Mealtimes
We are a peanut-free and tree-nut free establishment.
Parents will be responsible for sending lunch with their child every day.
Many children have allergic reactions to nuts of any kind, including peanuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts. Please avoid including them in your child's lunch.
Healthy, balanced meals are essential to a child's growth. To ensure that their child will eat lunch, we ask parents to include foods their child is accustomed to and those they are likely to eat. This is also a way of maintaining familiarity between home and school. For younger children, please be sure that foods are cut into the same bit size pieces you serve your child at home. Please avoid foods that have a high choking hazard associated with them. During mealtimes, our students and staff will sit together, where they will learn table manners and engage in meaningful conversations.
We ask that you refrain from sending snack foods, candy, or gum with your child as this can cause difficulties within the classroom.
Snacks
Gold Hill will provide two healthy snacks per day, a morning snack around 9:30 AM and an afternoon snack around 2:30 PM. A monthly snack menu will be posted in each classroom and will be available in the Brightwheel App. We can provide allergy-friendly snack alternatives for students with food allergies or intolerances.
From our experience, children often become more open to trying new foods at school, especially when they see their peers enjoying them. Our staff will gently encourage your child to explore different fruits and vegetables during snack time, using positive reinforcement to make the experience enjoyable.
Infant Feedings: Formula / Bottles
Parents must bring formula or breast milk in pre-made labeled bottles with the infant's name and date every day. Center staff cannot mix formula bottles or add cereal to bottles. All formula bottles and baby food will be kept in the nursery refrigerator until feeding time.
Bottles will be placed in lukewarm water until the milk reaches the desired temperature; they will not be warmed in a microwave. Please do not leave bottles at the center overnight; their contents will be discarded.
Parents will select a feeding schedule for their infant that center staff will carefully follow. All babies will be hand-fed and burped after feeding. When possible, the same individual will feed your baby every day. Infants that have advanced to solid baby food will be fed in a highchair. Feeding notes will be added to the Brightwheel App daily.
