Salutations! I hope you are having a great start to Spring 2021! This month has been filled with celebrations of a couple of the special programs that the HCS Child Nutrition Program enact each day. Both the Child and Adult Care Food Programs (CACFP) and National School Breakfast Program (NSB) have a common goal which is to provide meals to young people all across this country. Bringing these segments of Child Nutrition to the forefront is so important as it educates the general public about the many facets of how school meals are served to children and why it is so necessary for assisting our community. We greatly thank our entire CNP staff and all of our wonderful students who participate in our programs during this month and continue to do so every day during the school year.

- H. Ward

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” – John Holmes

Most of us look forward to springtime, but not to losing the hour of sleep when clocks spring forward.

March 14 kicks off daylight saving time and clocks will be turned ahead one hour. Losing that one hour of sleep can affect productivity, concentration, and both physical and mental health. Fortunately, our sleep experts have some simple tips we can use to help us adjust to the time change. And that can help us minimize the accidents and health problems that are linked to it.

Even though the clock will say 8 a.m., your body will think it's 7 a.m. This can leave you feeling groggy for several days, especially in the morning.

How to cope with daylight savings time?

It's important to keep sleeping patterns the same during the change to daylight saving time. Here are a few tips for doing that:

1. Start getting to bed earlier.

   You can ease your body into the time change by starting your nighttime routine 15 minutes earlier in the days leading up to the start of daylight saving time. This can be especially helpful for small children, who often feel the effects of the time change more than adults. Then, turn your clocks forward Saturday morning instead of Sunday morning. Live your day based on that schedule. Allowing two days, rather than a single day before the start of the week can ease the biological transition (your circadian rhythm) to the new time.

2. Be consistent.

   Wake up at the same time each morning to keep your sleep cycle more regular. This means even on weekends! Although sleeping in can help you feel more rested in the short-term, it causes difficulties falling asleep and waking up during the week. In fact, getting out of bed at the same time every morning is the single best way to improve sleep and wake functioning. A consistent sleep schedule based on a single pre-determined rise time will help you feel more rested throughout the entire year. Getting up at the same time is far more important than going to bed at the same time, though consistency on bedtime is certainly also important. On the first Sunday of daylight saving time, get up at your regular time whether you had a good night's sleep or not. And avoid taking a nap if it’s not part of your typical routine.

3. Enjoy the longer evenings.

   One great perk about spring and daylight saving time is that there is more sunlight in the evenings. Enjoy the natural lighting outside or indoors with your curtains open. Sunlight helps naturally reset your body clock. Letting natural light come into your bedroom in the morning also aids in greater alertness upon awakening.

4. Exercise.

   Being physically active is good for your health and it can help you sleep better, too. Go for a walk or run outdoors during daylight where you are exposed to natural sunlight. But try to avoid working out too close to your bedtime. It’s best if you can allow at least two hours to "cool down" from exercise before going to bed.

5. Be mindful of what and when you eat and drink.

   Eat dinner earlier in the evening to help your body prepare for bedtime. Try to avoid spicy or fatty foods, especially as bedtime is approaching. They can lead to indigestion and insomnia. Avoid caffeine and alcohol later in the day so you fall asleep more easily.

6. Reduce screen time.

   Television, tablets and phones may help you unwind for the evening, but they can stimulate your brain and actually make it harder to fall asleep. Try avoiding hand-held screens and computer displays at least two hours before bed, and avoid television at least an hour before bedtime.

full article at 6 tips to help you spring forward in 2021 | HealthPartners Blog

CACFP Week happens during March 15,2021 to March 19, 2021!
CACFP Week is a national education and information campaign sponsored annually the third week of March by the National CACFP Sponsors Association.
The campaign is designed to raise awareness of how the USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program works to combat hunger.
The CACFP brings healthy foods to tables across the country for children in child care centers, homes, and afterschool programs as well as adults in day care.

Huntsville City School sites that currently participate in the CACFP Afterschool Supper program include:

1. Chapman Elementary/Middle
2. Columbia High
3. Highlands Elementary
4. James Dawson Elementary
5. Lakewood Elementary
6. Lee/New Century Tech. High
7. Jemison High,
8. Robert McNair Middle
9. Martin Luther King Elementary
10. Montview Elementary
11. Morris Elementary/Middle
12. Ridgecrest Elementary
13. Rolling Hills Elementary

Indira Passée 3/5

Remithia Strickland 3/4

Willie Ann Coleman 3/6

Wonda Miles 3/7

Maggie Daniels 3/10

Maria Boyzo 3/11

Jackie Pruitt 3/15

Joyce Blanchard 3/20

Semyra Acklin 3/20

Kim Seals 3/21

Pam Horton 3/21

Elsa Santos 3/26

Brittany Rice 3/27

Luzviminda Arnold 3/27

Bobbie Humphrey 3/28

Paula Elkins 3/28

Joyce Blanchard 19 years

Kim Ferguson 14 years

Keith Cantrell 8 years