After the school day has started, HCS students hear the call for “Second Chance Breakfast.” That means it’s time to line up to grab a healthy breakfast to eat in the classroom.

The program, which will soon go district-wide, started as a pilot program at Browning Springs Middle School. The way it works is that breakfast is still available in the cafeterias before school, but staff set up stations shortly after the start of school where students can go pick up a breakfast bag and take it to their classroom or designated area.

“Second Chance Breakfast has made a positive impact on both academics and behavior,” said BSMS Principal Michael Griffin. “Since implementation, we've seen a drastic increase in breakfast numbers. We routinely feed over 300 students breakfast every day. That's more than 70% of our student population eating a nutritious meal.”

Food Service Director Scott Moore said there were discussions about starting the program last year, but they didn’t want to do it mid-year. 

“When Dr. (Damon) Fleming became superintendent, he called me and said, ‘Hey, it’s something I’m very interested in doing for the county. How do you want to do it?’” Moore suggested piloting it at a couple of schools. After the success at Browning Springs, the program started at James Madison later in the fall and then at South Hopkins in January. Now, seven schools offer Second Chance Breakfast, and the remaining five will start after spring break.

“As superintendent, this was the first initiative I worked to bring forward because I believe meeting students’ basic needs has to come first,” Fleming said. “We know that when a student is hungry, learning becomes much harder. Launching Second Chance Breakfast was a priority from day one, and seeing it take hold across our schools and already make a meaningful difference in student focus, behavior, and success has been incredibly rewarding.”

District officials knew some students weren’t eating breakfast. Reasons varied from kids not being hungry first thing in the morning, to having tight morning schedules or being late. All HCS students can eat free through the Community Eligibility Provision.

“Schools have seen a growth in breakfast participation, 20% on average, which is huge,” Moore said. “At some schools, we’re pushing 75% breakfast participation.”

The positive effects go beyond nutrition.

“Our behavior referrals prior to lunch are down by 60% when compared to this point last year,” Griffin said. “We are so thankful for the hard work of our chefs and the willingness from Mr. Moore to allow Browning Springs to pilot this amazing program.”

Hanson Elementary School 4th grade teacher Lindsey Rogers said Second Chance Breakfast is going well at her school.

“When they get their breakfast, they continue to keep working while they eat,” she said. “It doesn’t cause any distractions. The kids are able to eat and still focus and learn. It helps them to focus more because they’re not worried about their stomach rumbling or causing distractions. They’re able to learn without worrying about being hungry.”

The breakfast meals are typically warm, but don’t include gravy or syrup which could be messy.

“We try to make sure they have a nice hot entree, so something like chicken biscuit, sausage biscuit, breakfast burritos, breakfast pizza,” Moore said. “We want something that will stick with them and get their brains and their bodies motivated.”

With Second Chance Breakfast, HCS kids are ready to learn