breakfast club has really evolved into someplace that all students can attend. It's somewhere they come to have fun in the morning. It's a fun, vibrant and positive place to be," said Rondeau. "We've expanded our food choices and we've made it a more enjoyable place to be by not charging and making sure all students feel welcome." A minimum of one in 10 Halton children, aged five, goes to school without eating breakfast, according to HFFT. By age 16, more than half skip breakfast. T.A. Blakelock High School has a breakfast club that serves close to 200 students each morning. Pictured are the club's co-ordinators Heather Arbuckle and Liam Rondeau. | photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it's very important that students eat before they go to school so they can support their learning and overall health. It gives them a good start," said Rondeau. From 7:30-8:10 a.m., Monday-Friday, Rondeau and program co-ordinator Heather Arbuckle, along with volunteers, serve bagels, fruit, yogurt, cereal, juice and water, among other items. They also host themed breakfasts and fundraisers, such as a pancake or smoothie day. While the program provides food and drinks to students at no charge, it hasn't always been free, Rondeau explained. "A couple of years back, the students who could afford it had to buy tickets in the morning. Students who couldn't afford it got their breakfast for free. The school wanted to abolish that," said Rondeau. "Geri Friend, who ran the club a couple years ago, donated money and made sure everyone felt included and no one was embarrassed by their economic standing." The club receives most of its funding from HFFT -- a charity that organizes breakfast, snack and lunch programs, serving more than 12,000 Halton students a week -- but it also relies on community sponsors and donations to keep it operational. It received a $5,000 corporate contribution this year to help offset the cost of running the club, which is about $16,000 annually, Rondeau noted. The amount of funding from HFFT varies every year, he said, and is based on the see Breakfast on p.20 Claude's vaCuum shop Includes Deluxe Air Package Sales · Service · Parts Free Estimates on Repairs Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday · 9am - 6pm Wednesday · 9am - 5pm Saturday · 9am - 4pm sale $39999 Supreme 100, 10 Years Warranty 128 Kerr St., Oakville, ON L6K 3A7 905.842.5658 | claude2@cogeco.net www.claudesvacuum.com Oakville's Longest Serving Nursery School! · Innovative programs for ages 2-5 years ears including a separate JK/SK program. · Programs offered 5/3/2 days. · 1/2 day and extended day for JK/SK. · Beautiful location with an outdoor playground in a mature park-like setting · All staff are registered with the College of Early Childhood Educators (C.E.C.E.) · All staff have been with Crescent for 13+ years! 186 Morrison Road | 905-.844.3432 | crescentnurseryschool@hotmail.com www.crescentnurseryschool.com