ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION School Nutrition Programs Newsletter Wednesday, February 13, 2019

What's on your Calendar?

Upcoming Trainings! 2/20 Tucson: USDA myFOODS Catalog Requisitions For SY20  2/26 Tucson: USDA Foods Processing Diversion Overview 2/26 Flagstaff: USDA myFOODS Catalog Requisitions For SY20  2/28 Webinar: Starting Your Afterschool Care Snack Program, Part 1 2/28 Wiceknburg: USDA myFOODS Catalog Requisitions For SY20  3/5 Webinar: Staying on Track - Webinar Series 3/7 Webinar: Implementing Alternative Service Models in Your School Breakfast Program Click here to access the Monthly Checklist

Messages from USDA

The final rule Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements (FNS-2017-0021) This final rule increases menu planning flexibility in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and other Federal child nutrition programs effective School Year 2019-2020. The rule: Provides the option to offer flavored, low-fat milk to children participating in the school meal programs, and to participants ages six and older in the Special Milk Program for Children and the Child and Adult Care Food Program; Requires that half of the weekly grains in the school lunch and breakfast menu be whole grain-rich; and Provides more time to reduce sodium levels in school meals. The rule is available on the FNS website at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/fr-121218

A Note from School Nutrition Programs

Celebrate National School Breakfast Week (NSBW)! March 4-8! This year’s theme: Start Your Engines With School Breakfast Enter ADE’s NSBW Photo Contest! Tag @ADESchoolNutrition in your social media posts (@ADESchoolNutr on Twitter) and include #NSBW19 #FuelingAZ #LoveAZBreakfast If your LEA does not use social media, email your stories and pictures to ADESchoolNutrition@azed.gov Verification Great job SFAs! 99.5% of Local Education Agencies (LEAs) submitted their Verification Summary Report (VSR) to ADE on time!

USDA Foods/DoD Fresh This applies to all LEAs participating in USDA Foods and/or Department of Defense Fresh Produce Program

Arizona School Garden Sustainability Summit  In late March, the Arizona Department of Education will launch its first Arizona School Garden Sustainability Series. Each event is designed to develop longevity in school gardens for successful programming year after year. April 3 rd will feature intensive workshops that focus on researched-based practices in school garden program development. Methods for sustainability in school gardens includes building Garden to Cafeteria Programs. This intensive workshop will feature curriculum mapping methods, a site visit with the EVIT’s school garden program and will close with a Chef-inspired culinary demonstration.  Please register and join us for this event! Catalog Requisition Update ADE hopes to have catalogs posted the week of February 25, 2019. We appreciate your patience while we work through USDA shutdown challenges and a new contract year for the Processors and Warehouse. ADE will notify you via myFOODS bulletin board messages on the home page, a direct email, the e-blast, and NLSP’s Staying On Track monthly webinar when they are available.

Partner Announcements

2019 No Kid Hungry Breakfast After the Bell Grants!  The Association of Arizona Food Banks and No Kid Hungry are pleased to announce the 2019 No Kid Hungry Breakfast After the Bell Grants! Individual schools may apply for up to $5,000 to be used to purchase equipment, materials and initiatives to increase participation in the School Breakfast Program . Click here for more information . Please note: you will need to create an account in the No Kid Hungry Grants Portal . Applications are due February 22, 2019 . If you have any questions, please contact Monique Cordova, monique@azfoodbanks.org

Featured Resource!

Is your school a Team Nutrition School? Becoming a Team Nutrition School is quick and easy. Team Nutrition Schools get first access to new resources, training, and promotion released by USDA Team Nutrition. Sign up by visiting this link .

As always, if you have any questions or need additional information or assistance, please feel free to contact your School Nutrition Program Specialist. We can also be reached at our group email: ADESchoolNutrition@azed.gov.   Click here to subscribe to these weekly School Nutrition Program Updates!