Volunteer Spotlight: 10 Years of Student Volunteers at River Oaks PS

Student Nutrition Programs provide numerous benefits to a school’s community – one of the most important is providing nutrition for students to help provide them with the energy they need for the school day. In addition to this there is the opportunity to build on the school community through connections between students. Student volunteer opportunities offer the chance for peers to support peers; help break down the stigma of participating in programs and support the development of leadership skills of students.  

At River Oaks PS in Oakville, Teacher Richard Bernard has been engaging his Grade 8 students with their Student Nutrition Program for 10 years now. When asked about his motivation to do so Richard let us know, “I wanted to have my grade 8 students be active in the community and take on a leadership role at our school. For this age group, it is very important to lead by example and to play a larger role in their school to simply make it a better place.”

Through this leadership, the grade 8 students get the opportunity to develop ownership of the program, helping to ensure it runs smoothly throughout the year. It also displays community spirit and a caring attitude for other students, demonstrating the importance of giving back to your school community and allowing younger students to connect with older students. “They are leaders - they are developing an understanding of the impact they can have on the larger community, and they are connecting with the younger students in a positive way,” confirmed Richard.  

After a decade of supporting student involvement in River Oak’s Student Nutrition Program, Richard confirmed there is a great opportunity for other schools to do the same.  When asked why he would encourage other schools to get their students involved Richard said, “I would say that it is important to have the students connect with their community and that being active in a volunteer role helps them develop empathy and leadership within the school. I fully believe that these kids are an important part of making our school one of the best places to learn.”

Halton Food for Thought is grateful to Richard and all the schools who support student volunteer opportunities within their programs. Thank you for helping students connect students to the nutritious food they need at school to fuel their day ahead.