Sound like you guys have a lot of good ideas. We only give the kids about 20 minutes to eat. We have 3 parents volunteer each day to 'watch over' the kids. If some kids finish early, 1 or 2 parents will take that group to their respective homerooms to play or outside for recess weather permitting. The last mom usually sticks around and rounds up the slower eaters and takes them outside or to homeroom until the teachers arrive.

Our elementary school principal finally realized that 15 minutes wasn't enough time for the kids to eat(food in trash; food on lunch trays)! This year they've changed to a "working snack" in the morning, 15 minute-before-lunch-recess and then a half-hour lunch. Problem: Some kids do indeed finish eating within the original 15 minutes and are EXTREMELY FIGGITY (sp?) for the last 15 minutes. School started using movies and documentaries (G-rated Disney, Magic School Bus, documentaries on weather, animals,etc.)for the last 15 mins to keep students on the quiet side/subdued. Parents who have kids that obcess with TV are "up in arms". Parents started a Reading Alternate Program in the school library. HA - the 1st day over 30 kids went...
QUESTIONS: At the K-5 level, how much time do students have for lunch and recess? How many aides, assistants, teachers or other "paid" ( :eek: and volunteer) individuals do you have supervising the Caf? Are there other things that kids can do (another area for games, reading, etc.)? How do you deal with noise level issues? I know that there are noise level monitor systems... ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!