THE HCS CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM
NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2021
DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
Hello Everyone! We would like to welcome back our great staff, students, faculty, and administrators as we start another awesome school year. The last year was filled with so many challenges and obstacles but we persevered as a district. We believe that this year will be filled with promise and positivity as we continue to navigate through the pandemic and work to keep everyone as safe as possible. We appreciate the support of our HCS community and the numerous families that we are able to assist with nutritious meals. This school year will be another meaningful journey and we look forward to embarking upon it with all of you.
- H.Ward
Inspirational Quote of the Month
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
― Barack Obama
ANNOUNCEMENTS!
CNP is NOW HIRING!!
CNP Worker
- CNP Supervisor
We Appreciate The Child Nutrition Program Staff!
10 Back to School Ideas That’ll Get Your Kids Excited
Are your kids bummed about the end of summer? These back-to-school ideas will get them excited to go back.
Ah, back-to-school time. No matter your kid’s age, the transition back to the classroom can be a tough one, even if you spring for a new backpack that looks like a unicorn. And if your kids are doing virtual learning this fall, the transition may have a few extra challenges. Here are some back-to-school ideas that your kids will actually be excited about.
1. Create a Back-to-School Survival Kit
Hair shampoo (mask, conditioner, face cream, sunscreen lotion) and hairbrush in the small make-up pouch. Top view, copy space.
Get a small container—like a pencil box or a zippered makeup bag—and fill it with things that you think your kid might find helpful or comforting when they head back to class. Depending on their age, your back-to-school kit might include things like gum or candy, fun pens, and pencils, stickers, a hairbrush, lotion, lip gloss, hand sanitizer, a stress ball, a few dollars for the vending machine or an encouraging note from mom or dad. If you’ve got a groaning teenager on your hands, try swapping out the kiddie goodies for snacks, gum, mini lotion or hand sanitizer, a water bottle or a gift card to their favorite fast-casual restaurant.
2. Go on a Back-to-School Shopping Trip
This is a surefire way to get your kid excited to go back to school. (Because what kid wouldn’t love to get brand new clothes and school supplies?) Make sure you don’t leave the house without a list of the essentials (especially for dorm room shopping!).
Psst—Add these back-to-school snacks to your list for your little ones.
3. Bake Up a Batch of Treats
Saying goodbye to summer and hello to the classroom (or dining room table) can be a tough transition, but luckily, there’s nothing that a batch of back-to-school cookies can’t fix! If a tray of cookies greets your students when they walk through the door, there’s a good chance they’ll forget all about that first-day homework assignment.
Don’t forget about those college students! Send them a care package treat.
4. Pick Up These Picture Books
Back-to-School Idea Best For: Elementary Students
For younger kids, reading picture books about the first day of school can help squelch some of their fear and anxiety. After all, if the Pout-Pout Fish isn’t scared, there’s no reason they need to be. Good picks include: First Day Jitters, The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School, The Night Before Preschool, Kindergarten, Here I Come or The Kissing Hand.
5. Prepare Yummy School Lunches
Break from tradition for the first week of school. Sure, PB&J in a brown bag is all good and fine, but to make your kiddo feel extra special, pack some of their faves for lunch—spinach turkey pinwheels, peanut butter pitas or pizza wraps. Hungry for more? Try our favorite lunch box ideas. Or if your kid is old enough, have them whip up their own lunch (like one of these easy recipes they can make themselves!)
6. Carve Out a Kid Cave
Anybody who’s ever picked up a grumpy kid from school knows they need some downtime after a day of rules to unwind. The first week back might be kind of stressful for your kids, so providing them with a spot simply for relaxing might do the trick. This could be as simple as creating a cozy fort and gathering some new books, a juice box, and one of these yummy snack ideas.
7. DIY a Portable Homework Station
A SIMPLE HOMEWORK CADDY
COURTESY CLEANMAMA.COM
Blogger Becky of Clean Mama had the great idea to create a homework station out of a Target cutlery caddy. Fill canning jars with homework essentials—like pencils, markers, a ruler, and stickers. You could even put some energizing snacks in one cup, like this granola trail mix, to help keep the brain fueled up and ready to conquer algebra. You’ve got to check out these at-home classroom products, too!
8. Decorate Back-to-School Essentials
iBayam Journal Planner Pens Colored Pens Fine Point Markers Fine Tip Drawing Pens Porous Fineliner Pen for Bullet Journaling Writing Note Taking Calendar Coloring Art Office School Supplies, 18 Colors
Add a personal touch to lockers, planners, notebooks, and binders. Middle schoolers will love creating collages of photos and stickers onto their school essentials. Try out a more sophisticated look for high school or college kids by using washi tape and decorative felt pens.
9. Make a Back-to-School Craft
Back to School DIY projects
Make a back-to-school craft for homeroom or their dorm room! Middle schoolers will love these washi tape pencils, high schoolers will stay organized in style with these homemade pocket folders and your college student will use this hanging paper organizer daily. Make them as a gift or send these ideas to your kid to make on their own.
10. Sign Up For School Activities and Organizations
Looking for another way to get your older kids excited to go back to school? Have them sign up for school sports, activities and organizations! If your teen (or pre-teen) is heading into middle school, high school or college for the first time, have them do a little extra research before their first day so they can have a good idea of which clubs they’d like to join. College students can do a little digging on their college’s website and social media pages for ideas, too.
Amanda KippertAmanda Kippert
Christina HerbstChristina Herbst
Updated: Aug. 25, 2021
We Are Back In School!!
DID YOU KNOW?
A recent School Nutrition Association survey of school districts across the US reported an 85% growth in school meal participation since pandemic-related closures, and USDA waivers put in place have allowed students to eat off-site and have waived income thresholds to receive the food. The current waiver is set to expire in June 2022, but California recently passed a statewide budget plan that includes universal school meal funding and federal legislation is being considered in Congress to establish a national universal meal program.
- USDA seeks input on schools' "Buy American" rules
The USDA will review its "Buy American" provisions for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The department is asking for public feedback on the provisions, including how they are implemented and what support might be needed.
CNP EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Mrs. Janice Maples, Challenger Elementary/Middle School
Mrs. Janice Maples has been with the Child Nutrition Program (CNP) at Huntsville City Schools for 19 years. She is originally from Huntsville, Alabama. Janice has two children named Ernie and David and she has six grandchildren named Amber, Dawn, David Tucker, Maddie, Precious, and Passion. Janice also has two Great Grand Children named Keelie and Lorelie.
Janice describes herself as a person who is not very outgoing, and some would say she is shy. She puts her family and her church before anything. She loves working at Huntsville City Schools and feeding the children. Janice has also resided in Madison, Alabama in past years. Prior to working at Huntsville City Schools, Janice was employed doing private patient care, and in fast food which includes Burger Chef, and Chick-fil-a. She also was employed at Automatic Electric.
Janice says that she loves her job in CNP as it entails feeding the children and knowing that no child goes hungry which means the world to her. Also, when the children give her a hug or a smile it makes her feel loved. When Janice is not working she likes to attend church, go bowling with her friends, cooking, watching cooking shows, and going shopping.
Janice states that she is motivated to work in CNP by her family and feeding the children. The highlight of Janice’s career was being known as a good baker and a good cook. Her favorite food to eat is steak and shrimp. She expresses that she is really good at making and decorating cakes. Janice’s favorite music is Motown songs and 70’s music. Janice loves to work in Child Nutrition because it is a good job and the relationships she has with her coworkers. She also does baking & rummage sales for her church and feeds the mentally challenged adults at a facility called Our Place every Thanksgiving in her spare time.
Janice explains that if she were not in Child Nutrition then she would be solely taking care of her grandchildren and her family. Her favorite hobby is cooking, and she feels that CNP is important because there are so many children that don’t know where their next meal is coming from. She also believes that you can’t teach a hungry child. CNP also gives her the ability to give a smile or hug to the children to let them know someone cares for them. Janice’s favorite sport is football where she cheers for the Alabama Crimson Tide. She hopes one day to be able to travel freely and spend more time with her family. Janice defines success as completing the tasks at hand and being the best that you can be.
Location: Challenger Elementary School, Chaney Thompson Road Southeast, Huntsville, AL, USA
Welcome To The Team!
Monshell Acklin
Kembra Atkins
Nelly Fomby
Brandi Freeman
Tomesha Jones
Wanda Kimbrough
Rebecca King
Crystal Majors
Millicent Steere
Sylvia Townsend
Maya White
Special Recognition and Thank You!
Excellent job ladies!!!
BIRTHDAYS
Connie Harper 8/1
Diann Bentley 8/19
Kim Riley 8/20
Lamanda Thompson 8/22
Pam Majors 8/27
SERVICE ANNIVERSARIES
Rhonda Butler 24 years
Emily Battle 23 years
Joyce Collier 22 years
Patricia Fletcher 22 years
Rene Beasley 20 years
Janice Maples 19 years
Vertricia Burgess 17 years
Lashunda Freeman 16 years
Tarsha Hudson 16 years
Janet Sharp 16 years
Patricia Jefferson 16 years
Gladys Hassan 15 years
Jackie Pruitt 15 years
Diann Bentley 9 years
Ron Ryce 3 years
Elsa Santos 3 years
Maria King 3 years
Luz Arnold 3 years
Michelle Hill 3 years
Amanda Jansen 3 years
CONTACT US!
Website: https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/departments/child-nutrition-program
Location: 200 White Street Southeast, Huntsville, AL, USA
Phone: 256 428-6955
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/huntsvillecitycnp
Twitter: @HUNTSVILLECITY1