13 October 2023/ Issue No. 259

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Administrator Cindy Long served scratch-based pizza to the 3rd graders during lunch on Friday, Oct. 13th. See our Recent Happenings section for more details.

Exciting News! USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Administrator Cindy Long traveled to Rappahannock County for National School Lunch Week on Friday morning, October 13, to visit Rappahannock County Elementary School. RCPS is a recent recipient of FNS’ Healthy Meal Incentive Initiative grant for small and rural school food authorities. The HMI grant was established to improve the nutritional quality of school meals through food systems transformation, school food authority recognition and technical assistance, and the generation and sharing of innovative ideas and tested practices.

Additional guests from the USDA joined Administrator Long: Dr. Patty Bennett (Regional Administrator, Mid-Atlantic Region), Erin Kesler (Senior Administrative Specialist, Office of the Administrator), and Julena Campbell (Director, Regional communications & Partnerships, Mid-Atlantic Region). Special guests from the Virginia Department of Education School Nutrition Program included Bee Thorp (VDOE SNP Farm to School Specialist) and Callie Nickles (VDOE SNP Training and Marketing Specialist). Additionally, RCPS welcomed Tannia Talento, Regional Director, from the office of U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner. Rappahannock County’s Assistant Administrator Bonnie Jewell, Board of Supervisors Debbie Donehey (Chair) and Keir Whitson (Vice-Chair), and School Board Vice-Chair Larry Grove were present to welcome the guests to Rappahannock.

The special guests had an opportunity to tour the picturesque courtyard and see the school garden while learning how RCES will incorporate student-grown herbs and veggies into school meals and how the grant funding will further improve these efforts. Farm to Table students Bentley Broen and Jason Williams shared valuable insight on how the students take pride in their gardens and the care that is given to the plants daily.

After touring the gardens, Administrator Cindy Long joined the cafeteria staff to serve scratch-based pizza to the 3rd-grade students in the lunch line. Once everyone was served, she had an opportunity to visit with the kids, hear the students’ perspectives on school meals, and speak with the cafe staff. The special guests enjoyed dining in the cafeteria and eating the delicious school lunch, including scratch-based pizza, fresh veggies, and locally sourced apples from Thornton River Orchards.

RCPS would like to thank each of today’s special guests for visiting with our Rappahannock family. We are grateful for your support and partnership in enhancing the nutritional quality of school meals.

Our de-stress station is back in the Action Based Learning Lab! Not only does this it promote fine motor skills, students say that coloring on the oversized poster is very calming.

On Wednesday, C2BF hosted a nutrition workshop during the Headwaters After School Enrichment Program. The kids learned about the importance of eating various colorful fruits and vegetables during a "color your plate" activity. Additionally, they enjoyed creating their own Halloween-themed trail mix from almonds, cashews, peanuts, chex mix, dried fruit (raisins, bananas, cranberries), dark chocolate, candy corn, and more! Thank you to Headwaters for providing this fantastic enrichment program for RCES students throughout the school year.

It’s #NationalSchoolLunchWeek and we love our school lunches! Today, the RCHS cafeteria prepared a tasty new, scratch-based menu item, Pasta Primavera with chicken, red bell peppers, and mushrooms. It was served with zucchini, homemade focaccia bread, and a delicious apple crisp. Yum! Students and staff, including Principal Seward, immensely enjoyed the new addition.

Join us for meal prep! We will be making Pumpkin Pie Energy Balls. These tasty treats are packed with protein and are awesome on-the-go snacks. Be sure to register by Friday, October 20th to participate.

If you would like to reserve your spot for this workshop, please complete this GOOGLE FORM by Friday, October 20th. This class is first come, first serve and the form will close at 10 participants. Once closed, we will send you a spreadsheet with ingredient list and quantity. We hope you can join us!

Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Energy Balls

Date: Wednesday, October 25th

Time: 3:45-4:30 pm

Location: Elementary School ABL Lab (Rm 1)

LAST Day to Register: Friday, October 20th

Our popular Hike, Rappahannock community challenge is back! To participate, go on at least one hike during the month of October. Hikes can be done at ANY LOCATION and ANY DISTANCE. Have a favorite trail? Yes, repeating the same trail counts. Get ready to have some fun physical activity while enjoying the beautiful scenery!

PRIZES: We will have two prize drawings; each winner will receive a C2BF hat!

CLICK HERE to learn more and register!

*Registration is required.

RCPS Families-- If you have participated in the POP Bucks Market Bags program and still have left over tokens, be sure to redeem them at the Rappahannock Farmers' Market by November 18th.

RCPS is excited to announce that the Fit Kids Clinic has reopened and is available to all RCPS students and staff. If your child gets sick at school, leaving work is not always easy. Telehealth makes it easier. With your consent, our telehealth presenter, Ms. Goode, will be able to use video telehealth technology to connect your child with a provider at Valley Health. In most cases, your child can be diagnosed without leaving school or you having to leave work. Conditions treated include: asthma, allergies, cough, colds, flu, ear aches, sore throats, fever, headaches, head lice, pink eye, and skin irritations. This clinic saves valuable time (for students and parents) and reduces absenteeism. The clinic is available for all students in grades PreK-12 with parental consent. Parents and Guardians- you can find the necessary paperwork at https://www.valleyhealthlink.com/about-us/school-based-telehealth-visits/

Lace up your shoes and join us for Walking Group on Mondays! This group meets at 3:45 pm at the RCES flag pole. Whether you are competing in one of our physical activity challenges or you would like to get a few extra steps in, we would love for you to come out and walk with us! This group is open to the entire community. Tell your friends or bring them with you!

Focus on finding a physical activity that changes your mood, not just your body. All too often we focus our efforts on changing our body composition. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be a healthy body fat percentage or to lower your blood pressure. However, it takes time and consistency to start enjoying the physical changes. Rather than feeling discouraged in the short-term, try shifting your focus to finding an activity that improves your mood. Whether you are looking to feel more energetic, less tired, or less stressed, the effects of physical activity can enhance your mood in a short amount of time. There is immediate gratification with exercise after all!

Now that the leaves are changing and the weather is cooler, why not enhance your mood with a hike on one of our local trails? Our Hike Rappahannock challenge is currently running throughout the month and it's not too late to register! :) All the details are in our announcements section. Also, two weeks ago I shared some hiking safety tips; CLICK HERE to view.

Check out our featured recipe, Healthy and Easy Pumpkin Soup, in the section below.

As Jackie said in her tip above, it's pumpkin season! This week's recipe comes from The Seasoned Mom and features pumpkins.

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE

RCPS Staff- C2BF invites you to share staff shout-outs to run in our weekly newsletter in the teachers tidbits section. We will run this throughout the semester, so feel free to submit as often as you like. Messages can be signed or anonymous; it's up to you. Let's spread kindness, happiness, and gratitude with positive notes!

CHECK OUT THIS WEEK'S SHOUT-OUTS

• Bethany and Katherine - Thank you for the hours of collecting, interpreting and putting together our students' data. Your work does not go unseen. You are appreciated. Thank you!
• Holly Jenkins should be recognized for being a hard worker who is passionate about her job, AND for being a bright light wherever she goes. She is positive, cheerful, helpful and supportive. Her intentions are always good and her efforts and attitude do not go unnoticed.
• Kylee Wiggins is doing a fantastic job as the new Career Coach. The students like her and she works hard to support them.
• Jacqui Lowe-Barton- You are fabulous! We are so grateful to have you back in Rapp.
• Stephanie Cash is a perfect person to sit at the front office of RCHS. She greets people warmly, is supportive and helpful to all, and is liked and respected by all students and staff. Her smile and patient demeanor put people at ease; she provides a wonderful first impression to all who visit RCHS.
• I would like to give a shout-out to Jenny Kapsa for vibrant, friendly personality and amazing work ethic. Thank you for all you do for our students!
• John Crobb's energy is contagious. He is funny and kind and loves working with our students. We are lucky to have him at RCHS.
• I would like to recognize Karen Ellis, Bethany Bostic and Erica Robinson for creating and leading MyFuture financial literacy activities as a part of the MyFuture program in STEAM. I know that a lot of effort was put into making this happen, and I am very thankful for the time you've put in (and are putting in) to this program. Your efforts, organization skills, and good humor are noticed and appreciated! Thank you! - Jenny Kapsa
• Erica Jennejahn should be recognized for being open to all, easy-going, effective and kind. I am thankful that she is working at RCHS.
• I have to share a special shout-out to Tim Stockdale! His fantastic photography skills and amazing aerial shots have added a vibrant, new perspective to our school social media. I'm truly thankful he is happy to share his talents to help us better showcase our amazing happenings with the community. -Holly
• I'm thankful to Jen Wissinger and Jacqui Lowe-Barton for putting up with my constant questions and requests and for being patient, calm and good-humored. -Jenny Kapsa
• Thanks to Hunter Newman and Ray Atkins for always being helpful, patient and kind. I am thankful for all of the work they do, which is a LOT!
• Amy Newman, Peyton Raiford, Stacey Whitt, and Michelle Berta for all of the behind the scenes work that they do to make our school system function. They are the best!
• Dr. Grimsley should be recognized for allowing teachers and staff to think outside of the box and come up with creative ways educate our students and prepare them for life after high school. She is smart, kind, funny and a constant support of her staff. I cannot imagine our school system without her. She is a fantastic Cheerleader in Charge.
• Julie Banks is a joy to work with. She is positive, helpful and easy-going. I am thankful for her.
• Dani Pond is amazing at what she does, which is supporting RCHS students and staff. She is smart, forward thinking, and hilarious. She is a problem solver and gets things done.
• Kayla Midkiff, you are doing amazing things with C2BF!
• All PTO members deserve a shout out for all that they do for all RCPS students, teachers and staff. The lunches, snacks, supplies, clothes closet, and all of the other goodies and support that they supply are appreciated! - Jenny Kapsa

The winners of this week's FREE salad bar coupon goes to Cecilia Lopiano (RCES) and Sarah Beth Curry (RCHS).

RCPS Teachers-- As a friendly reminder, we have a massive database of brain breaks (PreK-12) and movement games/activities with SOL and content integration ideas (PK-5). CLICK HERE to view the Teacher Resource page. If you prefer, the C2BF team would be happy to come to your classroom and lead a brain break, activity, or even a mindful minute. Email c2bf@rappahannockschools.us to schedule a push-in.