'Tis the season for baking! Holidays and baking go hand in hand, but did you know it helps you in other ways? Baking reduces stress and anxiety levels and improves concentration and self confidence. It stimulates all five senses and requires you to stay in the moment, paying attention to detail. Baking skills combine science and art, forcing you to read the instructions clearly and follow them accurately. So while you perfect your baking, you also train your mind to read, understand, and follow instructions. Your confidence soars when you receive compliments on the finished product. Best of all, you can pass recipes down from generation to generation, creating a family tradition and sense of purpose. I think of how every Thanksgiving I make pies using my Grandma's "top secret" pie crust recipe. I have very fond memories of her teaching me and to this day, I still form the dough by mixing it with two forks, instead of using my KitchenAid stand mixer and dough hook. It makes me feel close to her. At Christmas, I make her cheesecake and remember to "watch it like a hawk" in the oven. Why not create new traditions this year and partner with someone special for a baking project?

P.S. I'm available for taste testing. 😊

With gratitude,

Kathy

The earliest known pastries were made by the ancient Egyptians. They baked cakes made from wheat and honey, often flavored with fruits and nuts. These cakes were baked on hot stones and were likely the first known example of baking.

Ginger contains vitamin C, magnesium and potassium, which are all valuable to your health. But ginger’s secret weapon is one of its natural oils: gingerol. Natural oils give ginger its unique flavor and smell, and gingerol — ginger’s most important oil — has powerful medicinal properties. It reduces inflammation, works as an antioxidant, improves blood sugar regulation and offers numerous other benefits to your health. Ginger is easy to incorporate into your diet — and a little goes a long way. Peeled, fresh ginger can be sliced, diced or shredded to use in recipes. But you can also find ginger dried, powdered, or as an oil or juice. Just keep in mind that fresh ginger offers more gingerol than dried or powdered ginger. Fresh, unpeeled ginger lasts in the fridge for up to three weeks. If skin looks wrinkled or moldy, it’s time to toss it. If you don’t plan to use it right away, peeled ginger root can be frozen. Read more about ginger here.

The November MPLH numbers are in and I am amazed by the continued growth in participation! Shoutout to Cooks, Memorial, Heavilin and BF. As the district's schools with the lowest free/reduced rate, they have had to work harder to build participation and the results are impressive. Nicely done!

What is it about cookies that's made people love them for centuries? Maybe it's nostalgia - people often associate cookies with childhood memories and baking with loved ones, creating a sense of comfort and happiness. Maybe it's portability - cookies are easy to grab and eat on the go. Or maybe it's because cookies can be customized to your personal preference. Check out the recipes below, including one for a sugar cookie bar. Maybe you'll find your next favorite cookie.

Big shout out to Samantha Douglass, Deputy Treasurer for VCS, for meeting with us to determine best practices for record retention and destruction. The Indiana Archives and Records Administration (IARA) governs which records we must retain and for how long. Record categories and retention schedules are always changing and we need to be sure our files are in compliance. Laura and Jenn are working on a labeling system for our file boxes which will make destruction easier. Sam provided great guidance and yes, that is a halo over her head. 😇

The CN label is the gold standard for verifying the meal pattern contributions of processed products and provides a warranty against audit claims when the product is used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. CN-labeled products are processed under a quality control plan administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service or Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seafood Inspection Program. Only food products that contribute a minimum of 0.50 ounce equivalent (oz eq) meats and meat alternates (M/MA) are eligible for a CN label. Program operators are not required to offer processed products with CN labels.

Are you looking for ways to earn more Professional Development hours? Lydia Andrejevich, from our IT Dept., has put together an opportunity for us to enhance our knowledge of cybersecurity awareness while we earn some professional development hours. The KnowBe4 program is an excellent way to learn about current cyber threats and how we are able to protect ourselves against them. It's a practical way to stay informed about the latest phishing tactics and cyber threats. It's also a quick, easy and fun way to earn some Professional Development hours and see what the latest cyberbullies are trying to trick you into. Make sure to keep an eye out for Lydia's email and take advantage of the training she is making available to you. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email Lydia, she is always happy to help. While the training is optional, if you do complete it, turn in your certificate to Jenn Funk.

*I was rushing to get ready and accidentally sprayed myself in the mouth with Axe body spray. Now I speak with an Axe scent.

*My wife called me from her job at the velcro factory. She's stuck at work.

*If you're afraid of Santa, you're claustrophobic.

*I'm reading a book about school truancy by Marcus Absent.

*If it weren't for Romans or Venetians, it would be curtains for all of us.

Luda celebrated National Cookie Day on Tuesday. This little promotion sparked enormous joy!

Rachel Pitt, a talented pastry chef in her own right, is promoting career awareness and pastry treats to Central Elementary students.

Please welcome our newest substitute, Sharon Howe. She brings over 20 years of Northwest Porter Hospital dietary experience with her. She has a well rounded understanding of this business and knows how to hustle! Her favorite part of the job is interacting with customers. She is also Shelley Clark's baby sister (great food service DNA)! Sharon's "hobby" is being her 14 year old granddaughter's biggest soccer cheerleader. Welcome to the family, Sharon, we're glad you're here!

Now that the Holiday season is upon us, I usually sit back and think of all the great foods that I grew up eating. While we all grow up eating different things depending on our culture, I would like to think that most of us have some great home cooked meal memories during the Holidays that we shared with loved ones. I have always been the kind of human being that loves to share family recipes and never ashamed to try new ones either. Please be mindful and have the courage to try other foods from other cultures, you may be surprised as to how much you may love the new flavors from other countries. Dare to be different and expand your palate!

December 19, 2024: Half Day K-12 (Regular Work Day)

December 20, 2024: No School (No Work unless Weather Make Up Day is called)

December 23, 2024: January 3, 2025 Winter Break, No School (No Work Days)

January 20, 2025: Martin Luther King Day, No School (No Work)

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, TJM, 4 hours

FS Tech, VHS, 6 hours

Production Lead, TJM. 6.5 hours

Cafe Manager, TJM, 7.5 hours***NEW***

All VCS employees, whether they have Anthem insurance or not, are eligible to use Powers Health Immediate Care for non-life threatening emergencies. The visit is free for employees with Anthem insurance and $93 for employees without Anthem. Considering that the average ER visit in Indiana costs $1,618.00, this may be a good option for you and your family. Read more below and contact Haley Jones, Benefit Assistant at ext. 1136 if you have questions or need more information.

Powers Health Immediate Care Center located at 3800 St. Mary Drive is no longer be an Urgent Care Center and has closed. Patients seeding medical attention for non-life threatening illnesses and injuries may still receive services at Powers Health Immediate Care located at 1451 W. Morthland Drive, Suite D, Valparaiso. This is the ONLY Powers Health location in Valparaiso.

All other services at the Valparaiso Health Center (3800 St. Mary Drive) remain open. Please call 219-286-3700 for updated facility hours. Powers Health is expanding services for patients seeming emergency care. The St. Mary Medical Center Emergency Department will open on December 1, 2024.

Do you need help or a refresher on how to log in to Skyward Employee Access? The file linked below will take you step by step (with pictures) through this easy process. You need to be able to log in to Skyward Employee Access to request time off, print your check or tax forms. When you view your check, you should review the deductions and be sure they are correct based on what you chose during your enrollment appointment with American Fidelity.

Your Perspectives EAP is here to provide confidential, no-cost support for you and your family 24/7.

• Call or text 800.456.6327 to schedule an appointment with a counselor or contact us for in-the-moment support.
  

• Use the “Live Chat” feature on your Perspectives Online Portal to instant message with a counselor 7 a.m.-9 p.m. CST Mon.-Fri. (Remember to use your unique Access Code, and your Password is perspectives

Resources

• Grief Handout
• Stress Response Guide
• Collective Trauma & 10 Tips for Coping

Past issues of Friday Focus are posted on our department website on the Staff Training page here:

https://www.valpo.k12.in.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1221036&type=d&pREC_ID=1455849

.

Our mission is to support academic and lifelong success by nourishing students and building healthy eating habits.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Email: kkane@valpo.k12.in.us
Website: https://www.valpo.k12.in.us/apps/pages/nutrition
Location: 2727 N. Campbell St., Valparaiso, IN 46385
Phone: (219) 531-3050
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValpoSchoolFood
Twitter: @ValpoSchoolFood

.