Friday Focus

March 11, 2022

SCHOOL NUTRITION NEWSLETTER

Message from the Director

St. Patrick's Day is next week and we all seem to be a little Irish on that day. While the Irish may be known for their "luck," success is never sudden or "lucky," it follows years of hard work, trial and error. But, the more you put into your work, the more chances you get at success. Thomas Jefferson is credited as saying, "the harder I work, the luckier I get." Your success comes from being committed and not giving up. You work hard at what you do and you do it well. When Michael Downey from IDOE conducted the Administrative Review, he told our Superintendent in the exit interview that we were the most impressive district he had reviewed! Now that compliment is genuinely earned through your hard work, it wasn't luck. Thank you for finding opportunities to improve, ways to be more efficient, willingness to learn and the kindness that keeps you helping each other.

“May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch to your door, and happiness be your guest today and evermore.” —Irish blessing

With gratitude,

Kathy

Memorial's Clever Promotion

It's not often that you see a 3 in 1 promotion, but Melissa Sabin and her Memorial team brainstormed this incredible idea. They tied in St. Patrick's Day (holiday) with eating a rainbow of colors (nutrition education) and they found a way to use up their fruit roll ups (participation builder). Pretty sure they will set a new record next Thursday. Brilliant!

National School Breakfast Week

NSBW wrapped up today and students were very excited to Blast Off with School Breakfast. You all did an absolutely incredible job! Since pictures are worth a thousand words, take a look below.

Congress did not fund child nutrition waivers

It is disappointing that the spending bill passed by Congress yesterday did not include extending child nutrition waivers. "Waivers" are exceptions to current rules which allow us to operate differently. Unfortunately, Mitch McConnell pulled the language out of the bill before the vote in the Senate. As of June 30, the waivers and flexibilities end. Unless we can urge Congress to fund the waivers a different way, school meals will no longer be free to all, we will lose the increased reimbursement rate and no doubt we will experience participation loss. This will be a devastating blow as we are already suffering from skyrocketing food and supply costs. The saddest part of all, is that families who don't necessarily qualify for free or reduced price meal benefits, but really depend on free meals to stretch their budgets, will lose out. I feel bad for our kids who have eaten more fruit and veggies than ever before. I feel bad for students who are performing better academically because of access to school breakfast. I will not give up and I know I can count on you to continue advocating. After all, we have until June 30 to convince our legislators to find a way to fund the extension of these waivers. Click the link below to FRAC and send an email! Also below is a message from a parent that reminds us just how important our program is to families.

Urge Your Members of Congress to Swiftly Extend USDA's Child Nutrition Waiver Authority

Send an email or social media message through the FRAC Action Network to urge your Members of Congress to sign-on to H.R. 6613, Keeping School Meals Flexible Act, a bipartisan effort to extend the USDA #childnutrition waiver authority beyond the current expiration date of June 30, 2022. [@campaign]

p2a.co

School meal programs face "financial peril" after Congress' spending bill snub, advocates say

A sprawling $1.5 trillion spending bill that would fund the federal government beyond Friday doesn't include special benefits put in place at the start of the pandemic for schools to ensure that every student is fed.

nbcnews.com

'This Is Evil': McConnell Blocking Extension of Free School Lunch Waivers

"Nearly half of Kentucky's children live in households below 200% of the federal poverty line. I was one of them. He doesn't see us," said progressive U.S. Senate candidate Charles Booker.

commondreams.org

Promotion Idea

OPEN POSITIONS

Any permanent employee (including substitutes) interested in any of these positions can apply by emailing a brief letter of interest to Kathy Kane, Director at kkane@valpo.k12.in.us.

Non-employees can apply by completing an online application as an External Applicant here: https://www.applitrack.com/valpo/onlineapp/

FS Tech, Cooks Corners, 3.5 hours

FS Tech, Parkview, 4.5 hours

FS Tech, BF, 4.5 hours

FS Tech, TJM, 4 hours

FS Tech, Flint Lake, 4 hours

FS Tech, Heavilin, 4 hours

FS Tech, VHS, 5.5 hours

FS Tech, VHS, 4 hours