Weekly School Nutrition Newsletter

02/21/2019

Dear Food Service Contact,

This email provides news for schools concerning the Child Nutrition Programs from USDA and the state. If you are the food service contact for your school or corporation, it is your responsibility to relay important information provided to you about the Child Nutrition Programs to other staff members.


New Resource: Monthly Checklist

  • IDOE has created a monthly checklist for sponsors to use throughout the entire year.
  • This checklist helps provide a breakdown of each month with the requirements and tasks that should be completed.
  • Schools are encouraged to utilize this checklist, along with the Calendar of Due Dates and Weekly School Nutrition Newsletters, to stay up-to-date on tasks and procedures in order to have a successful School Nutrition Program.
  • Find this new checklist on the NEW Calendars and Checklists page on the website.
  • Click here to access the new monthly checklist.
  • Questions? Contact Ashley Heller at aheller@doe.in.gov.

National School Breakfast Week

  • Are you revved up for National School Breakfast Week (NSBW)?
  • Taking place March 4-8, NSBW is designed to show parents, students, and school officials the benefits of fueling up for the day with a healthy school breakfast.
  • The theme this year is Start Your Engines with School Breakfast.
  • The SNA NSBW website has tools and materials you may need to get ready for this event.
    • Click here to access the NSBW website.
  • No Kid Hungry is working to shine a light on the importance of ensuring kids are #PoweredByBreakfast.
    • Click here to access the No Kid Hungry NSBW Communications Kit full of tools, templates, posters, flyers, and images you can use to build awareness for this great week.
  • Success stories or plans for NSBW? Contact Suzette Hartmann at shartman@doe.in.gov.

New Grant Opportunity

  • Give your students a boost in the 2019-2020 school year with a Game On grant, school breakfast grant, or parent-led grant.
  • Receive funding and resources to increase physical activity opportunities, improve nutrition initiatives, or expand breakfast participation to make sure students are healthier and better prepared to learn.
  • Click here to learn more about the grants, and apply before the deadline on April 5.
  • Looking for ideas or more information? Join us for upcoming webinars to learn more about each grant, get project ideas, and discover strategies for writing a successful grant:
  • Questions? Contact Ashley Green at agreen@actionforhealthykids.org

Orientation to School Nutrition Management Registration Now Open

  • IDOE, in partnership with the Institute of Child Nutrition, will be providing Orientation to School Nutrition Management July 8-12. 
    • The target audience of this training includes school nutrition program staff with fewer than five years of experience as a director or those on track to become a director.
    • This training will provide an overview of many topics within school nutrition. 
    • This 4.5 day training will take place in Brownsburg, Indiana on Monday, July 8, through Thursday, July 11, from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Friday, July 12, from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET.
    • Click here for a flyer with more information.
    • Click here to register for this training.
  • Questions? Contact Maggie Schabel at mschabel@doe.in.gov.

IDOE Seeks to Expand the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

  • IDOE is looking for new sponsors, especially eligible schools and qualified community organizations, to participate in the 2019 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
  • SFSP is designed to fill the nutritional gap during extended school breaks and summer months when school is out of session and food insecurity is often at the highest level. 
  • The deadline for applying to become an SFSP location will be here before you know it!
  • For more information about SFSP, click here to visit the SFSP webpage or click here to view IDOE's memo about SFSP.
  • Questions? Contact Tina Skinner at tskinner@doe.in.gov.

Nominate Someone You Admire for a School Nutrition Association (SNA) Award

  • The deadline is quickly approaching to nominate someone you admire for an SNA Award for the 2018-2019 school year.
  • Questions? Contact Sheri Shipp at sheri@indianasna.org.

Missed a Weekly School Nutrition Newsletter? Click here to access previous newsletters!

Please do not reply directly to this email. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this email, please contact Allie Caito-Sipe at acaito@doe.in.gov, call (317) 232-0849, or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20849. You can also contact Ashley Heller at aheller@doe.in.gov, call (317) 232-0544, or toll-free at 1-800-537-1142 ext. 20544.