The Balanced School Day

In the 2024/25 School Year - École Riverview School transitioned to a Balanced School Day.

The Balanced School Day is an alternative elementary school schedule that improves learning, promotes healthy eating and encourages daily physical activity.  The schedule provides three large blocks of instructional time and two nutritional breaks.  Each nutritional break includes 15-30 minutes for a healthy, nutritious snack/lunch and 30 minutes for indoor and/or outdoor physical activity.  

All students are able and encouraged to stay at school during the lunch break.  Lunch is from 12:45 PM to 1:45 PM.  For safety reasons families must notify the school if the student is staying or sign out the student for the lunch break.  

The following schedule provides an example of a typical Monday to Friday Balanced School Day

Nutritional break would be part of the learning bloc

Traditional school day as a grade 1-6

What are the benefits of the Balanced School Day?

There are many advantages to the Balanced School Day schedule, including:

1. More uninterrupted instructional time

2. Enhanced learning environment

3. Improved student concentration and energy levels

4. Greater task completion for both students and educators

5. Positive influence on student achievement and health

6. More time for students to relax and enjoy their lunch

7. Improved physical fitness for both students and educators

8. More time for daily physical activity and play

9. Greater use of school gymnasiums and outdoor playground facilities

Bibliography on the balanced school day model:

Reimer, Kenneth L. (2022) The Balanced School Day and Teacher-Student Connections: Canadian Classroom Teachers Perspectives. International Journal of LEarning and Teaching Vol 8., No.4 December 2022. University of Winnipeg.

https://www.ijlt.org/uploadfile/2022/10-E105.pdf

Clark, A. F., Wilk, P., & Gilliland, J. A. (2019). Comparing Physical Activity Behavior of Children During School Between Balanced and Traditional School Day Schedules. Journal of School Health, 89(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12722

The Critical Importance of a Well-Crafted Daily Schedule. (2020, November 23). Ideas & Perspectives, 45(15). https://isminc.com/advisory/publications/ideas-and-perspectives/critical-importance-wellcrafted-daily-schedule

Dworatzex, P., Macaskill, L., Wu, T., & Salvadori, M. (2013). The Balanced School Day Provides Two 20-minute Eating Periods in Elementary Schools: A Nutritional Benefit or an Obesogenic Environment? Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 37(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjd.2013.03.093

Hunsberger, M., McGinnis, P., Smith, J., Beamer, B. A., & O’Malley, J. (2014). Elementary school children’s recess schedule and dietary intake at lunch: a community-based participatory research partnership pilot study. BMC Public Health, 14(156). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-156 

Manitoba Education. (n.d.). Curriculum; Subject Area Time Allotments. In edu.gov.mb.ca. Retrieved April 6, 2021, from https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/timeallotments.html

Manitoba Education. Chapter 6: Integrated Learning through Inquiry: A Guided Planning Model: Supporting the Multilevel Learning Community. Retrieved April 20, 2021, from https://www.edu.gov. mb.ca/k12/docs/support/multilevel/chap6.pdf

Manitoba Health. (2015, February). Foods in Schools: School Nutrition Policy. In gov.mb.ca. Retrieved April 6, 2021, from https://www.gov.mb.ca/healthyschools/foodinschools/policy.html

Student Achievement Division:  Ministry of Education, Ontario. (May 2013). Capacity Building Series Inquiry-based Learning. In www.gov.on.ca. Retrieved April 20, 2021, from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/ eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/CBS_inquirybased.pdf

 Wu, T., Dworatzex, P., Macaskill, 

L., & Salvadori, M.(2015). Is the Balanced School Day Truly Balanced? A Review of the Impacts on Children, Families, and School Food Environments. Journal of School Health, 85(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12265