Recognition

School Food Services Receive USDA Recognition (July 18, 2010)

Twenty five public schools in St. Tammany Parish have been awarded the HealthierUS School Challenge Program’s highest level of recognition for excellence in food service and nutrition. The HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) is a voluntary initiative established in 2004 to recognize those schools participating in the National School Lunch Program that have created healthier school environments by meeting specialized program criteria.

Schools have the opportunity to become certified as Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Gold Award of Distinction Schools, depending on meeting certain criteria ranging from development of a wellness policy and promoting physical education to limits on sugar and salt in the meals served. A key component is nutrition education, where students learn about the food pyramid, whole grain foods, and the importance of vegetables.

Food Services Supervisor Pat Farris was notified by the United States Department of Agriculture this week that the schools named below had met the criteria for the “Gold Award of Distinction” for their meal preparation, nutrition instruction, and physical activity programs: Abita Springs Elementary, Abney Elementary, Alton Elementary, Bayou Woods Elementary, Bonne Ecole Elementary, Brock Elementary, Chahta-Ima Elementary, Covington Elementary, Cypress Cove Elementary, Fifth Ward Jr. High, Florida Avenue Elementary, Folsom Elementary, Honey Island Elementary, Lee Road Jr. High, Little Pearl Elementary, Lyon Elementary, Madisonville Elementary, Magnolia Trace Elementary, Mandeville Elementary, Marigny Elementary, Pontchartrain Elementary, Riverside Elementary, Sixth Ward Elementary, Whispering Forest Elementary, and Woodlake Elementary School.

Cypress Cove Elementary earned the honor of being the first school in the nation to win the Gold Award recognition in 2004, and by 2005, every elementary school food service program in the School System was recognized for having achieved the USDA Gold Level award. By 2006, twenty three St. Tammany Parish public schools had achieved Gold Award status in the program.

The U.S.D.A. commended the schools for the exemplary steps, leadership and team work employed to make changes to their school’s nutrition environment, improve the quality of the foods served, provide students with more nutritious, healthy choices, and enhance their physical activity program. In acknowledgement of their achievement, each school will receive a HUSSC award plaque and a banner to display for meeting the Healthier US School Challenge’s updated criteria. The names of the schools also will be added to the HUSSC awardee list on the Team Nutrition HUSSC website.

The School System’s “Go, Glow and Grow” program was recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)for outstanding effectiveness in providing nutrition education.

 

National Media Spotlights School Food Service Program

        The St. Tammany Parish Food Service Program has been spotlighted by USA Today as part of their national media coverage focused of districts providing healthy food choices for school childen.

         USA Today was referred to St. Tammany Parish by the United States Department of Agriculture, and the article applauded the efforts made by the St. Tammany Parish Public School System over the past 26 years to provide more wholesome selections for our students.

          These changes include the replacement of most desserts with fresh fruit, increased raw vegetable options, fresh baked whole wheat products, leaner meats, and reduced-fat milk.

          Given special mention was the School System's "Go, Glow and Grow" Nutritional Awareness Program which connects the school cafeteria with the classroom in educating students about healthy food choices.

          CLICK HERE for the USA Today article.                            CLICK HERE for USDA Gold Award listing.


2009-2010-Outstanding Food Service Programs

        The annual Food Service Awards Program recognized the following schools as outstanding in their category for the 2009-2010 School Year:

Abney Elementary School
• Principal Mr. Robert Alford, Manager Ms. Debra Davis

Bayou Woods Elementary School
• Principal Ms. Linda Bankston, Manager Ms. Peggy Colliver

Folsom Elementary School
• Principal Ms. Lesa Bodnar, Manager Ms. Marjorie Rainey

Little Oak Middle School
• Principal Ms. Amy DiCarlo, Manager Ms. Janet Farrell

Mandeville Middle School
• Principal Ms. Kim Wood, Manager Ms. Bonnie Bailey

Northshore High School
• Principal Dr. Michael Peterson, Manager Ms. Velma Chabreck

Pearl River High School
• Principal Mr. Michael Winkler, Manager Ms. Shannon Landry

Lakeshore High School
• Principal Mr. Brennan McCurley, Manager Ms. Kathy James

Cypress Cove Elementary School First School in Nation To
Earn HealthierUS School Challenge Gold Certification Award

          Cypress Cove Elementary School in Slidell was recognized in 2004 as the first school in the Nation to earn the HealthierUS School Challenge Gold Certification award presented by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The award honors schools that meet recommended nutrition and physical activity standards set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

          In 2005, the remaining 22 schools eligible for recognition earned the United States Department of Agriculture Gold Level Certification.

St. Tammany Selected for "Cooking for Kids" Training Film

An educational television segment that showcases healthy cooking for children filmed a "best practices" video at Cypress Cove Elementary School in Slidell November 7. The segment  focuses on local school cafeteria preparation of a regional favorite, a greaseless brown roux.

Videos were shot of food preparation, students in lunch lines and the dining room, and interviews with students, Principal Lisa Dial, and Food Service Supervisor Sylvia Dunn. A nutrition education class and general campus shots were also video-taped for the project.

The purpose of the program "Cooks for Kids: Healthful Cooking Across America" is to address the problem of childhood obesity through school food service departments, the primary audience for the videos being produced. It is aimed to inspire foodservice staff to prepare and serve nutritious and appealing foods in child nutrition programs. Teaching healthy food habits that will carry the wellness message into the home is a goal of the thirty-minute showcase of recipes, techniques, and practical solutions that schools can adopt to prepare healthier and tastier meals.

The new program is being put together by the National Food Service Management Institute.


 

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