Being breakfast champions continues to be a competition amongst schools throughout Colorado. From implementing innovative serving models like Breakfast in the Classroom to creating “breakfast clubs,” school officials and students have embraced the challenge of improving their breakfast programs and increasing participation throughout the year.
- Find out who participated in—and won—the 2012-13 challenge.
- Learn about the annual Colorado School Breakfast Challenge, presented by the Colorado No Kid Hungry campaign, as well as see past challenge winners.
2012-13 Breakfast Games
Bringing home “gold” served as a driving force for 24 high schools vying in this year’s Colorado School Breakfast Challenge, called the 2012-13 Breakfast Games. With a goal to improve overall student participation in their breakfast program, each competing school saw an up-tick in participation over the five-month period. Six schools around the state will be recognized as winners of the challenge with an award and cash prize ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 during National School Breakfast Week.
The 2012-13 Breakfast Games, presented by the Colorado No Kid Hungry Campaign, opened in September 2012 and ran through January 2013. The 24 invited high schools competed in three categories, and the top two schools with the highest overall participation rate in each category will be crowned champions at on-site award ceremonies, with two happening on March 7 and 8. One school also received an honorary “bronze” prize for a nearly 40 percent percentage-point increase in overall participation.
The complete list of the 2012-13 winners is as follows:
For the innovative breakfast-serving model with all-student access:
- Northridge High School of Weld County School District 6 awarded gold and $4,000
- Centennial High School of Pueblo City 60 School District awarded silver and $2,000
For the innovative breakfast-serving model with free or reduced-price qualifying student access:
- Pueblo County High School of Pueblo County School District 70 awarded gold and $4,000
- Central High School of Mesa County Valley School District 51 awarded silver and $2,000
For the traditional breakfast-serving model:
- George Washington High School of Denver Public Schools awarded gold and $4,000
- Wheat Ridge High School of Jeffco Public Schools awarded silver and $2,000
Special recognition for the largest participation increase by percentage point:
- Wasson High School of Colorado Springs School District 11 awarded $1,000
“All children in Colorado deserve to have access to a nutritious breakfast so they can be prepared to learn and succeed in school,” said Gov. John Hickenlooper. “This year’s competition shows that schools statewide can make strides in their breakfast program’s participation. We applaud all of the participating schools for being breakfast champions.”
The annual Colorado School Breakfast Challenge is hosted by the Colorado No Kid Hungry 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 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. This program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, offers students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals with a healthy start to each school day. For the 2011-12 school year, 122,773 daily school breakfasts were served, a growth of 13.15 percent compared to the previous year.
“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. “After-the-bell models make school breakfast more accessible and ensure our students are prepared to learn each day.”
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 by offering Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab and Go, Breakfast After First Period or another after-the-bell program.
“Eating breakfast is linked to higher math scores, higher academic achievement, lower truancy, lower absenteeism, fewer visits to the school nurse, and better behavior in the classroom,” said Kathy Underhill, executive director of Hunger Free Colorado, the state’s leading anti-hunger organization. “Providing a nutritious start to the school day is not only an effective way to address child hunger, but it also helps set up Colorado students for success.”
The campaign recognizes all of the other participating high schools in the 2012-13 Breakfast Games for their achievement of increasing their breakfast program’s participation:
Colorado Springs / Pueblo
- Mitchell High School of Colorado Springs School District 11
- Central High School, East High School and South High School of Pueblo City 60 School District
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, Martin Luther King Jr. Early College, Montbello High School and South High School of Denver Public Schools
- Jefferson High School of Jeffco Public Schools
- Skyline High School of St. Vrain Valley School District RE 1J
- Greeley Central High School and Greeley West High School of Weld County School District 6
Thanks to the following organizations for their support during the 2012-13 Breakfast Games: USDA, Cooking Matters Colorado, Western Dairy Association and the Olympic Training Center.
Past winners of School Breakfast Challenge
In 2011, Gov. John Hickenlooper invited all Colorado school districts to participate in the 2011-12 School Breakfast Challenge, with one primary goal—to increase student participation in schools with the School Breakfast Program. The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, offers students with 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.
Schools rallied around the competition by implementing innovative serving models like Breakfast in the Classroom as well as engaging students to encourage participation and showcase the importance of breakfast. The winning school districts and schools will be recognized as champions of the Colorado School Breakfast Challenge with on-site celebrations and check presentations for their prize money on Nov. 13 and Nov. 15.
The complete list of the 2011-12 Colorado School Breakfast Challenge winners are as follows, with data provided by the Colorado Department of Education:
For school districts with under 40 percent free and reduced-price eligibility:
- West Grand School District awarded gold and $5,000 for a 27.69 percentage point increase
- Ridgway School District awarded silver and $3,000 for a 27.4 percentage point increase
For school districts with 40 percent or higher free and reduced-price eligibility:
- Burlington School District awarded gold and $5,000 for an 87.02 percentage point increase
- Wray School District awarded silver and $3,000 for a 51.59 percentage point increase
For innovation in school breakfast programs:
- Northridge High School in Weld County School District 6 for their use of nutrition education materials and a breakfast satisfaction survey for students
- Bell Middle School in Jeffco Public Schools for revamping their cafeteria to mimic the look and feel of a coffee shop through a school-wide collaboration
- Stukey Elementary School in Adams 12 Five Star Schools for their Wake Up and Walk program where students and parents are encouraged to walk and eat breakfast together afterwards
“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 congratulate all of the winning school districts and innovation award winners for being breakfast champions and increasing participation through this challenge.”
About the Colorado School Breakfast Challenge and its presenters
Each year, Gov. John Hickenlooper encourages schools and/or districts to participate in the Colorado School Breakfast Challenge, with a goal to increase student participation in schools with the School Breakfast Program. It is an annual competition that has a unique design and measurement, and winning schools and/or districts receive an award, presentation and prize money for being breakfast champions.
The annual challenge is presented by the Colorado No Kid Hungry 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 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. This program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, offers students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals with a healthy start to each school day. For the 2011-12 school year, 122,773 daily school breakfasts were served, a growth of 13.15 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 skills, along with standardized test scores. It also can help decrease tardiness and suspensions as well as improve memory, attentiveness and overall health.
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, Breakfast After First Period and Breakfast on the Bus.
“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. “Together, we can provide more students with a nutritious start to the day and ensure fewer children go hungry at school.”
Learn more about the School Breakfast Program, Hunger Free Colorado’s efforts and what you can do to help.
