Conshohocken joins Colonial Elementary in being recognized as a Governor's Breakfast Champion

Conshohocken Elementary School (CE) and Colonial Elementary School (CES) are two of the top 10 Governor's Breakfast Champions -- schools who were selected from across the state for their efforts increasing student participation in universal free breakfast programs.

Faculty, food service staff members, School Board members, students, administrators, and School Board representatives were recognized for their efforts at a Sept. 23rd event organized by the Governor's office and held at Lincoln Financial Field. Colonial and Conshohocken elementary school representatives and district representatives had the chance to tour the home of the Philadelphia Eagles and meet Eagles cheerleaders as part of the celebration.

This is the third year in a row CES has been honored, and the first for CE. Schools are eligible for recognition if they increase student breakfast participation, use innovative service models to expand access, offer hot, nutritious meals, and prioritize options that are locally sourced and lower in added sugars. 

Both schools were able to increase participation in school breakfast by 25 percent, using a combination of strategies to make it easier, healthier, and more fun for students to take part. Those endeavors included:

• Allowing students to take breakfast items with them to class, making breakfast a regular part of the day and eliminating the concern that students will be late to class. 
• Introducing new items like a walking breakfast taco and protein pancakes, which are fun, portable items with higher protein and lower sugar. Watch for more free morning offerings like breakfast fruit pizza, bacon/egg/cheese flatbreads, and a Swiss chard fritatta.
• Promoting positive interactions between cafeteria staff and students and promotion of breakfast for students while they are in the cafeteria for lunch.

Across the district, participation in breakfast was up between 11 and 25 percent during the challenge period, with Conshohocken and Colonial showing the highest increases. 

Congratulations to the Food & Nutrition Services Department for its continued efforts in making sure students have the fuel they need to learn, and thanks to the faculty, staff, and administration at Conshohocken and Colonial for supporting these efforts.

As a reminder, free breakfast is available at all schools during the following times:

• Elementary: 8:50 to 9:05 a.m. Students may report directly to the cafeteria upon drop-off.
• Middle: 7:40 a.m. to 8 a.m. at kiosks.
• High school: 7 to 7:30 a.m. in the cafeteria, coffee shop, and kiosks.