Repulse Bay (Nov 03/04) - The number of students who enjoy a nutritious breakfast to start their busy day continues to grow at Tusarvik school in Repulse Bay.

The Tusarvik breakfast program has been running for the past nine years with funding help from the Brighter Futures program.

Nicole Kringayark helps prepare breakfast for a throng of hungry students at Tusarvik school in Repulse Bay. - photo courtesy of Leonie Aissaoui

Tusarvik teacher Leonie Aissaoui says last year, BHP Billiton Diamonds helped the school's soccer program with a financial donation. The company has indicated it would like to help with a school program again this year, so Aissaoui included the breakfast program on a list of options she provided to the company.

"I hope to find out soon which one of our school programs BHP will be helping to support this year."

"In addition to our official breakfast program, we also supply a healthy snack during the day," says Aissaoui.

"We have so many kids show up for breakfast, but, as the day goes on, more students arrive, so around 10:30 a.m. we give everyone a bar or a piece of fruit, something like that."

On average, about 80 kids attend the breakfast program every morning at Tusarvik, and even more take advantage of the snack program.

Breakfast is served at the school between 8:15 a.m. and 8:50 a.m.

Aissaoui says students at the school are quick to lend a helping hand when their services are required.

"Sometimes, the person hired to deliver the breakfast program can't make it to school and the students jump right in to make sure breakfast is served.

"We serve both hot and cold cereals, a number of juices they can choose from, as well as toast and jam. The students often volunteer their time to pass out tickets at the door, put butter on the toast and help wash the dishes when breakfast is over."

Tracking the numbers

Aissaoui says the tickets are handed out so the school can keep track of how many kids show up each morning.

She says those numbers allow staff to work out the average daily number of kids who take advantage of the breakfast program throughout the year.

"Having those numbers helps me the following year with knowing how much money to ask for when I write the proposal for the breakfast program."