Second Chance Breakfast helps Winnisquam Regional High combat food insecurity

TILTON — Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so they say, and at Winnisquam Regional School District, they’re fueling their students with their now award-winning Second Chance Breakfast program.

At an event on May 21, NH Hunger Solutions and the state honored the work of the district — especially the efforts of Jacqueline McGettigan — with a School Breakfast Champion Award, a School Breakfast Hero Award for McGettigan.

“This is more than I expected,” McGettigan, family student support liaison for the district, said. 

Food Services Director Travis Haggerty handed out smoothies — a big hit on the menu. The flavor of the day was a strawberry, banana and blackberry mixture. 

Modeled after “Breakfast After the Bell” strategies, the initiative improved student wellness and engagement at Winnisquam Regional High School by 25%, an impressive feat, through an increase of 19 daily meals. The idea was simple: Offer a second breakfast opportunity for students, after first period.

For an extended time in the morning, students can grab items like granola bars and smoothies at Second Chance Breakfast, part of the School Breakfast Challenge. This is a signature initiative of New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, in partnership with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension and New England Dairy, a data-driven movement currently collaborating with 59 schools statewide.

Currently, the Granite State ranks 46th in the nation for school breakfast participation, according to a press release from NH Hunger Solutions.

“Fewer than 50% of the Granite State children who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch are participating in breakfast — not due to a lack of food, but due to outdated delivery systems and social stigma,” according to the release.

Winnisquam’s wellness initiatives are helping break down those barriers, and setting a model for other Granite State school districts.

A shift in the mainstream

Participation in the School Breakfast Challenge started with Sanbornton Central School, where McGettigan took the reins.

She went on serve an extremely formative purpose for the school, and district.

McGettigan launched, in partnership with NH Hunger Solutions, a special Books & Breakfast event, which hosted Granite State author Marty Kelly, to serve as inspiration for the students. A princess and life-sized dinosaur were brought in as part of the fun.

“This program did more than just fill stomachs — it built genuine excitement for the school day. It served as a vibrant reminder to our families that a balanced meal is the ultimate fuel for a child’s daily adventures in learning,” said Sarah Skoglund, district coordinator of wellness and engagement. 

Schoolchildren also left the event with a brand new book, courtesy of the Children’s Literacy Foundation. Fresh fruit was donated by Hannaford.

Engaging students

In exploring creative avenues to improve access to nutrition, it was vital district staff meet students in engaging ways. At nearby Winnisquam High, knowing engagement would look different, McGettigan got creative.

“It began with Breakfast Tastings, giving students a direct voice in their menu. From there, she collaborated with our food service director and administration to launch a flexible Breakfast After the Bell model,” Skoglund said. “By expanding access to students in early study halls, those waiting for the Huot bus, or those arriving late, we have effectively dismantled the barriers that lead to a distracted, hungry morning.”

Haggerty agreed, sharing statistics.

“We started the fall averaging about 29 breakfasts per day. We are now consistently serving about 48 per day. We have even seen peaks as high as 61 students in a single morning,” he said. “These aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet; they represent students who are no longer sitting in class distracted by hunger. We are ensuring that no child in Winnisquam starts their day on an empty stomach, providing them with the energy they need to stay focused, stay fueled and reach their academic goals.”

Now, vital federal funding could be secured, thanks to the success of Winnisquam’s breakfast model.

“When breakfast is offered after the bell, it becomes a normal part of the school day, just like lunch,” said Tricia Labelle, child nutrition manager at NH Hunger Solutions, based in Concord. “This helps students start the day more focused and ready to learn, increases access to school meals and brings in important federal funding back to New Hampshire."

“Increasing participation is more than just a health initiative; it is a fiscal win for New Hampshire. Every year, millions of dollars in federal nutrition funding go unclaimed,” according to the press release. The state Department of Health & Human Services "acts as the bridge, providing technical expertise to work with schools in navigating logistics and unlocking these resources.”

For more information, visit nhhungersolutions.org/our-work-with-schools.

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Katlyn Proctor can be reached at katlyn@laconiadailysun.com or by calling 603-524-0150.