The OSNA Director’s meeting is rebooting in Bend on June 22!
This meeting is at no cost for member District Directors. Please register using this link.
The agenda will be emailed out to registered directors/admins and is slated to include a walk-through of the Bend-LaPine SD operations, updates from the Farm to School team, and more!
Register ASAP and before June 10.
Kudos to Gia Saporito and all of the McMinnville School District school nutrition heroes for getting a big shout out from USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in its May “At the Table: Western Region” newsletter! FNS wrote:
“In Oregon, the McMinnville School District celebrated National Nutrition Month and National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) by sharing photos on social media and showcasing elements of their awesome nutrition program. For example, all of McMinnville’s elementary schools offer breakfast in the classroom and use reusable bowls and silverware at lunch to help reduce paper and plastic waste. Additionally, McMinnville High School makes homemade, protein-rich entrees for breakfast every day; the Savory Egg Cup meal is a fan favorite. During NSBW, the school district raffled off a free pair of headphones at each of their middle schools and high school. The students were so excited that breakfast participation increased 40%! And for St. Patrick’s Day, the nutrition staff served green produce for snacks to elementary school students all week long via the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.”
In celebration of School Lunch Hero Day on May 6, the School Nutrition Association (SNA) recognized the widespread efforts of school nutrition professionals across the country who ensure all students have access to healthy meals.
School Lunch Hero Day (SLHD) is a chance to stop and recognize the year-round efforts of school nutrition professionals. Whether creating special menu items and decorating the cafeteria for spirit days or increasing opportunities for children to be nourished and being a supportive, friendly face in the lunch line, these women and men go above and beyond.
“Supply chain issues and staffing shortages have presented persistent challenges for school nutrition professionals, but it does not stop them from having a positive impact on their students and ensuring all who go through their cafeteria lines get a nutritious meal,” said SNA President Beth Wallace, MBA, SNS. “The dedication shown by these school lunch heroes during the last two years of the pandemic has been astounding and inspiring.”
As part of the celebration, school nutrition employees, managers and directors were nominated for awards at the state level, and those winners were considered for awards within seven regions across the country.
Of those regional winners announced on May 3, our own Lori Dyson, school nutrition director at Estacada School District, was awarded SNA’s 2022 Northwest Employee of the Year. Congratulations, Lori! Well-deserved recognition!