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Mark your calendars—two great national opportunities for school wellness recognition are coming up in April!
When: Week of April 20–24
The Opportunity: Every Kid Healthy Week is a nationwide celebration that supports schools and districts in promoting student wellness through simple, impactful activities that easily fit into the school day. Plan how you will celebrate Every Kid Healthy Week and register for a chance to win a $1,000 mini grant! Your Every Kid Healthy Week activity doesn’t need to be a large-scale event. You can enhance an existing effort or introduce new ideas, like cafeteria nutrition education, taste tests, or family-focused wellness events.
How to Participate: Complete the Every Kid Healthy Week Registration Form
When: Applications due April 14
The Opportunity: Join award-winning schools across the country who are cultivating healthy school environments for students and staff! Schools are invited to apply for up to nine award categories for work completed during School Year (SY) 2025–26. Award categories include “Implementing Local School Wellness Policy,” “Enriching Health Education,” and “Improving Nutrition & Food Access.” Award recipients will receive an invitation to be a part of the virtual Leaders’ Summit and an awardee packet which includes a press release template, social media graphics, a physical banner, and more!
How to Apply: Join the Healthier Generation Action Center and decide which awards to include in your application. Complete actions and upload required evidence before April 14.
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School Meals Monthly Webinar
Next: April 2
Time: 2–3 pm
Register here
Upcoming Trainings Outside of OSPI
Breakfast Without Barriers Webinar Presented by United Way of King County
Date: April 23
Time: 2 – 3 pm
Washington Farm to School Network's Local Food Sourcing Community of Practice Call
Date: March 19
Time: 2 – 3 pm
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Save the date and join the Breakfast After the Bell (BAB) webinar! The webinar will be hosted by United Way of King County (UWKC) and co-presented with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Learn how to use data to drive your storytelling, gain tools to ensure program sustainability, and gather operational best practices.
Breakfast Without Barriers
Date: April 23
Time: 2 – 3 pm
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You see the hard work, value, and impact of your program every day, but families and other community stakeholders often don't have the same opportunity to experience first-hand what happens within the walls of your kitchens, cafeterias, or classrooms. Photos offer a powerful tool to pull back the curtains and show all that your program offers, including the nutritious foods you serve. With a few simple strategies, you can enhance the quality of your photos and ensure they have a positive impact. |
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Important: Before taking identifiable pictures of students or staff, review your Local Education Agency’s (LEA) photo release policies to ensure that you are allowed to use the photos you capture.
For quick photography tips, check out:
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Take Great Meal Photos (video): This 3 minute tutorial from the Georgia Department of Education covers helpful photography tips for composing photos that make an impact.
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How to Compose Photos (pdf): Flip through these seven slides from the Minnesota School Nutrition Association for some key considerations and examples of how to compose appealing photos.
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If you are ready to dive deeper, scan through:
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Food Photography Basics (pdf): This detailed guide from the Texas Department of Agriculture was developed for School Meals programs to help child nutrition staff build skills and engage partners. Use it to involve students in building a photo collection for your program as a class project.
Share your photos in multiple ways to maximize visibility:
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How to Use Photos (pdf): These seven slides from Minnesota School Nutrition Association offer examples of different ways to use your photos.
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Do your current communications give a picture of your program? Look for ways you can incorporate a few high-quality photos on your website, menus, family newsletters, displays, or other marketing materials.
Don’t forget to share your photos with OSPI! Send photos to SchoolMeals@k12.wa.us.
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2026 Spring Dairy West Power Up Pack Grant
We're excited to share information about Dairy West's Spring Power Up Pack Grant.
Power Up Pack grants will be offered more than once per year and provide equipment packages designed to support a mobile serving line, introduce additional menu items, and enhance marketing and promotion efforts to drive participation. The spring application is currently open!
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 Grant Application Open Period: February 23 – March 20
Harvest of the Month
Harvest of the Month resource sheets help LEAs feature seasonal, Washington-grown foods. April's Harvest of the Month is chives. Each sheet includes fun facts, nutrition highlights, selection and storage tips, recipe ideas, and classroom/cafeteria activities.
Access the chives resource sheet on the Farm to School webpage under the "Harvest of the Month" drop-down menu. If you don’t have access to chives near you or want to feature another food item, check out past Harvest of the Month resource pages on the OSPI Farm to School webpage under the "Harvest of the Month" drop-down menu. What local item will you feature this month?
For support sourcing Harvest of the Month items, email farmtocnp@k12.wa.us.
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Sponsor Spotlight
La Center School District Featured in Local News
La Center School District's Nutrition Services team was recently highlighted in The Columbian for its growing Farm to School program, which brings locally sourced vegetables directly to students through classroom tastings and school meal menus. The article showcased how students sampled roasted parsnips and rutabaga. Many students were hesitant, but curious, to try these foods for the first time and noted the roasted vegetables tasted like roasted carrots. Kirby Phillips, the Food Service Director, implemented the Farm to School program ten years ago by working with one farmer. She now collaborates with multiple farmers in the area and has expanded the program to what it is today. Read the full article here.
Local Food Sourcing Community of Practice Call
Join bi-monthly networking calls that bring together school nutrition staff, food producers, fishers, farmers, nonprofits, resource providers, and others supporting Washington Farm to School initiatives.
Local Food Sourcing Community of Practice Call
Date: March 19
Time: 2 – 3 pm
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March 19
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Local Food Sourcing Community of Practice Call | 2 pm
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March 31
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Salad Bars to Schools Grant Applications Close | Apply
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April 2
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School Meal Programs Monthly Webinar | 2 pm
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April 23
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Breakfast Without Barriers Webinar | 2 pm
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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.
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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.
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