We just moved to the area. I have heard from others that at some schools kids are allowed to come home for lunch. Is this the case at all the elementary schools? Does it happen frequently? I like the idea but just wanted to hear from others if kids actually do it.
Thanks!

Welcome. I can't confirm for all schools but at Ben Franklin elementary the kids can go home for lunch. My kids come home pretty rarely. They don't get a long break for lunch, it's a bit tough to pull off - though I know of some families that go home for lunch regularly.

Same goes at Forest Glen. Opportunity to leave, but no time to eat. I think they get thirty minutes.

Plus . . . it is so much more awesome just to leave them in school.

I believe Hadley is closed campus, but the grade schools allow children to go home for lunch. If they stay at school they typically get 30 mins for lunch and 30 mins for recess. If your child goes home for lunch, then they have an hour.

It is the case for all of the k-5 schools in D41 except Churchill. I believe the explanation for Churchill is that it is on such a busy road that it is too dangerous.

My daughter came home once for lunch last year - the day of the Halloween parade. That way she didn't have to change into her costume at school. But my neighbor's child came home a lot - several times a week all year.

quote:

If they stay at school they typically get 30 mins for lunch and 30 mins for recess. If your child goes home for lunch, then they have an hour.

And then you will be kicking yourself in the butt for your child's lack of socialization skills when they get to high school, college . . . and the workforce . . . relationships with women/men. Better keep them at school.

Just kidding. I'm sure the children will be just fine.

When my kids were at Ben Franklin 6+ years ago, going home for lunch was big. My kids came home 3 or 4 days a week. If they weren't on their bikes I did have to drive them. It was wonderful for each of them and they were the type of kids that needed the break from school.
With a younger child it appears the trend has been to stay at school for lunch.

I wouldn't trade those great eat lunch at home days for anything.

I was stunned when I moved here 14 years ago, to find out kids came home for lunch. I'd never lived in an area where that was possible either geographically (kids all had to be bused from miles around) or economically (both parents typically worked outside the home). It seemed such a quaint, old-fashioned throwback to assume that at least one parent would be home during the day.

But I have to say, I'm glad that my kids had the opportunity. And I was able to be home during those years. It was lovely to see them in the middle of the day, if they decided to come home. I can't really remember how often they did so, but I'm sure it was at least 2-3 times a week. If I recall, they didn't like the eating situation at Ben Franklin at the time - all those kids crammed into a tiny gym. So they preferred to come home.

And then, the one day a month that the PTA offered them a hot lunch was always a special treat, as well. (Although they grew up missing the special grade school memory that is the horror of the lunch lady and the mystery meat in a tray.)

I remember when hot lunch was once a month or less! Now my kids (albeit in the Bensenville school district) have cafeteria-style lunch every day....they have GREAT hot lunches available and even BREAKFAST! If I wanted breakfast at school (even in high school), I had to bring a Carnation Instant Breakfast or something from home, lol.

Franklin has only moved up to hot lunch on Fridays (and only full day Fridays, so with SIP days and other days, it's actually only three times a month, max). I think it's a nice way to signal the end of the week - even for me (one less thing to do in the morning).

last year was the first year that Churchill allowed the children to go home for lunch. We went out often as you just have to be back by 1pm, you can keep them for lunch and recess so you get the full hour...We love it!!!