Friday Focus

October 7, 2022

SCHOOL NUTRITION NEWSLETTER

message from the director

Congress enacted The National School Lunch Act in 1946 to permanently authorize the program. The act was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. Every five years, the Act must be "reauthorized" to establish new funding amounts and update or change regulations. I'm proud to have served this program 32 of the 76 years it has been in existence and I know you are proud of your involvement, too. More than 101,000 schools across the country operate NSLP and over 30 million children are fed daily. Celebrating National School Lunch Week is an opportunity to show just how much the program has evolved. Nutrition regulations improve with every reauthorization, and a Tufts University research study underscores this with its findings that school lunch is the healthiest meal American children eat. This is also a week to celebrate you and your tireless commitment to operate an outstanding program that proudly serves 1 million meals each year to the children of Valparaiso. You, personally, are making a very positive impact on their health!


With gratitude,

Kathy

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Celebrate NSLW 70s style

Embrace your inner hippie and celebrate NSLW by honoring the 70s theme, "Peace, Love and School Lunch." Need inspiration for groovy music to play during service? Check out the oldies playlist below. Dress the part. You can print off coloring and activity sheets for your students by clicking here: https://schoolnutrition.org/resource/national-school-lunch-week-2022-activities/

I can't wait to see what you will come up with! Don't forget to take pictures, I love to brag about you!

Top Hits Of 1970s - 70s Greatest Hits Oldies Classic - Best Oldies Songs Of All Time

Study finds healthiest meals are at school

Tufts University published a research study that concludes schools are now the single healthiest place Americans are eating. Whether you are buying food from a grocery store to eat at home, eating out at a restaurant or eating meals at school, highest nutritional value was found in school meals. Yay, us! You can read more here: https://now.tufts.edu/2021/04/12/study-finds-americans-eat-food-mostly-poor-nutritional-quality-except-school
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School Surplus Auction

Bidding is now open for the VCS online auction and will close at 5:30 pm on Monday, October 10. Successful bidders must pick up their items on Tuesday, October 11. Check it out by clicking on the box below. There are a lot of catering items you might be interested in for your personal use that will probably go at unbelievably low prices.

VHS Servery Makeover

The serving area at VHS is *finally* getting a facelift. Click on the "FOOD Walkthrough" box below for a 3D video rendering of the space. VHS staff will once again be challenged with construction as the serving area will be closed from Spring Break until Fall 2023. Temporary serving areas will be set up in hallways and the cafeteria to feed 2,100 students. Food will need to travel from the kitchen to these remote areas. We need everyone's help in brainstorming the logistics of this enormous project. All ideas are good ideas!
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Great Lakes Great Apple Crunch

Also on Thursday, October 13, Indiana and other great lakes states will celebrate the Great Lakes Great Apple Crunch. Schools in Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa will serve local apples on that day. Our K-8 menu features apple slices on this day, produced locally just 3 hours north of Valparaiso in Shelby, Michigan.

digital resources

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, 5.5 hours

FS Tech, Parkview, 4.5 hours

FS Tech, BF, 4.5 hours

FS Tech, TJM, 4 hours

2022-23 Calendar

October 10-11, 2022, Fall Break, No School (No Work)

October 20-21, 2022 Half Days K-8 (Regular Work Days)

November 8, 2022 eLearning Day (Regular Work Day)

November 23-25, 2022 Thanksgiving Break, No School (No Work)

Check out myschoolmenus!

You can also download the free myschoolmenus app!

Did you miss an issue of Friday Focus?

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

About Us

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



This institution is an equal opportunity provider.