You are here

School Nutrition Bulletin 2324-23

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Announcements from the WI DPI School Nutrition Team (SNT)

Updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

 

Attention Food Industry Partners: The newly revised Child Nutrition (CN) Labeling Manual is now available online!
 

The CN Labeling Manual provides food manufacturers with instructions on how to apply and obtain approval for a CN label. It also contains instructions for calculating the contributions of meat, meat alternate, poultry, and seafood products make toward the Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) meal pattern requirements. The revised CN Labeling Manual combines three existing manuals into one comprehensive resource with updated information.

A CN label is approved by USDA and provides a way for a manufacturer to demonstrate how a processed food product contributes to the meal pattern requirements in CNP.

In addition, food manufacturers and CNP operators can find other CN label-related resources at the CN Labeling Program Website, which includes policy guidance and technical assistance.
 

February is National Snack Food Month: Nutrition Education Connection
 

Team Nutrition has resources for kids and parents for healthy snacking:

USDA Child Nutrition Program operators can request free printed copies of certain Team Nutrition Materials, while supplies last.

Updates from the DPI School Nutrition Team

 

AmeriCorps Farm to School Program: Site Host Notice of Intent to Apply Now Available!
 

Notice of Intent to Apply: Due March 25, 2024

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is accepting applications for new and continuation partner sites across Wisconsin for the 24-2025 grant year in anticipation of receiving AmeriCorps Farm to School Program funding in the 24-2025 grant cycle. Through an AmeriCorps (AC) grant, we can offer the AC Farm to School (F2S) Program to communities around Wisconsin.
 

What is AmeriCorps?
AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages over 80,000 members in service each year to solve pressing national problems through direct service and by mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve. Members gain valuable professional, educational, and life benefits while having a lasting impact on their community.
 

What is the AmeriCorps Farm to School Program?

The AC F2S Program provides an innovative approach to building healthy communities through:

  • Improving child nutrition through the implementation of educational F2S activities for students and families. These activities encourage healthy eating choices within an educational setting.
  • Developing strong communities by creating future community leaders and connecting schools with local farmers and food businesses.
  • Increasing the capacity of communities all over Wisconsin to support sustainable F2S programs that encourage healthy behaviors and improve the school food environment.

Program Outline: Through an AmeriCorps grant, DPI can offer the AC F2S Program to communities around Wisconsin. With the support of their host site, AC members will serve to meet the following program performance measures:

  • Teach 4K-12th grade students a series of nutrition lessons that cover the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for Nutrition.
  • Educate students’ parents through take-home activities including a monthly educational newsletter.
  • Administer surveys to determine the program impact on student nutrition knowledge and willingness to try fruits and vegetables.
  • Implement a minimum of three components of F2S to at least two different schools:
     
    • Local Procurement Educational Documents: Create and share at least five different educational documents on local food procurement with a school’s food service director.
    • Local Food Taste Tests: Introduce local foods through taste testing activities.
    • Menu Local Food Items: Incorporate local foods as menu items in a federal school meal program.
    • Farmer Engagements: Engage local farmers in educational F2S activities (e.g., classroom presentation, farm field trip, school garden work, etc.).
    • School Gardens: Help build or maintain a new garden or spend at least 180 minutes with students doing school garden activities and use the produce grown for taste tests, school meals, or donation to community members
  • Promote the Wisconsin Local Foods Database to local producers and school nutrition directors through help with a statewide webinar and by handing out brochures/flyers to local farmers in their community.
  • Encourage local farmers and producers in the community to join the Wisconsin Local Foods Database.
  • Participate in or establish a F2S Task Force including at least five community members to promote program involvement and sustainability.
  • Participate in or plan at least five community events to promote the host site’s F2S program and build community support.
  • Train and support a sustainable base of volunteers to support program activities.
  • Participate in trainings and required program reporting and data collection.
  • Participate in AmeriCorps Week.

Each partner host site will be eligible to apply for one to four part-time or full-time AmeriCorps members who will serve as Farm to School Specialists. Host sites requesting a single half-time member are not exempt from completing all the program components. We strongly encourage host sites to apply for at least two half-time or one full-time member(s) to ensure a well-rounded program with multiple components.

For more information on the application process, program information, site expectation, goals, and more. Please contact Kara Ignasiak at 715-214-6080 or kara.ignasiak@dpi.wi.gov.

Timeline:

March 25, 2024 - Notice of Intent to Apply Due to DPI

April 12, 2024 - Host Site Application Due to DPI (this will be sent to you once the Notification of Intent to Apply is received)

April 13 to May 2, 2024 - DPI Application Review Process

May 3, 2024 - Target Date for Grant Award Notification

May through August 2024 - Host Site Member Recruitment and Onboarding

August 15, 2024 - Program Implementation

Other Updates and Information

 

First Nations Studies 2023-24 Webinar Lecture Series: Food Is Medicine: An Indigenous Perspective with Elena Terry
 

Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Time: 4:30 - 6:00 PM - Zoom conference opens at 4:00 PM
Pre-registration is required: Register in myQuickReg.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) - American Indian Studies Program in partnership with CESA 12 is offering a unique opportunity to participate in a series of webinars to continue your journey of personal and professional development around First Nations Studies.

These monthly 1.5 hour webinar lecture series workshops will begin in February 2024 and continue through June 2024. The lecture series will feature various Native American scholars in the fields of history, literature, education, among other academic content areas. At each session, you will have the opportunity to hear from and learn from Indigenous authors and speakers.

Webinar Description: A look at the long term effects on culture and tradition from the historical use of food as a weapon. Chef Elena Terry of Wild Bearies discusses the importance of community building, reclamation of ancestral food systems, rematriation of seeds to the Ho-Chunk community and how food insecurity doesn't discriminate. She will also speak about how showing empathy, kindness, connection and community by sharing meals with conversation can be transformative for the future generations.

Presenter: Elena Terry (Ho-Chunk Nation) is the Executive Chef/Founder of Wild Bearies, a community based nonprofit and educational outreach organization. As a seed to table chef, Elena develops relationships with tribal and community growers and producers. After being inspired by the food sovereignty work and movement, she started the “Honoring our Farmers, Foragers, Growers and Producers Tour” building partnerships with the American Indian Foods program and the Intertribal Agriculture Council along the way. She works throughout the Americas advocating on behalf of sustainable cultivation practices and responsible foraging. Elena also works with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Smithsonian and University of Wisconsin on building cultural food history and advocacy for truth and reconciliation. She developed the international Indigenous Culinary Mentorship program for the Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance and continues to advocate for equity and inclusion of Indigenous chefs. Elena is a butcher and wild game specialist and loves open fire cooking.

As a result of attending this webinar series, participants will have an opportunity to:

  • Continue their journey of personal and professional development around First Nations Studies.
  • Learn and gain an understanding of the unique circumstances faced by Native people in the past and today and the effect it has on today's students, families, and communities.
  • Receive information, resources to identify books, and strategies to support teaching and learning about Native peoples, communities, and nations.
  • Deepen their understanding of the American Indian experience through stories and information shared by the speakers.
  • Understand the historical experiences and contemporary issues of American Indian peoples and nations through storytelling, language, literacy, etc.

*Please note that you must be present during the advertised date and time(s) to participate and watch the webinar. The webinars will not be recorded. Additionally, participants do not have permission or authorization to record either via video or audio the contents of the session attending.
 

February 2024 STAR Webinar: Optimizing School Meals: Implementing Offer Versus Serve for Breakfast and Lunch

Date: Thursday, February 29, 2024 
Time: 2-3:00 PM - Zoom conference opens at 4:00 PM

Webinar Registration

Join us for an enlightening and engaging webinar featuring the USDA, Food and Nutrition Services. This session will delve into an overview of Offer Versus Serve (OVS) in school nutrition programs, offering practical guidance for implementing OVS for breakfast and lunch services. Resources and supporting information will be highlighted to provide further guidance on how to effectively apply OVS to reduce food waste, enhance meal options, and foster sustainability within school nutrition programs. Register today for this opportunity to streamline your school meal programs and enhance the overall dining experience for your students.

SNA Key Area(s): 1 – Nutrition, 2 – Operations
USDA Professional Standards Code(s): 1100 – Menu Planning, 1110 – Nutrition Requirements, 2220 – Offer Versus Serve

By the end of this webinar, attendees will:

Recall effective strategies for implementing the OVS option to reduce food waste and create a more sustainable school nutrition program.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Jill K. Underly, PhD, State Superintendent
125 S Webster Street
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-3390 • (800) 441-4563