With Christmas around the corner, schools are counting down to the holidays. But while this is a time for fun and festivity for others, for busy SBLs the season requires the ultimate in organisation and planning!
Part of this planning is likely to include arranging and overseeing catering for your school that helps to create a joyful Christmas atmosphere. With snacks and treats being a staple of festive menus, SBLs have the tricky task of ensuring school Christmas meals are nutritious as well as fun for pupils. We’ve put together some ideas to help you put an extra added sparkle into your menus this year.
Take inspiration from around the world
Food offers a unique and exciting way to help children learn about different cultures and get to know more about those that enjoy alternative celebrations to Christmas. This is great opportunity to interact with students and their families – reaching out via your school newsletter or social media to ask about their favourite traditional dishes. For example, instead of a traditional Christmas pudding, what about a South African Malva pudding – a warm sponge dessert similar to a sticky toffee pudding! By asking students to share photos or recipes of different foods from around the world you encourage the spirit of inclusivity.
Creating the right ambience
Turning your school canteen into a winter wonderland might be a challenge with budgets being ever tightened. But there are plenty of cost-effective ways to create a festive atmosphere without tapping into your budget. Make the most of what you have on hand. For example, why not arrange for the music department or school choir to perform a set of carols in the canteen to provide some festive ambience? From colourful trays to holiday-themed posters, adding a winter colour theme to your school dining space can also help get students into the spirit!
Make it memorable
Helping students to craft happy memories of their school experience is no doubt what every SBL seeks to achieve. It’s all about making lunchtime as special as possible, particularly as in these difficult economic times, not all students will experience the same magical Christmas as others. So why not turn your regular Christmas lunch offering into an event that encourages socialisation and fun? Think fun festive activity sheets or perhaps a lunchtime quiz with prizes for the tables that work best together to solve problems.
Being an SBL is a job filled with challenges year-round, many of which mean endless hours balancing budgets, seeing to administration and working hard to keep everything running smoothly. While Christmas can mean even more stress, it is important to remember your vital role in creating an immersive experience that students will cherish for years.
When it comes to lunch times, with thoughtfully designed festive menus, a focus on nutrition and the creation of a festive ambiance, you can be the architect of a Christmas season that is truly exceptional for every pupil.
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