THE HCS CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM

Hello everyone,

This month, there will be some light construction taking place involving of a couple of school cafeterias as part of our district's growth plan. We are also preparing for National School Breakfast Week 2025, which is an annual week-long celebration highlighting the efforts of our Child Nutrition Program staff, in providing breakfast each school day. This celebration emphasizes the importance of breakfast giving students the great start that they need while attending class.

We are excited about the upcoming days and will keep you updated as we move forward. As winter comes to an end, it’s time to prepare for spring. Thank you all for your continued support and participation in our school meal programs.

-H. Ward

“Make each day your masterpiece.” —John Wooden

Positions available:

• CNP Substitute Worker

To apply for a position with Huntsville City Schools, you must complete an online application with the Alabama State Department of Education. Just Click the Link below to start the process

Job openings (hiretrue-prod.com)

To encourage more families to take advantage of the healthy choices available with school breakfast, Huntsville City Schools will celebrate National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) from March 3rd to March 7th, 2025.

Busy weekday mornings make it challenging for many families to find time for a healthy breakfast. Fortunately, Huntsville City schools offer nutritious breakfasts with fruit and low-fat or fat-free milk to ensure students are fueled for learning every school day. Students can get breakfast through the Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) program, receive a Second Chance breakfast for late arrivals or visit the cafeteria before the start of the first class each school day.

The 2025 NSBW campaign theme, “Clue In to School Breakfast,” reminds the entire school community that school breakfast provides a healthy and energizing start to the day for students. By celebrating National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) every year, we’re encouraging all schools to recognize the importance of a healthy start to the day for fueling a child’s academic success.

Did you know children who eat breakfast are more likely to…

• Reach higher levels of achievement in reading and math
• Score higher on standardized tests
• Have better concentration and memory
• Be more alert and maintain a healthy weight

But when the school week gets busy, it’s easy for students to rush out the door in the morning without having a nutritious meal. That’s why school breakfast is such a great option! In fact, students who participate in school breakfast tend to have better attendance rates and fewer behavioral problems.

The School Breakfast Program provides 12 million nutritious breakfasts to hungry children across the country every day. These breakfasts tend to be more nutritious than the average breakfast a child gets from home or a convenient fast-food restaurant.

We conducted a survey among our students to gather their opinions about school meals. Participants had the chance to express their preferences, sharing their favorite meals as well as those they did not enjoy. We would like to thank all of the respondents for providing valuable feedback that will help us in the menu creation process moving forward.

As part of the Huntsville City Schools' 10-year capital plan, the cafeteria at Columbia High School is undergoing an expansion. This project has already begun, and the expansion will enable more students to dine simultaneously while also improving the atmosphere in the seating area where students enjoy their school meals.

CDC: Fewer teens eating breakfast

A CDC survey reveals a decline in healthy behaviors among high school students from 2013 to 2023, with only 27% eating breakfast daily in 2023. The report highlights a decrease in fruit and vegetable consumption and an increase in water intake.

Full Story: The Washington Post (2/3)

Data: Student homelessness surges 25%

Student homelessness increased by 25% from the 2020-21 to 2022-23 school years, with 1.4 million pre-K-12 students affected, according to data from SchoolHouse Connection and Poverty Solutions. The rise is partly due to better identification and outreach, supported by $800 million in pandemic-related federal funds.

Full Story: K-12 Dive (2/4)

RD praises bananas for mood-stabilizing nutrients

Registered dietitian Ali Miller praises bananas as a beneficial fruit for mood stability due to their high vitamin B6 content, which aids in the production of mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Miller points out that bananas also contain tryptophan, an amino acid linked to mood enhancement, and provide additional health benefits such as soluble fiber and magnesium. These attributes make bananas a valuable addition to a balanced diet.

Full Story: MindBodyGreen (2/4)

Child Nutrition (CN) Labeling Program: A voluntary program administered by AMS that evaluates formulations to determine the contribution a serving of a commercially prepared product makes toward the Child Nutrition Program meal pattern requirements. When approved, a label is placed on the end product that states that the product meets USDA specifications and can be credited as a component(s) of the reimbursable meal pattern requirement.

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 responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

Ms. Deanna McRae has been employed with Huntsville City Schools for 6 years. She is originally from Huntsville and has three children: Devynn, Karson, and Ashton. Deanna describes herself as loyal, hardworking, and kind. She has only resided in Huntsville. Before working at Huntsville City Schools, Deanna gained valuable experience at KFC as a manager, where she honed her leadership and team management skills. She also has experience in the Daycare field, where she developed a deeper understanding of child development and nutrition.

Deanna's dedication to her job is unwavering. She cherishes the relationships she builds with her faculty, staff, and students, considering it the most rewarding aspect of her role. She also reveals her unique talent-creating custom paper flowers. When she's not immersed in the world of Child Nutrition, Deanna enjoys quality time with her family. Her favorite getaway is Destin, Florida, and her go-to comfort food is a hearty plate of spaghetti.

Deanna’s preferred music genre is R&B. Deanna says, that if she were not working in the Child Nutrition program, she would be a school teacher. Her hobby is coaching youth sports, and her favorite sport is college football, where she cheers for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.

Deanna's future is filled with exciting aspirations. She looks forward to obtaining her passport and embarking on international adventures. In the next five years, she plans to complete her college degree and transition into a new role as a Physical Education teacher. Deanna's guiding principle in life is 'walk by faith not by sight,' a passage from 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 7 in the Bible that inspires her every day.

"Despite this being Jarquez's first school year in Huntsville City Schools, he has proven himself to be an excellent worker. He learns very quickly and embraces constructive criticism as it relates to his execution of various work assignments. Jarquez is also very punctual and comes to work every single day. His adaptability is evident as he always helps where needed, including operating the point-of-sale. He knows the students by name and communicates very well with the James Dawson community, including speaking Spanish to our Spanish-speaking students."

-Remithia Strickland, CNP Supervisor at James I. Dawson Elem.

"I would like to take a moment to celebrate and give a BIG SHOUT OUT to Ms. LaCreasha Donegan, our exceptional cafeteria manager! Your unwavering dedication ensures that our students receive nutritious and delicious breakfast and lunch every day. Your hard work and commitment truly make a difference in our school community, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you do. Thank you for your passion and continuous support. With sincere appreciation,"

- Sherita Jonier, Principal at Challenger Elementary School

Barbara Hereford 2/1

Dorothy Taylor 2/1

Shanika Sales 2/3

Maria King 2/8

Victoria Johnson 2/15

Julianne Clyburne 2/16

Emily Boucher 2/20

Amanda Jansen 2/20

Stephanie Sanderson 2/21

Ashley Powers 2/23

Roshun Manning 2/29

Sherry Freeman 29 years

Samantha Crutcher 26 years

Nekarla Steele 22 years

Wynona Beshears 12 years

Email: Childnutrition@hsv-k12.org

Address: 714 Bob Wallace Ave. S.W., Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone: 256 428-6955

Website: https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/departments/child-nutrition-program

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