Friday Focus
January 28, 2022
SCHOOL NUTRITION NEWSLETTER
Message from the Director
History is fascinating. It is important that we learn from the past (successes and failures) while not living in the past. When was the last time you heard someone say, "We've always done it this way?" According to Forbes, this is the most dangerous phrase in business. It was probably said with good intention, because it generally means "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." While it may be true that something is working, that's no excuse for not trying to make it work better. Candlelight worked to read by, but isn't electricity better? I know that's a little extreme, but you get the point. And speaking of the past, be sure to read the excellent article by Nancy Moore as she remembers how we did things twenty years ago. Below is a wonderful video on the history of child nutrition and I highly recommend you take the time to watch it. Many of you will be surprised by the roots of our programs. #Knowledge is power.
With gratitude,
Kathy
From the Memory of a Manager: Nancy Moore
Think you have it rough? Going back 20+ years these were things we had to do. Could you imagine adding them to your daily routine today?
- Juices (apple, orange, grape) used to come concentrated. We had to add apple juice, mix, and portion it into cups and lid. This wasn’t just for breakfast. We also did this for our breakfast for lunch meal.
- Syrup came in by the gallon. We poured it into pitchers.
- We had conveyor toasters that we toasted bread and bagels on daily. The butter had to be melted first, of course, then brushed on.
- Dressings used to come in dry packets. We had to whip in a stand mixer, pour into pitchers, and fill squirt bottles. (These same squirt bottles took a little extra care washing too!)
- We made our own taco meat using ground beef and spices we premixed ourselves.
- The cheese sauce was made from scratch, beginning with a roux which we had to add milk (which we made from powdered milk) and sliced American cheese to and stir constantly or else it would burn. Students served themselves so you can imagine the cheese sauce that went ALLLLLL over the line.
- We made our own spaghetti sauce from scratch using ground beef and spices we premixed ourselves.
- Lunchmeat came in big rolls which we had to slice.
- When jello was offered, we mixed the dry packages with apple juice (that we had also mixed), chilled, and served.
- And I’ll NEVER forget making PBJ’S! We had to lay out the bread, spread 2 oz! of peanut butter on them and one oz. of jelly and bag them.
- We printed off low/negative lunch account balance letters daily. We had to deliver them to the classroom at the end of the day and HOPE that the teacher handed them out and HOPE that the student gave it to their parent.
- The office manager, Sheryl McQuinn, printed off our order guides and gave them to us. We checked off what we wanted to order with our quantities, turned it back in to her and she entered it.
We’ve come a L-O-N-G way baby!!!!
Administrative Review: Record Retention
Did you know that certain program files just can't be thrown away? Organizations audited by the Indiana State Board of Accounts, Indiana Department of Education, and Indiana Department of Health are required to retain all Child Nutrition Program Documents for a specific length of time. Once it is time to destroy the records, these organizations are required to use State Form 44905 to notify the Porter County Commission that the records are being destroyed. Schools that receive findings/corrective action during an audit might be required to retain records beyond the normal requirements. Most files must be retained for a period ranging from 5 - 10 years. Some items must be kept indefinitely.
National Breakfast Week, March 7-11, 2022
OPEN POSITIONS
Non-employees can apply by completing an online application as an External Applicant here: https://www.applitrack.com/valpo/onlineapp/
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2021-22 Calendar
February 18, 2022 No School (No Work Day unless used as Weather Make Up Day)
February 21, 2022 No School, Presidents' Day (No Work Day)
March 7-11, 2022 National School Breakfast Week
March 21-25, 2022 No School, Spring Break (No Work Days)
April 8, 2022 Half Day for K-12 (Regular Work Day)
April 11, 2022 No School (No Work Day unless used as Weather Make Up Day)
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https://www.valpo.k12.in.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1221036&type=d&pREC_ID=1455849
About Us
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