This monthly newsletter is published in partnership with Iowa Team Nutrition and Iowa Action for Healthy Kids and highlights nutrition, physical activity, and school wellness resources, trainings, funding opportunities, and success stories from Iowa schools working to support healthy habits.

Stay Connected! Iowa Department of Education - Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services

Facebook: @healthyschoolsIA  Twitter: @IAhealthyschool E-mail: schoolmeals@iowa.gov

Food Waste Minimization Tool-Kit

Iowa Dept. of Education and Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources partnered on a pilot project in eleven schools that included onsite waste sorts and assessments and the development of a tool-kit. Best practices and lessons learned are included in this resource to assist schools in food waste reduction efforts.  Food Waste Reduction in School Meals

Iowa Ag in the Classroom $200 Sub-Grants

The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation in partnership with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is offering grants up to $200 to support the integration of agriculture into classroom or after school programs. Grants can be used to fund innovative lessons, activities, classroom resources, guest speakers, outreach programs, field trips and other projects. Eligibility •Preschool-12th grade teachers or librarians •Project must take place between January 15 and June 1, 2018 •Applications due by January 10, 2018. For more information visit the IALF webpage.

MyPlate Electronic Message Presentation

Share nutrition education messages electronically! Upload this video on a digital monitor in a cafeteria, in the main office or hallway for viewers to learn about MyPlate and ways to eat healthy.  MyPlate 5 Food Group Video

Congratulations to Mark Jungmann!

Mark Jungmann, Physical Education teacher at North Polk West Elemenrary School, was selected as the Central District Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America. The Central District is made up of nine states in the Midwest region. Check out our article from our visit last spring, "It's not just a PE class, but a classroom full of possibilities."   Follow Mark on Twitter: @NorthPolkWestPE

Preparing for an Administrative Review

The School Nutrition Administrative Review takes place every three years and focuses on areas defined by the United States Department of Agriculture. Areas include: benefit issuance, meal counting and claiming, meal pattern, nutritional quality, resource management, wellness policy, food safety, procurement, and professional standards. School Food Authorities must be meeting program requirements at all times; therefore, it is never too early to get organized and review your program to ensure compliance. Iowa Department of Education has created a collection of resources to assist in preparing for a review. Preparing for an Administrative Review Webpage

Resources to Remember!

Bulletin Boards and Signage  - One stop shop for ideas from Iowa schools for bulletin boards, signage, electronic message, murals, and wall quotes that can be used throughout the school  to support the school wellness environment. School Wellness - A local school wellness policy is a written document that guides a local education agency's efforts to establish a school environment that promotes student health, well-being, and ability to learn. Find a collection of resources to support school wellness policy implementation. Communication Tools - Resources to help school nutrition programs communicate effectively with the school staff, parents and the community about the needs and value of school meals.

HealthierUS School Challenge Award Schools

The HealthierUS School Challenge Award is an initiative recognizing schools enrolled in Team Nutrition that have created healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity. We have been busy celebrating Iowa schools that are excelling in school wellness! 

Camp Kesem - Children Affected by a Parent's Cancer

Camp Kesem - University of Iowa is offering a free summer camp program for children affected by a parent’s cancer this coming summer for children ages 6-18. Camp will be held at Camp Little Cloud in Epworth, Iowa and will be staffed and managed by student volunteers from The University of Iowa. The camper application will open to the public on January 15th, spots are limited and will fill up fast. To those who are interested, contact Iowa.outreach@campkesem.org.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are pro- hibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for bene- fits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter ad- dressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the com- plaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.