Who We Are
Our Commitments
Burke's offers activities and resources to help girls care for their bodies and minds. This page has links that include information on Nutrition (such as resources, recipes to make at home and menus for the ACRE lunch program); general Wellness news (such as the Parents;' Association Wellness committee newsletters and Student Support Services resources); wellness-related activities for girls and their families, both at Burke's and in the general community; and other resources Burke's girls can access to make informed choices about their health.

Mindfulness

Burke’s adoption of the practice mindfulness is the cornerstone of our health and wellness program. By incorporating mindfulness into our school culture, we are building a health and wellness program on a grounded, conscious, mission-driven foundation. It is too easy in our lives today, in a world that is changing and progressing so quickly, to live detached from the present moment and to move at a physical and emotional pace that can be unhealthy and unproductive. The practice of mindfulness provides us with tools that we can use to slow down and return to the present on a more regular basis.

Many of you may already be aware of some of the benefits of mindfulness:
“Better focus and attention, increased sense of calm, decreased stress and anxiety, enhanced health, improved impulse control, increased self-awareness, skillful responses to difficult emotions, increased empathy and understanding of others, and development of natural conflict resolution skills.” (Mindful Schools)
Click the orange button at right to visit our dedicated page to Mindfulness at Burke's.

Nutrition

Burke's is committed to nourishing students to best facilitate optimal wellness and learning potential. The Burke's lunch program, run through ACRE Gourmet, as a collaborative effort to provide the best possible nutrition for our students. Burke's selected ACRE as the lunch provider mainly for its locally sourced and organic foods and excellent reputation for quality. The whole school community participates in the lunch program. ACRE and the P.A. Wellness Committee are working together to create fun, effective nutrition education messages at Burke's.
ACRE is dedicated to meeting the needs of Burke's community.
  • Cook food from scratch
  • Keep food affordable without compromising quality
  • Keep food choices inclusive of particular health and diet needs
  • Support and use local and organic ingredients
  • Use grass-fed meat and free range poultry, free of hormones and antibiotics
  • Use only natural, non-hydrogenated oils in our cooking and dressings
  • Serve food fresh and hot, not reheated
  • Respect the environment through sustainable practices like our full composting/recycling program that aims for 'zero waste'
ACRE Goals for a Better Food Culture
  • Educate and empower kids through the experience of eating our real food
  • Create dining areas that promote collegiality, conversation and friendship
  • Consciously integrate sustainable principles into the school curriculum including student farm visits, school gardens, and inspiring guest speakers
  • Bring families and farmers together through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
ACRE Menus
  • Greatly exceed USDA guidelines for nutrition
  • Are low in sugar and free of trans fats
  • Are continually changing and offer a wide variety of healthy choices within each meal
  • Embrace cultural diversity
  • Are appetizing to a younger palate (for inspiration we ask kids for their favorite recipes)
  • Pay special attention to vegetarian and vegan options and all dietary/allergy concerns

Sample Lunch

Physical Activity

A range of physical activities on and around the Burke’s campus encourage girls to use, strengthen, and know their bodies. See below for fun events and in school programs.

In-school Activities
  • Challenge Day: Challenge Day provides an opportunity for Burke’s girls to set and meet goals related to physical activity. During this special annual event, there is rock climbing, tennis, and other activities to encourage and challenge students.
  • Miler Club: Each spring, physical education offers awards to girls who are able to meet a running goal. The running takes place during recess over one week. Girls who run a mile or more during this week are given the award, which is a felt medal that can be sewn onto clothing.
  • Burke’s DASH: The Burke’s DASH is a 2.5K run/walk at Crissy Field. Parents, siblings, faculty, and students are encouraged to participate in this fun weekend morning event. Though the top finishers receive recognition, DASH is primarily a community event, established to promote wellness and fun for Burke’s families.
Community Activities
  • Speakers on health
  • Community Garden at RNC: Through the Burke’s Gives Back program there are opportunities to impact and improve wellness in our community. Click here to learn more about the RNC
Burke's mission is to educate, encourage and empower girls. Our school combines academic excellence with an appreciation for childhood so that students thrive as learners, develop a strong sense of self, contribute to community, and fulfill their potential, now and throughout life.

Burke’s

An independent K–8 school for girls
7070 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
Phone: 415.751.0177 Fax: 415.666.0535
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