School Nutrition Bulletin 2021-32

On January 26, 2021, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published implementation guidance for the Child Nutrition Program Emergency Operational Costs Programs, as authorized in Sec. 722 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260). Under this authority, FNS is offering additional funds to state agencies administering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to provide eligible program operators with additional reimbursements for emergency operating costs they incurred during the public health emergency.

 

More information to come as we learn more from USDA and have internal discussions about the process.

 

This guidance reflects the new Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) flexibilities contained in the December 27, 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260). It addresses P-EBT for both schools and child care. In addition, it addresses the increase in the P-EBT benefit amount (approximately 15 percent increase) announced in President Biden’s recent Executive Action.

 

Thank you to all schools that participated in DPI’s second annual Around the World in 80 Trays campaign, which aimed to increase more international flavors in school meals. Despite the challenges of serving school meals in the midst of the pandemic, different cuisines from all over the world were prepared and served, highlighting the unique heritage of students across Wisconsin. Check out the highlights below!

 

Bon voyage! Wisconsin Heights School District took an international tour putting a twist on Taco Tuesday, offering Taco Soup, set sail for Ireland where students enjoyed Beef Shepherd's Pie and then found themselves in Italy with an assortment of mouthwatering pizzas. Before heading home, students sampled Asian-inspired Teriyaki Chicken or Sweet Thai Chili Chicken. What a journey!

Tri-County Area School District went on a culinary adventure sampling jackfruit and tried Asian-inspired fair with Teriyaki Chicken Breast, Quinoa and Brown Rice (Korean BBQ style), and homemade Kimchi!

Siena Catholic Schools of Racine grabbed their passports and traveled to Germany, China, Mexico, and Italy. Students got to experience menu items like Orange Chicken with fried rice, stir fry vegetables and a fortune cookie, and beef tacos with spicy salsa. Yum!

Reedsville School District served a Greek themed meal! The meal included Chicken Shawarma over rice, Greek Salad, Greek yogurt dip with pita bread, kiwi, and Baklava (not pictured). Overall, the students were intrigued and excited about this meal! Reedsville also held taste tests throughout the week of foods from Latin America, France, and the Mediterranean.

With learning plans changing by the week and drastic fluctuations in meal participation, we know you’ve got a lot on your plate! For those of you running afterschool snack while in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), here are some educational and enrichment activities you can share directly with students to go along with their afterschool snack. For those of you running afterschool snack as a third program outside of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or Seamless Summer Option (SSO) (since you only claim two meals within those programs) you also need educational and enrichment activities for students.

 

Most of these activities work for in-person students or for virtual or at-home learners, with a variety of activities for different ages. You can share the links with families, print out the activity sheets and slide into a snack sack, or play the videos during snack time, as you wish. We hope this is helpful to those of you providing afterschool snack.

 

This week’s list is all about grains we grow in Wisconsin!

 

 

Madison Area Master Gardener Association (MAMGA) Community Service Grant Applications are being accepted for gardening and horticulture projects for 2021. Grant applications will be accepted between November 2, 2020 and March 1, 2021. Grant awards will be announced on or about March 15, 2021.

 

The purpose of these grants is to help support school garden and public, non-profit community-based garden projects located within the Dane County area. A MAMGA Master Gardener must sponsor a project. MAMGA Community Service Grants may not be used to benefit individual home gardens or private businesses. Individual grant applications may request up to $500. Grant funds may be used for seeds, plants, fertilizer, mulch, tools, information and education of students and the community and garden infrastructure, but not for paid labor. There are a number of sources in Madison for free seeds, seedlings and other forms of assistance that may help match the resources requested in your grant.

 

Given the pandemic situation for 2021, MAMGA will support innovative and on-line gardening projects. Applicants must follow all state, local and school district policies regarding social distancing during the course of completing a project. Grant applications, guidance and scoring details may be found on the MAMGA website under “Resources”.

 

Contact Sally Kefer at sjkmail10@yahoo.com with questions or to submit a grant application per the grant instructions.

 

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This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

 

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.

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