At the Charles La Trobe College Breakfast Club, a warm and welcoming atmosphere transforms the mornings of 126 primary school students into something special. With a dedicated team of volunteers and a commitment to nourishing young minds, the club epitomises the power of community connections.  

Breakfast Club runs every school day, drawing in 12-15 eager students who gather around a communal table to start their day with a nutritious meal and a smile. Community volunteers serve as the backbone of the Charles La Trobe Breakfast Club ensuring that every child starts the day with a healthy breakfast. An incredible 90% of the program’s volunteer pool is made up of local community members, who are passionate about contributing to the wellbeing of the children. Lorem dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras malesuada nisi eu elit congue, quis a liquet neque ornare. Nulla facilisi. Orci varius natoque penatibus et here magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Proin in mauris est. Nunc nec lacinia odio, sit amet rhoncus urna. Donec iaculis dolor elementum purus dignissim, ac commodo lacus bibendum.

Impact on school community 

Since the Breakfast Club’s inception, the program has evolved into an essential part of the school’s offering, enhancing student engagement and creating a positive atmosphere. Volunteers work closely with school staff, fostering relationships that benefit the entire community. 

Volunteer coordinator, Brooke noted, “The children are so excited to come to school and are so friendly and kind to one another.”  

The Breakfast Club serves a variety of food options, with the small milk cartons a favourite, while fresh fruit is available throughout the day. Students are encouraged to eat at a communal table, encouraging a sense of community and belonging. They also learn responsibility by cleaning up after themselves—scraping their plates into the bin and placing their dishes in the sink—a small but significant step towards independence that parents likely appreciate as well!  

The Breakfast Club is more than food. Volunteers come together to create an environment where children feel safe and valued. Children from Prep to Grade six come together, sharing not only breakfast but also stories, jokes and songs.  

They take turns making announcements, filling the air with their favourite jokes and music, and even created a whimsical song about the Breakfast Club inspired by their rehearsals for the Wizard of Oz school musical: “Somewhere over Breakfast Club, skies are blue, and the toastie that you dare to dream of, really does come true.” 

Impact on Volunteer community 

Being part of the Charles La Trobe Breakfast Club has profoundly impacted the volunteers. They share moments of joy, surprise, and connection with the students, reminding them of the simple joys of childhood. 

“The best part of interacting with the students is they surprise us every day and connect us to what it feels like to be young again,” said Brooke. “That’s what I love about the volunteers – each of them has deep personal and professional experience that they bring to the role. We have a retired teacher, accountant, nurse, university lecturer and senior executive all giving up their time to volunteer because they care about the next generation and want the school and families to be strong, healthy and happy.” 

Brooke “decided to volunteer because well-nourished children do better in school. It’s heartwarming to see how much joy and excitement the Breakfast Club brings.” Adding, “Our kids went to local schools, and we know the value of lifelong friendships and the bonds that are built at school and by getting involved.” 

The Breakfast Club at Charles La Trobe Primary School is more than just a meal program; it is a vibrant hub of community engagement. By leveraging the strengths of local volunteers, the program not only feeds hungry bellies but also fosters a sense of belonging and support, paving the way for a healthier, more confident and connected student cohort.  

Cooking Classes Creating Cross Generational and Community Connections 

St Alban’s North Primary School jumped at the chance to bring the Cooking Class program, to their students. In addition to the regular benefits this program brings, fostering community involvement, and promoting healthy eating habits, the school had another motive. They wanted to strengthen family bonds within their community.   

We know that food brings people together. And by inviting students, siblings and their parents to the cooking classes, the school together with the School Breakfast Clubs Program Cooking Classes offered an opportunity for students and their families to engage in a shared activity and foster stronger connections. 

And that it did! The classes successfully drew in families who were previously not engaged in school activities. Students were able to work together with their siblings and parents in both a productive and enjoyable setting.  

“We wanted to provide a positive experience for (the families) where they could work together to create something and then share it at the end. The cooking Classes were perfect and the way Foodbank provides the food hampers to take home gives an opportunity for them to repeat the process of working together in the home environment, hopefully building some teamwork, respect and tolerance.” said assistant principal Rob Guppy.  

Creating Connections

The families that took part in Cooking Classes appreciated the chance to spend quality time with their children while learning about healthy cooking. One parent noted, “The Cooking Classes program was a fantastic opportunity for us to bond as a family and learn new recipes. My children were thrilled to see me at school and work together on something so fun and educational.”   

The Cooking Classes experience and learning extends beyond the classroom, giving students practical experiences that enhance their teamwork and problem-solving skills, not just at school, but in the home. The food hampers provided mean that families can continue building on their in school positive experiences and connections, at home. 

One parent, who attended with her prep student, also brought her year seven son along – on his birthday no less. She loved that it was a fun and educational activity they could do as a family, noting that group activities catering to varying age groups can be difficult. (As is bonding with a teenager!) 

Testimonials

From the school’s perspective, the Cooking Classes have been a tremendous success. They saw quite a few of the participants try sushi and rice paper rolls for the first time. Assistant Principal Rob Guppy said “the cooking classes are a fantastic initiative that helps bring families together and educates them on healthy cooking. Our school saw benefits with parents and students working together, as well as families mixing with each other which was great to see.” 

Noble Park ELS Bringing families together through food 

Noble Park English Language School (ELS) is a multi-campus, co-educational institution serving students from Prep to Year 10. With around 600 students, the school specialises in providing intensive English language courses tailored for newly arrived migrants, refugees, and international students from non-English speaking backgrounds.  

At Noble Park ELS, the Cooking Classes facilitated by the Foodbank Victoria team didn’t just teach culinary skills, they became a catalyst for bonding and joy within the school community. 

The Cooking Class program had an immediate impact. Right from the moment the expression of interest was sent out to the school community, there was an overwhelming and positive response. Parents were very eager to join, making it clear to school staff that they craved this opportunity to bond with their children and become more involved in the wider school community. 

Noble Park ELS’s community includes families who have faced hardships and challenging journeys migrating to Australia, some as refugees. The Cooking Classes offered more than just cooking tips, recipes, and a take home hamper; they provided a safe and welcoming environment where parents and children could reconnect. 

                           

Why the families loved it 

“The parents were grateful for some time with their child,” said Maxine, the school’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (Primary). It provided them a chance to try something new and enjoy each other’s company away from daily stresses and routine. 

The students relished the opportunity to try new foods and spend quality time learning some new skills and cooking alongside their parents. The classes provided a chance to foster stronger family and community ties beyond the classroom. 

One parent, a mother with five children, one with a disability, was hesitant initially as her busy life made it difficult to fit this activity in. However, after some persuading by her children, she agreed and attended with her oldest child.  

Whilst they were cooking, one of her other children stopped by to check it out. Staff told him that mum would bring home all the ingredients and the recipe, so they can cook together at home, a brilliant way to involve the rest of the children. The Cooking Classes gave families the opportunity to create memories and empower children to explore new skills at home. 

Why Noble Park ELS loved it 

“We wanted parents to feel connected to the school community in a meaningful way,” shared Maxine, the school’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (Primary). “These classes provided a fresh avenue for engagement beyond traditional academic discussions.” One student, who’d received a helping hand from a Foodbank staff member to make rice paper rolls, was especially pleased that she was also given a hamper to take home. The feedback from her teacher the next day, was that the rest of her family thoroughly enjoyed making a new meal together that evening.  

Testimonials

“I came to the Cooking Classes with my child. Thank you very much. Finally, my child ate vegetables and liked it,” expressed a grateful parent, highlighting the program’s success in encouraging healthier eating habits. 

 

The school leadership echoed these sentiments, describing the program as “an extremely wonderful experience for the school community” that brought with it positivity and engagement. The Principal, Enza Calabro, particularly appreciated how the multi-purpose room came alive with vibrant activity and camaraderie.