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School Nutrition Bulletin 1920-07

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Announcements from the WI DPI School Nutrition Team

 

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

Farm to School Census

The Farm to School Census is coming to a close soon but our neighbors in Michigan have taken the lead. Let’s see what we can do in the short time we have left to regain the lead in the Midwest Region. Any questions related to the Farm to School Census can be directed to the research group, ABT Associates project team from 8 AM to 8 PM CST toll-free at 855-452-5794, or e-mail farmtoschool@abtassoc.com.
Here is a more details and a “behind the scenes” Census timeline which can help:
  1. ABT will conduct targeted outreach until November 13, 2019 (end of week 10).
  2. After November 13, 2019, ABT will follow up and do phone interviews with a selected sub-sample of those who did not respond to the Census.
  3. The Census will officially close on November 27, 2019, right before Thanksgiving, so there will still be some time to fill it out if you have too much on your plate right now.
State
Sample Count
% complete
 
Not Started
Opened
In-
Progress
Completed
Re-Opened
Illinois
1065
32.58%
 
557
74
87
347
0
Indiana
549
31.88%
 
293
46
35
175
0
Iowa
453
35.32%
 
225
28
40
160
0
Michigan
826
54.00%
 
297
33
50
445
1
Minnesota
656
37.35%
 
290
35
86
245
0
Ohio
1189
28.85%
 
696
71
79
343
0
Wisconsin
691
47.47%
 
271
33
59
328
0
National %
 
42.61%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
USDA Foods Photo Contest
The “Serving Up USDA Foods” contest asks you to show us how you use USDA Foods proteins, fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy to liven up your school meals. Your submissions will provide child nutrition professionals with healthy, creative, student-approved meal ideas utilizing USDA Foods.
The "Serving Up USDA Foods" photo contest beings November 1, 2019 and ends January 15, 2020. For 2020 contest and submission details please click here. Please send all entries to the USDA Foods mailbox (USDAFoods@usda.gov).
 
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide updated guidance on the Child Nutrition Program flexibilities available during unanticipated school closures. Schools may face unanticipated closures due to natural disasters, unscheduled major building repairs, court orders relating to school safety or other issues, labor-management disputes, or, when approved by the State agency, a similar cause. Unanticipated school closures prevent children from receiving educational instruction and the nutritious meals they would normally receive. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) encourages school food authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or the School Breakfast Program, institutions participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and sponsors participating in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) to use the flexibilities described in this memorandum to help ensure that children do not experience a lapse in food security when extreme weather or other events force area schools and child care facilities to close.
SP 20-2019, CACFP 07-2019, SFSP 06-2019: Micro-Purchase and Simplified Acquisition Thresholds - Revised
FNS revised SP 20-2019, CACFP 07-2019, SFSP 06-2019: Micro-Purchase and Simplified Acquisition Thresholds for Procurement, Applying the Simplified Acquisition Threshold in the National School Lunch Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program Procurement Standards, and School Food Authority Operations to remove language on requesting a higher micro-purchase threshold not intended for Child Nutrition Program (CNP) operators. The revision includes the same language regarding uniform procurement requirements for all Child Nutrition Program operators, and provides SFAs operating the NSLP and the CACFP with the option to comply with the procurement standards found in 7 CFR 210.21 in lieu of the corresponding procurement standards at 7 CFR 226.22.
Updated Product Formulation Statement templates are now available to assist food manufacturers in documenting how their food products contribute to CNPs’ meal pattern requirements. These updated templates are program specific to better meet the needs of CNP stakeholders, to include the food industry, program operators, and State agencies.
These templates can be accessed from the CN Labeling Program, Food Manufacturers/Industry webpage.
 
Institute of Child Nutrition S.T.A.R. Webinar: Strategies for Selecting and Utilizing USDA Foods
Thursday, November 14, 2019, 1:30-2:30 pm CST
Learning Objective(s): Attendees will identify strategies, action steps and resources to learn how their entitlement is calculated and why it can change. Attendees will also identify strategies that some states use in developing catalogs to offer USDA Foods to schools and how to make fact-based decisions on how to maximize their entitlement and their effective use of USDA Foods.
USDA Foods are available to CNPs in three ways: direct delivery, USDA Foods Processing, and the USDA DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. Danielle Lyons with USDA, FNS will provide an overview of USDA Foods and the benefits of incorporating American grown USDA Foods into your healthy school menus. Mike Birkmeyer, Maryland State Department of Education, will teach how entitlement is calculated throughout the year, explain how states determine which USDA Foods to offer schools, and provide strategies and best practices of how districts can determine which of these three ways may be best for their operation.
This webinar has passed.
A continuing education certificate will be available after completion of the webinar.
Webinar Professional Standards Learning Objectives
Key Areas: 1 Nutrition
Training Topic: 1100 Menu Planning
Learning Objectives: 1170 Plan for effective use of USDA Foods
 
Local Wellness Policy Resources and Reminder on Triennial Assessments due June 30, 2020
This is a friendly reminder that SFAs are required to complete their first Local Wellness Policy (LWP) triennial assessments by June 30, 2020 per 7 CFR 210.31(e)(2)). These are monitored through the Administrative Review.
USDA FNS recommends the WellSat Tool as a resource to conduct the LWP triennial assessment. There are also a variety of other assessment tools that can be used to assess all or part of the LWP requirements. These are housed on the new Child Nutrition Sharing Site (managed by ICN). There are additional resources schools can use to improve and update their policies. These include the Alliance for a Healthier Generation model wellness policies resource (reviewed by USDA) and the FNS LWP Outreach Toolkit. Lastly, the LWP Q&As might be another helpful resource.
 
Now available! New Capabilities for Registered Users of the Mobile App!
The most recent update has been released to the Food Buying Guide (FBG) Mobile App. Now registered users with a registered account are able to create and save a “Shopping List” and analyze a grains item on the Exhibit A Grains Tool on the Mobile App. Registered users can also access these items on other mobile devices as well as the FBG Web Tool. Future updates will allow registered users to have access to additional saved information from a completed Recipe Analysis Workbook (RAW) or Product Formulation Statement (PFS).
The FBG Mobile App is available on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Check to ensure you have the most current version of the app on your mobile devices.
 
Food Waste Resources
The Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative is a collaborative effort among USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Food and Drug Administration to reduce food loss and waste through combined and agency-specific action. Individually and collectively, these agencies contribute to the initiative, encourage long-term reductions, and work toward the goal of reducing food loss and waste in the United States. These actions include research, community investments, education and outreach, voluntary programs, public-private partnerships, tool development, technical assistance, event participation, and policy discussion.
For more information on the Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative, visit:
A food waste resource from USDA has been added to the DPI menu planning webpage under Food Waste.
 

Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team

Laura Paella, School Nutrition Team Operations Program Associate

It is with great sadness that I am announcing the departure of the “Face of the School Nutrition Team”. Laura Paella has been the person answering the teams’ main phone and email lines, sending out these bulletins, and helping our team and all of you in so many ways for the past seven years. The good news is… she has been promoted to a Contract Specialist working with the USDA Foods Team! Congratulations, Laura.
During this transition, we would like to thank you ahead of time for your patience. The plan is to have a new Operations Program Associate hired by January 6, 2020.
 
GOALS
New! The Administrative Review & You School Nutrition Skills Development Courses (SNSDC) and Preparing for your Administrative Review webcasts now count towards GOALS hours as an elective. If you attended a class in the past and your certificate reads “does not apply,” you may still submit them towards your GOALS Certificate of Excellence.
 
Get Ready to Travel Around the World in 80 Trays!
Wondering where the School Nutrition Team is headed this winter? Did you know you can come, too? We are headed on a culinary adventure into your cafeteria! There is an exciting new opportunity for SFAs to increase international flavors in their USDA School Meals Programs to celebrate the diverse cultures of Wisconsin students.
Help the SNT reach our goal of 80 SFAs participating in Around the World in 80 Trays. Take the pledge and use the week of January 21-24, 2020, to introduce new flavors, create culturally inspired dishes, explore the tantalizing world of herbs and spices and, most importantly, connect with your students. Visit the International Meals section of the menu planning webpage for ideas and inspiration.
Please be sure to document the event (pictures, video, sound clips, etc.) and send to DPIFNS@dpi.wi.gov so we can share your success on social media!
 

Other Information

The Healthy Schools Toolkit 101

Educators understand that supporting students’ physical, social, emotional, and cognitive health significantly influences academic outcomes. However, schools often need help identifying how to leverage their resources and infrastructure to deliver a comprehensive model of school health.
In response, researchers at Health Equity Works, an initiative housed at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, in partnership with health and education partners, co-developed a tool to help schools and school districts strategize to build healthier school communities that support the whole child.
In this webinar, Health Equity Works will introduce the Healthy Schools Toolkit, a research-informed tool that is grounded in the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model and that helps education leaders to understand:
  • The people who are key influencers and could be recruited to inspire others to integrate health and well-being into their school practices
  • The existing systems in their schools that help or hinder student health, well-being, and academic success.
  • The aspirational messages about healthy schools that can be used to spark interest and buy-in throughout the school community
Join Dr. Jason Purnell of Health Equity Works for a webinar on Thursday, November 14 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM CST to learn more about how you can use the Healthy Schools Toolkit to leverage your people, systems, and messages to support your students’ learning and development.
Read more about and register for the webinar. Not able to join the live webinar? Connect with the Healthy Schools Toolkit team to learn about more opportunities and receive a copy of the webinar recording.
 
Webinar Information and Links:
Title: The Healthy Schools Toolkit 101
Date: Thursday, November 14; 1:00-2:00 PM CST
 
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This is a communication from the WI Department of Public Instruction, School Nutrition Team.
You can contact the School Nutrition Team at dpifns@dpi.wi.gov. To subscribe to schoolmealsnews, please send an email to dpifns@dpi.wi.gov.
dpi.wi.gov/school-nutrition #WISchoolMealsRock