6/23 S.S.T.A.R. - Child and Adult Care Program Newsletter

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 06/23/2025 03:32 PM PDT

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) S.S.T.A.R.: Week of 6/23

Sponsor Spotlight: Celebrating Power Up Your Program's First Year
Update: Mealtime Memo — Cooking with Herbs and Spices
Update: Meal Pattern Minute from the National CACFP Association (NCA)
Farm to CACFP
Important Dates to Remember

Sponsor Spotlight: Celebrating Power Up Your Program's First Year

Power Up Your Program recently finished its first year, and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) celebrated the accomplishments of participants. This 7-minute celebration video offers a taste of Power Up Your Program and highlights some ways participants created nutrition education experiences and enhanced student and family engagement in their programs.

Power Up Your Program is designed for Child Nutrition Programs serving school-age children, including CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Meal Program and Outside School Hours Care Center sponsors. Register now to join the SY 2025–26 or reach out to CNSTraining@k12.wa.us with questions.

Power Up Your Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Update: Mealtime Memo — Cooking with Herbs and Spices

Check out the Institute of Child Nutrition's (ICN) Mealtime Memo for June!

June's edition is all about herbs and spices. Read the full issue to learn more about the nutritional benefits of herbs and spices and how to incorporate them into your menus.

Upcoming Trainings

Basics for Multi-Site Sponsors

Date: August 5 | Mill Creek

Time: 9am–4:30pm

CACFP Oversight in Pre-K Programs

Date: August 5 & 6 | Ellensburg

Time: 2:30–3:45pm

Oversight at Unaffiliated Sites

Date: August 7 | Ellensburg

Time: 9am–3:30pm

Bright Track Courses

Build It Once; Serve it Time and Time Again: Using Cycle Menus and Standardized Recipes
Diversifying Meals in Child Nutrition Programs
All Aboard the Whole Grain Express!

National CACFP Association Webinar

Dip into Summer Fun: Dips in the CACFP - Learn to mix up some summer-inspired creditable dips.

Date: Thursday, July 24

Time: 11–11:30am PT

Update: Meal Pattern Minute from the National CACFP Association (NCA)

In queso you didn't know - only commercial pasteurized queso fresco is creditable in the CACFP.

Check out this Meal Pattern Minute from the National CACFP Association to learn more about this crumbly, fresh cheese.

Great grains! Check out this Meal Pattern Minute all about enriched grains. Learn how grains are processed and enriched.

Questions? Contact your CACFP Program Specialist.

Farm to CACFP

Grant Opportunities

2025–2027 WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grant - Closes July 3, 2025

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Farm to School Purchasing Grant Application for the 2025–2027 school years closes, July 3, 2025, at 5pm PST.

The WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grant is a competitive reimbursement grant supporting the use of Washington-grown foods in child nutrition programs.

For further details, please visit the WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grant webpage.

Harvest of the Summer

To support sponsors using local foods, OSPI is creating Harvest of the Summer resource sheets. Each week in July and August, OSPI will feature one local, seasonal food. The resource sheets will include fun facts, nutritional information, selection and storage tips, recipe ideas, and educational resources/activities.

July's resource sheets will feature carrots, potatoes, onions, blueberries, and bush beans. You can find these, and future Harvest of the Summer resource sheets on our Farm to School webpage.

Submit a Recipe for the Harvest of the Season Initiative

OSPI received a USDA Farm to School Grant to create a toolkit to support sponsors in implementing Harvest of the Month programs featuring 24 Washington-grown foods. Submit your favorite breakfast, lunch, snack, or supper recipe here. Selected recipes will be included in the toolkit, with credit to the sponsor who submitted it, giving you the opportunity to shine and share your culinary creations with a wider audience.

Check out the May 27 Farm to CACFP article for more information.

Important Dates to Remember

August 5	The Basics for Multi-Site Sponsors \| 9am–4:30pm \| Mill Creek
August 5 & 6	CACFP Oversight in Pre-K Programs \| 2:30–3:45pm \| Ellensburg
August 7	Oversight at Unaffiliated Sites \| 9am–3:30pm \| Ellensburg

ALL STUDENTS PREPARED FOR POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS, CAREERS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI oversees K-12 public education in Washington state. Our mission is to provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives.

ADA NOTIFICATION FOR OSPI CHILD NUTRITION SERVICES EVENTS
To arrange accommodations for persons with disabilities for OSPI Child Nutrition Services events, please contact the Child Nutrition Services Team at 360-725-6200, TTY 360-664-3631, or by email, child.nutrition@k12.wa.us at least three business days before the event. Please note that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require OSPI to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES
Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com.

OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200, 360-725-6162 (TTY: 360-664-3631), equity@k12.wa.us.

This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.