Friday Focus
February 16, 2024
SCHOOL NUTRITION NEWSLETTER
Message from the Director
Last week I featured information about the importance of heart health awareness. I never imagined I would be facing this brutal reality as I rushed my husband to the ER late Saturday night with acute chest pain. He was in AFib (Atrial Fibrillation) which meant blood was pooling in his heart which causes clots and leads to stroke. He also had fluid in his lungs and dangerously high blood pressure. Because of the quick acting and amazing work of the ER team, they administered nitroglycerin, morphine and injected him with Heparin to thin his blood, enabling his heart to move it out. He spent 24 hours in the ER before moving him to a room where he stayed another 3 days until his heart returned to a normal rhythm. It has been a frightening and exhausting week, but I am grateful we recognized the signs and sought immediate attention. Thank you to everyone who reached out and to Ashley, Laura and Jen for keeping things running smoothly while I was a nervous wreck. We have such a great team and I am thankful for all of you!
With gratitude,
Kathy
Advocacy Matters!
Growing Support for Free Meals for All Students
Throughout the country there is a push for Universal Free Meals for All with nearly 40 states and the District of Columbia advancing policies to expand access to no-cost school meals to all students.
During the pandemic, we had a trial run offering free meals and participation soared. Research is clear on the benefits school meals have on learning and are proven to improve student health, well-being, and academic performance. Advocacy is about educating decision makers about the impact of the public policy decisions they are contemplating. It’s about helping them understand how the students and families we care about will be impacted. And it’s about making sure that we aren’t sitting on the sidelines while decisions that would positively or negatively impact our programs are being made. Every voice matters and our legislators need to hear from us. Send a pre-written message here: https://schoolnutrition.quorum.us/campaign/56579/
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Understanding USDA Commodities
We receive two types of federal funding.
1. Reimbursement – By participating in USDA school nutrition programs, we can recover a portion of the cost to prepare reimbursable meals by submitting claims to our IDOE State Agency. The price we charge for meals does not cover the cost and it is critical to our budget to get reimbursement.
2. Entitlement – This is money set aside for a district to use based on the number of meals it served in the prior year. The money can be spent in one of three ways.
Direct Delivery (Brown Box) – On or around November 1 each year, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) releases the “Foods Available List,” and the “Average Material Price” figures. State agencies use these two components to determine which Direct Delivery end items they will make available to their schools.
USDA Foods Processing – Districts can also determine whether they are going to “divert” some of their entitlement dollars to processing USDA Foods. When the Average Material Price is released,
processors that have National Processing Agreements, will share their commodity calculators, so districts can “contract with commercial food processors to convert raw and/or bulk USDA Foods into a variety of convenient, ready-to-use end products.
USDA DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program – Child nutrition programs can stock their menus with a greater variety of fresh fruits and vegetables if they apply their entitlement dollars to the DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.
To make the best decisions on how to spend entitlement dollars, a draft menu must first be formulated for the following school year. Using that menu, the total number of servings for each item can be determined. This pre-planning will ensure entitlement dollars will be spent wisely.
National School Breakfast Week
March 4-8, 2024
National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) celebrates the importance of a nutritious school breakfast in fueling students for success. This special observance during the first week of March celebrates the national School Breakfast Program and the many ways it gives kids a great start every day. Dive right in and celebrate!
Promotions
Some Lunch!
Students at Cooks Corners are reading Charlotte's Web. Manager Amber Cruz is connecting the cafeteria to the classroom by creating a terrific and radiant special menu that Wilbur and Fern would approve of.
Valentine's Day
Students K-12 enjoyed some love on Valentine's Day with a fruit smoothie pop. All kinds of new participation records were set, great job everyone!
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Myth or Fact?
From Ashley
If you're anything like me, when you get home from the store you take all of your fresh produce and just throw it in that drawer in the fridge....right?! A day or two go by and you go to use that produce and it already went bad! What the heck?! Who knew there was an exact science to storing your fresh vegetables and fruit! Did you know apples should always be stored away from other produce because the ethylene gas it produces causes other produce to ripen more quickly?! I found this article from heart.org to be useful in learning the proper way to store fresh produce.
On another note.....one of my friend's sons did a science fair project on storing fresh strawberries in a glass jar with a lid. It sounded odd, but I had to try it. The strawberries turned beautifully red and stayed perfectly ripe for more than a week! I bet they would have lasted longer, but fresh berries do not last long in our home as my daughter LOVES them! Give it a try! See for yourself and thank me later!
https://foodfolksandfun.net/how-to-make-strawberries-last-longer/
Industry News
Coming soon from the Dairy Farmers of America!
Need to Print Your W-2?
Getting ready to prepare your taxes and need your W-2? Payroll has posted your form in Skyward and it's convenient to access and print from anywhere. Follow these easy instructions from Laura.
How to Use Skyward Employee Access
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.
Financial Check Up
Valparaiso Community Schools continually strives to offer and educate staff about our unique and advantageous benefits. One such benefit is our elective retirement savings plan(s) that employees can utilize to help provide financial security at retirement. To ensure you receive information about this benefit, we are pleased to provide you with a newsletter (below) that has been prepared by the compliance administrator for our plan(s), U.S. OMNI & TSACG Compliance Services (OMNI/TSACG). In addition to providing information about our plan(s), OMNI/TSACG also offers a Financial Wellness website that covers areas such as managing personal finances, college funding options, and how to navigate Social Security when the time comes. You will find calculators, videos, and informative content on various topics to help guide you in your planning process.
Free Employee Assistance Program
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
Digital Resources
Open Positions
Non-employees can apply by completing an online application as an External Applicant here: https://www.applitrack.com/valpo/onlineapp/
FS Tech, VHS, 6 hours
FS Tech, Heavilin, 4 hours
FS Tech, BF Middle, 4.5 hours
FS Tech, Central, 4 hours
FS Tech, VHS, 4 hours
2023-24 Calendar
February 16, 2024 eLearning Weather Make Up Day (Regular Work Day)
February 19, 2024 Presidents' Day (No Work Day)
March 4 - 8, 2024 National School Breakfast Week
March 25 - 29, 2024 Spring Break (No Work Days)
2024-25 Calendar
Did you miss an issue of Friday Focus?
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