ISB Referral List Updated

Dave Anderson has posted an updated version of the ISB Community Resource List on our website. Please visit ISB School Psychologist webpage to access the latest information about educational, mental and behavioral health resources in and around Bangkok, Thailand and neighboring countries.

ISB Breakfast Survey

Over the last few weeks, Dave Anderson (High School Psychologist) and I have been meeting with school administration, the PTA, the student council and other members of the school community about the results of the ISB breakfast survey.

Is Breakfast Skipping a Problem at ISB?

The ISB PreK-12 breakfast surveyed was initiated due to concern voiced by teachers and other members of the school community about the number of students who did not eat breakfast because of early mornings and long commutes to ISB. The aim of the breakfast survey was to determine the incidence of breakfast skipping school-wide and make recommendations about next steps to increase the number of students eating breakfast before school.

Breakfast is Important for Learning

In the morning, blood glucose levels are at their lowest level of the day, and fuel for the brain is not readily available until we eat. The link between breakfast and learning is well established. Research shows that eating breakfast significantly improves attention, memory, mood, and school performance. Eating breakfast regularly also has short and long term health benefits.

1. Missing breakfast and experiencing hunger impair children’s ability to learn
2. Eating breakfast at school (closer to class time) helps children perform better than those who eat at home or skip breakfast
3. Breakfast can improve children’s diets
4. Breakfast may reduce obesity risk

       Food Research and Action Center Child Nutrition Fact Sheet 

The ISB Breakfast Survey

 

During the week of 18 August, teachers were asked to ask their students for a show of hands of who had eaten breakfast that morning. In order to prevent double counting, the survey was performed by homeroom teachers in the ES, core math/science or humanities teachers in the MS, and English or ESL teachers in the HS. The high school results reflect that 9^th and 10^th graders and 11^th and 12^th graders may take the same class. Of the 1,862 students enrolled during this week, 1,385 were surveyed.

Results

1. School-wide, 17% of students did not eat breakfast on the day they were surveyed.
2. In the ES, 9% had not eaten breakfast
3. In the MS, 16% had not eaten breakfast
4. In the HS, 26% had not eaten breakfast.
5. Overall, skipping breakfast becomes more common as students get older.
6. Skipping breakfast is pervasive in the High School.
7. In the lower grades, breakfast skipping is of particular concern in grades 5-7.
8. Breakfast skipping is not common among PreK to 1^st grade students, but increases after grade 2.

Possible Next Steps

In our meetings, several possible solutions have been proposed. These include:

·    Provide a wider variety of food that is quick to purchase (i.e. does not require preparation or serving) and can be eaten on the go

·    Sell breakfast food or morning snacks at places other than the cafeteria (e.g. at tables set up the front entrance or near lockers, or from trolleys that would be wheeled through the hallways before school or during passing)

·    Offer “liquid breakfasts” such as smoothies for those who cannot stomach solid food in the morning

·    Allow students to eat on the bus

·    A high school comm group session on the results of the survey and the importance of breakfast for learning

 

Is there anything else you can think of to encourage our students to eat breakfast regularly?