Welcome to the school year 2024-2025!

Please see the [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net]OPI School Nutrition Programs Administrative Update Guide for SY2024-25 [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net]  [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net](attached or available on the OPI SNP website [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net]). This packet is full of resources including:

• Program Updates for SY2024-25
• NLSP & SBP Meal Patterns [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net] & Final Rule for School Meal Standards information [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net]
• OPI SNP Staff Directory [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net]
• SY2024-25 SNP Annual Checklist [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net]
• Civil Rights Training Log [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net] [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net](for food service front-facing staff, food service directors, and determining officials, etc. do document their annual Civil Rights Training completion).
• SY2024-25 Household Application [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net] for Free and Reduced Price School Meals
• SY2024-25 Income Eligibility Guidelines [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net]
• Verification Instructions [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net]
• Self-Review: Meal Counting & Claiming System (required for a sponsor to complete each year prior to February 1^st for each meal service type: breakfast and lunch) to ensure proper reimbursable meal counting practices.
• Professional Standards for School Nutrition Staff & Hiring Standards [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net]
• SY2024-25 Training Schedule [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net]: Wednesday Webinars/Fall Workshops
• SY24-25 Adult Meal Price Memo [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net]

Contact your OPI SNP Regional Specialist [u15376568.ct.sendgrid.net] if you need any further resources or assistance.

Thank you for all you do to provide healthy meals to Montana kids!

USDA Foods Shipment 2 Items

Join Montana Crunch Time on October 8!  School nutrition professionals, Registration for Montana Crunch Time is open! This is a great opportunity to include a local food in a taste test or meal this October. Local foods can be found on this Abundant Montana map [abundantmontana.com].  Get ready to win the Crunch Off, Montana! Registration is officially open for Montana Crunch Time, a free statewide event to celebrate National Farm to School Month by Crunching into local foods on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. Crunch into Montana-grown or raised foods including produce, lentils, chickpeas, beef, and more! 🍎🥕🫛  To join in and make your Crunch count, register HERE [montana.qualtrics.com]. After registering, you will be sent a 2024 edition of the MT Crunch Time Guide including sources of local foods, educational activities, recipes, how to promote your crunch, and more! The guide will be sent to registrants this fall.   Learn more about the Crunch and find resources on the Montana Farm to School website and informational flyers attached and in this Google Drive folder. For questions, contact Haley Scott, Montana Team Nutrition, at (406) 994-5641 or Haley.scott1@montana.edu #MTCrunchTime #MTFarmToSchool

National School Lunch Week 2024

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) serves nearly 30 million children every school day. President John F. Kennedy created National School Lunch Week (NSLW) in 1962 to promote the importance of a healthy school lunch in a child’s life and the impact it has inside and outside of the classroom.

#NSLW24 will be celebrated October 14-18, 2024.

New! Reducing Added Sugars at School Breakfast  This new training guide for school nutrition professionals provides information on How To Determine Added Sugars in Foods and Drinks  Menu Planning Tips  New Added Sugars Limits   Tips for Reducing Added Sugars in Recipes  Talking with Families and Caregivers And more!  Available for download today at fns.usda.gov/tn/sbp/reducing-added-sugars [links-2.govdelivery.com].

Nondiscrimination Statement

Spanish-language NDS

The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.