OXFORD HILLS — Children who eat breakfast at school start the day ready to learn, reflected in higher test scores and better classroom behavior. However, only half of the children who eat lunch at school also eat school breakfast, according to the Food Research and Action Council.

To garner increased participation in the School Breakfast Program, MSAD 17 schools will recognize National School Breakfast Week. Slated for March 2-6, National School Breakfast Week is a weeklong celebration aimed at increasing awareness of the School Breakfast Program among students and parents.

The 2015 National School Breakfast Week theme, “Make the Grade with School Breakfast,” reminds everyone in the school community — parents, students and administrators — that a healthy school breakfast sets students up for a day of learning and academic success. The theme will appear in school cafeterias during  the week.

“Too many children are showing up at school hungry, and we know hungry children can’t learn,” said Jodi Truman, co-director of MSAD 17 Food Services. “A healthy breakfast helps students focus in the classroom and perform better. That’s why we offer a healthy breakfast every morning in our schools.”

Cafeterias will promote school breakfast with special menus and decorations, activities and events all week. On March 3 every student will be able to have a free breakfast.

Every school day, MSAD 17’s breakfast program offers students a healthy breakfast that they need to get set for a busy school day. Kellogg’s multigrain and whole grain cereals and crackers, string cheese, strawberry yogurt parfaits, Pillsbury waffles and pancakes are a few of the nutritious items served as part of the school breakfast program.

A fruit choice must be taken with every breakfast meal, while 1 percent white milk or fat free chocolate and 100 percent fruit juice are also offered daily for breakfast. Breakfast prices for students are $1. Every school breakfast served meets federal nutrition standards limiting fat, calories and sodium.

“Make the Grade with School Breakfast” was created by the nonprofit School Nutrition Association with support from Kellogg’s Foodservice. National School Breakfast Week was launched in 1989 to raise awareness of the availability of the School Breakfast Program to all children and to promote the links between eating a good breakfast, academic achievement and healthy lifestyles.