November 2015 - Alabama State Department of Education

Alabama State Department of Education
Child Nutrition Program Newsletter
November 2015
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE HEALTHY HUNGER-FREE KIDS ACT
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 is currently up
for reauthorization by Congress. Tom Vilsack, Secretary of
Agriculture, encourages Congress to not only reinforce the
current standards, but to strengthen them as well. According
to Mr. Vilsack, “Preserving and strengthening the Healthy,
Hunger-Free Kids Act, which sets school lunch standards
and makes free and reduced meals available to children,
could lower the healthcare costs in the US and improve the
country’s economic competitiveness and national security in the long term.” Find the full article with notes
from Tom Vilsack here.
ALABAMA SCHOOLS CELEBRATE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK
Cullman County Schools
Fairview Elementary, Middle, and High Schools and West Point Middle School celebrating NSLW and Homecoming
Hoover City Schools
The UAB Blazer Basketball
Team taking selfies - being
healthy at Bumpus Middle School
UAB Track Team eating lunch
with Gwin Elementary Students
National Take Your Parents to
Lunch Day 10/13/15 at Greystone
Elementary
UAB "Blaze" drinking his milk at
Bumpus Middle
Taking Photos with their favorite
fruit or vegetable at South Shades
Crest Elementary
Taking a Selfie being Healthy at
Trace Crossings Elementary
Each of Hoover City Schools had their own contest with stickers on trays, drawings of names, coupon trays, etc.
Students had the chance to win iTunes gift cards that were obtained through Cool School Rewards
Butler County Schools
Students at Georgiana School celebrating NSLW
Monroe County Schools
Monroeville Middle School, Monroeville Elementary School, and other Monroe County Schools celebrated NSLW with Western
Day and Cowboy BBQ Sandwiches. JU Blacksher School celebrated with a Halloween theme and pumpkin decorating.
CNP Director Julie Autrey says “MES staff went all out and dressed to the occasion along with students and staff. The pumpkin
decorations at JUB were outstanding. I applaud my managers for going all out to celebrate NSLW.”
Good Job Monroe County Schools! Keep up the GREAT work!
Troy City Schools
This flyer from Troy City
Schools invited Parents to
celebrate NSLW!
HOW TO KEEP A HEALTHY SCHOOL YEAR
1. Get Your Elementary School Students involved in Nutrition and Health Lessons
These ready-to-go nutrition lessons for elementary school students are connected to educational standards,
including Common Core. The lessons also include timing and pacing suggestions to help you fit activities
into your class schedule.
• Discover MyPlate: Nutrition Education for Kindergarten
• Serving Up MyPlate: A Yummy Curriculum (Grades 1 – 6)
2. Make your Middle School into a Healthier Middle School
Are your middle school students exploring healthier options? Using a theme of exploration, Nutrition
Voyage is a resource for your students in Grades 7-8 that includes three mini-lessons per grade and reproducible worksheets that connect nutrition education to Math, Science, and English educational standards.
Healthier Middle Schools: Everyone Can Help is a communications kit for Grades 7-8 and includes videos
and handouts for engaging teachers, principals, parents, school nutrition managers, and students in school
wellness efforts.
3. Fill Your Walls with Healthy Reminders
Wall and bulletin board décor is perfect to add brightness and color to your classroom.
Could your students use a reminder about the importance of eating breakfast? Do they
need a little nudge to choose fruits and vegetables for snacks? It only takes a minute to
hang up these colorful posters and bulletin board materials:
• Team Nutrition Elementary School Posters
• Team Nutrition Middle School Posters
• Team Nutrition Graphic Library
KID TESTING FOR NEW BID ITEMS
Last month Melissa Donaldson, CNP Director for Trussville City Schools, shared some insight into the
Product Advisory Committee and how new State Bid items are chosen. Elaine Vaughn, CNP Director for
Russellville City Schools, has shared these pictures of students in her district hard at work testing possible
new bid items. If they pass student testing, they may be added to the state bid.
GET PLUGGED IN TO SCHOOL NUTRITION
Are you a Social Media Butterfly?
We know you are! Check out what districts across the state
of Alabama are posting on social media! Are you promoting
your program through Facebook, Twitter, etc.? Let us
know! Send your social media marketing information to
[email protected].
Sylacauga City Schools
The Pinecrest CNP staff was treated to a wonderful donation from the Vegetation Station school
garden: 50 pounds of sweet potatoes grown and harvested by Pinecrest students! Thanks, guys! We
can’t wait to serve you with the bounty from your garden!
Click here to follow
Sylacauga City Schools
on Facebook!
Pinecrest Elementary School from Sylacauga City School receives “Be Healthy” grants from Blue Cross
and Blue Shield. This $9,6000 grant will provide a source of funds for the school garden known as
“Vegetation Station,” as well as the school’s KidFit program and the morning exercise program. Kid Fit
is an evening of exercise, nutrition education, and activities held twice a year for students and families of
Pinecrest. Sonic of Sylacauga also supports KidFit by supplying bottled water and apple slices.
Here’s an update on Sylacauga’s Child Nutrition MealViewer Mobile App. Discover how Sylacauga
is expanding their nutrition to give parents school food information in the palm of their hands!
Madison County Schools
Click here to follow HGHS Lunch Lady Land on Twitter and see more from Lisa Mullins, Manager at
Hazel Green High School, Madison County.
CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES!
In CNP we know there’s always a reason to celebrate!
Check out these celebrations in schools across our state!
Hoover City Schools
CNP Staff at South Shades Crest Elementary and Superintendent Dr. Kathy Murphy celebrating National Pancake Day!
Cullman County Schools
West Point Middle School Students displaying their artwork in celebration of Farm to School Month
Madison County Schools
CNP Manager Lynn Meagher and her staff
celebrating Halloween with a Spooky Lunch Menu:
Octopus on a Bun
Fresh Graveyard Greens
Monster Mash-ed Potatoes
Baby Pumpkins
Zombie Apple Ooze
Cheese Ghosts
Gadsden City Schools
Gadsden City High School celebrating Halloween with a Spooky Lunch!
Dekalb County Schools
Cruella Devil le and her Dalmatians stopped by for Halloween lunch at Dekalb County Schools!
Students at Big Spring Lake Kindergarten celebrating Fresh Fruits and
Vegetables by sampling and learning about fresh mangoes! (Click here
to learn more about the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.)
A visit from Johnny Appleseed!
What is World School Milk Day?
World School Milk Day (WSMD) is celebrated annually on the last
Wednesday of September. It is an exciting day full of activities that
highlight the health benefits and value of school milk programs.
WSMD is an engaging way to teach students about the importance of
drinking milk as part of a healthy, balanced diet with an emphasis on
milk as an excellent source of vitamins and minerals that
kids need to stay alert and ready to learn.
This year, WSMD celebrated its 16th year. The event is now celebrated in over
40 countries, and continues to grow each year. WSMD brings attention to school
milk and allows all countries to celebrate school milk on the same day. WSMD
is sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Check out how our Alabama Schools celebrated World School Milk Day!
Cullman County Schools
Parkside Elementary Students and Principal Orr celebrating World Milk Day. The students colored pictures
of yogurt, milk, and cheese. The Chick-fil-A cow came out to one school to encourage children to “Drink
Mor Milk.”
Hoover City Schools
Spain Park High School CNP
promoting World Milk Day
Deer Valley Elementary School celebrating World Milk Day
Albertville City Schools
Big Spring Lake Kindergarten, Albertville Primary/Elementary, and Albertville High School celebrating
world School Milk Day. Students, CNP staff, and even the delivery guy joined in the celebration. Students
learned about the importance of drinking milk as part of a healthy, balanced diet with emphasis on milk as an
excellent source of vitamins and minerals that kids need to stay alert and ready to learn. Special thanks to
Kristin Taylor and managers for making this a fun day!
Madison County Schools
Madison County Schools were very busy for World School Milk Day! At Owen’s Cross Roads School, the 3
year olds through Kindergarten and 1st grade through 2nd grade students had a coloring contest, and the 3rd
through 6th grade students had a “milk jingle” contest. There were also “Milk Moo-Stache” photo shoots and a
“Dress like a Cow” contest. Moores Mill Intermediate School invited a “guest cow” (CNP Director Barbara
Haugtvedt) to take milk mustache pictures with the students. There were drawings for prizes for students with
milk on their tray, and in P.E., students played pin the tail on the cow. The CNP staff wore cow aprons and
ears, and Principal Daniel Evans, Jr. wore the cow costume in the bus drop off and car rider line. Even Jarvis,
with Purity Milk got in on the fun and a “cutest calf” costume winner was chosen from each grade. It’s hard to
say who had more fun, the students or the adults!
Dekalb County Schools
CNP Staff and students at Dekalb County Schools celebrating
World Milk Day!
EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Do you need ideas for your Professional Development trainings? Action for Healthy Kids offers a
wide variety of virtual learning opportunities. From
school breakfast programs and recess before lunch to
wellness policy implementation and more. Most sessions are of no cost and available to everyone.
SCHOOL MEALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Have you ever wondered what school meals in other countries
look and taste like? Watch these American kids try school
breakfast and school lunch from around the world. Their reactions are priceless, but seeing what children across the globe are
eating at school is very interesting.
Check it out:
American Kids Try Breakfasts from Around the World
American Kids Try School Lunches from Across the World
SAVE THE DATE
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December 20th—All November claims due
November 16th and 17th—New Director Training Session 2
November 20th—All October claims due
ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEWS
Administrative Reviews for SY 2015-2016 begin November 2, 2015.
To help SFAs prepare for this year’s reviews, the following items are
posted under Financial Management and Compliance on our website:
Administrative Review Schedule
Administrative Review Preparation Guidance
Off-site Assessment Tool School Year 2015-2016
CHILD NUTRITION IN THE NEWS
Alabaster City Schools and CNP Director Heather McDermott received some positive press in an article in the Shelby County Reporter, titled McDermott manages Alabaster School Kitchens, Programs.
On August 24, 2015, Alabaster City Schools began participating in the
At-Risk Afterschool Snack and Supper Programs. In the first six days
of operation, Alabaster City Schools was able to serve 580 snacks and
303 dinners. Check out the article for more information.
Interested in serving At-Risk Afterschool Meals? Check out our
website for more information.
Please send pictures of your activities to: Lita Chatham
Your pictures could be featured in the Next CNP Newsletter!
*A photo release form for any pictures of children sent to ALSDE should be kept on file at the local office*
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race,
color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language,
etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact
USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/
complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To
request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: [email protected].
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