RANKIN INLET
An increase in funding has the current snack program at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI) a lot healthier than it's been in the past.

Guidance counsellor Bill Colbourne serves a bowl of caribou stew to Grade 9 student Felix Alakannuark during a student lunch at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik in Rankin Inlet. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Teacher Katharine O'Connell said during the years, staff members have always tried to keep the snack program going at MUI to provide students with nutritious foods in the morning.

She said the snacks are important for student growth and learning and to be able to focus in the classroom.

"It's always been a struggle trying to maintain that pot of funding for the snack program," said O'Connell.

"We've held bingos and had some funding providers in the past.

"But this year it's really expanded and we have a lot more funding than we did in previous years.

"We have three funders now, as compared to two this past year, and one also came into some extra money, so we were able to get some additional money from them."

The Breakfast for Learning program has been a continual funder for the MUI snack program for a number of years, as well as Brighter Futures.

This year, the Department of Health is also providing financial resources to MUI's program.

O'Connell said the extra funding has allowed MUI to expand its program.

She said there were two snacks provided per morning at MUI this past school year, consisting of apples, baked goods, yogurt, juice, etc.

"That continued the first semester this year but we recently fell into some extra money from two of the funders.

"So I spoke to principal Jesse Payne about how we'd like to use the extra money and it was decided we would start Smoothie Fridays for the students.

"The students really like them and they provide a lot of calcium and vitamin C, which is great.

"We've also increased to three snacks per day, so each student now receives some type of beverage, a piece of fruit and one other item such as a baked good, cheese string or whatever."

MUI also decided to hold a free student-and-staff lunch every second week with the first being caribou stew and bannock this past Friday, Feb. 13, from noon until 1 p.m.

The lunch will rotate between stew and bannock and school-made submarine sandwiches.

In addition to a healthy meal, the lunch is also an opportunity for students to socialize and a number of gym sports are held after everyone has eaten.

O'Connell said MUI has been quite fortunate to receive the extra funding this semester.

She said another potential funder recently made contact with MUI but it's being directed toward other communities that could use some extra help with their school programs.

"Our snack program is flourishing so well right now, and we'd like to see that happen in some other communities, as well. We've received $19,000 in extra funding this year and it's made an incredible difference with what we can offer the students.

"By offering three snacks per day now, the students are getting a heavier breakfast to fill them more and, hopefully, that will translate into them being able to focus more on their work.

"And research has definitely shown us people who are able to have a balanced breakfast are able to focus more on their tasks."