Happy Friday, Vikings!🎉 We’ve made it through another busy week, and now it’s time to kick back and enjoy the weekend! Whether you’re planning to relax, explore, or spend time with loved ones, make sure to take some time for yourselves. You’ve earned it! Here’s to recharging and coming back refreshed for another great week ahead. Enjoy every moment! 🌟

I am delighted to announce a new addition to our School Nutrition Team! After a thorough search and careful consideration of many qualified candidates, we are pleased to welcome Chef Vicente Benites as our Operations Coordinator. Chef Benites brings 24 years of military service with the United States Army, where he served as Food Advisor to the Commander and Staff, managed multimillion-dollar federal budgets, and oversaw numerous staff members while operating kitchens worldwide. Following his retirement, he led various commercial kitchens, including Chick-Fil-A, healthcare facilities, and Food for Thought. Vicente will officially start with us on Monday, and we look forward to introducing him to the wonderful world of School Nutrition. Please take a moment to say hello when you see him around! We’re excited to have you on board, Vicente!

After 30 wonderful years, our long-time GFS driver, John, is retiring, and we can hardly believe it’s time to say goodbye. His weekly visits brought not just our orders, but also laughter and camaraderie that brightened our days. Rob and the entire team will truly miss those moments spent catching up and sharing stories. John, your dedication and warm spirit have left an indelible mark on us all. Wishing you all the best in this new chapter—you’ll always be a cherished part of our GFS family!

Did you know: Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 because it's the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

I recently started my 19th year with Valparaiso Community Schools, and I thought back to the times some of my deliveries did not go smoothly. You just never know what could come between you and your next delivery. The following are some of the stranger, but true, reasons a delivery was late.

1. Three trains at one crossing. One from the East followed by one from the West and then another from the East. I kid you not.

2. An entire pallet of water bottles fell off of a truck and into a roundabout, blocking both lanes. Time for an alternate route!

3. A food transport cart broke free in the truck and bust through a side door, dumping the cart and all of the food in it, onto the parking lot. Did I mention it was Thanksgiving dinner? The entire meal had to be cooked again and delivered.

4. I pulled into a satellite school's parking lot only to be greeted by the Porter County SWAT team arming themselves. Apparently a suspect was in a home across the street in the neighborhood.

5. The strangest delay was because a dead body was found in a public park very near to the school. I had to wait and then reroute my delivery to another part of the school while the authorities did their investigation.

Thankfully, most of my deliveries are free of strange events.

We’re thrilled to announce that Sharon Caguia, our dedicated School Nutrition substitute, is stepping into a permanent position at Flint Lake Elementary School! Sharon's warmth and commitment to providing nutritious meals have made a significant difference in our students' lives. We’re excited to see her continue to nurture and inspire our young learners in this new role. Congratulations, Sharon—welcome to the team!

Parkview Elementary students fueled up for their school-wide walkathon on Friday with a special Walking Taco lunch on Tuesday! A huge thank you to Manager Ashley Taylor and Food Service Technician JP Dolan for making this delicious day possible. Students enjoyed walking tacos loaded with all the tasty fixings—what a fun way to kick off their big event!

September 27, 2024 Half Day K-12 (Regular Work Day)

October 14-15, 2024 Fall Break, No School (No Work)

October 24-25, 2024 Half Days K-8 (Regular Work Days)

November 5, 2024 eLearning Day (Regular Work Days)

November 27-29, 2024 Thanksgiving Break, 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/

Production Lead, TJM, 6.5 hours**NEW**

All VCS employees, whether they have Anthem insurance or not, are eligible to use Immediate Care of St. Mary's Medical Center 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.

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

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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

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