The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Office of Strategic Initiatives, Partnerships and Outreach is offering the public free, weekly webinars on the Summer Food Service Program. These webinars will review SFSP participation requirements, cover resources and available tools, and highlight successful programs and outreach practices from around the country. At the end of each webinar, FNS program experts will answer listeners’ questions. Listeners should contact the Maine DOE if they have additional questions.
Category: Nutrition
Grants available to implement farm-to-school nutrition programs
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 established the Farm to School Program in order to assist eligible entities, through grants and technical assistance, in implementing farm-to-school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools.
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Join statewide effort to end summer hunger
The Maine Department of Education’s Child Nutrition Services team encourages community members to help prevent food insecurity and hunger among Maine’s children by becoming 2013 Summer Food Service Program sponsors. Managers, recreation departments, librarians, school superintendents, food pantries, summer residential camps, private non-profit organizations—anyone interested in helping to solve hunger at the local level is invited to participate.
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USDA proposes standards to provide healthy food options in schools
New “Smart Snacks in School” proposal to ensure vending machines, snack bars include healthy choices
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the following press release on Feb. 1.
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Madison Elem. earns nutrition award
RSU 59 received a HealthierUS School Challenge Bronze Award at Madison Elementary School, with students and parents in attendance. HUSSC is a voluntary certification initiative established in 2004 to recognize those schools participating in the National School Lunch Program that have created healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity. Fewer than 4 percent of schools nationally have achieved the award.
Piscataquis schools earn Healthier US School Challenge awards
A Healthier US School Challenge award ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 24, at Greenville Consolidated School, representing School Union 60. Former Nickerson Elementary School and Greenville Middle/High School both achieved the Bronze level award. Stephanie Stambach from Maine DOE will be presenting the awards.
Two Healthier US School Challenge award ceremonies are being held on Friday, Jan. 25, at Piscataquis Community Elementary School and Piscataquis Community Secondary School, representing RSU 80/MSAD 4. Both schools achieved the Bronze level award.
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School menu plans modified for next fall
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services is offering additional flexibility in school lunch menu planning for school year 2013.
Portland and Jackman school districts receive USDA farm-to-school grant
The Portland Public School District and District 12 in Jackman both received U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm to School grants to improve student nutrition programs.
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School food service staff honored
The Department of Education Child Nutrition Services and Maine School Nutrition Association recently honored several local food service staff members for their 20 years or more of service. Continue reading “School food service staff honored”
SAD 75 health coordinator receives national honor
Special thanks to The Times Record for sharing this article, written by staff reporter Darcie Moore, with the Maine DOE for publication.
Mary Booth, the full-time school health coordinator for SAD 75, was recognized by the American School Health Association as the 2012 School Health Coordinator of the Year.
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