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Administrative Memorandum
 

March
2005

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It is the policy of the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs to provide services to all persons, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, disability, ancestry, or national origin, in accordance with federal and state laws.

 

  

CANS section

March is National Nutrition Month

Don’t forget that March is National Nutrition Month. It’s an excellent opportunity to promote the importance of nutrition as a key component of good health. Use this national observance as a way to showcase healthy eating in your school!

Step up to the plate for child nutrition

Child and Adult Nutrition Services’ annual Certification Institute will be held June 19-24 at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. This year’s theme is “Step Up to the Plate for Child Nutrition.” Participants choose from a total of eight tracks – each consisting of 30 hours. 

One track may be completed each year. After completion of track four, participants graduate with a certificate. All tracks qualify for 30 hours of continuing education credits from the School Nutrition Association.
  • Track one includes ServSafe and Child Nutrition Program Basics. It must be completed before any other tracks can be taken.
  • Track two covers Healthy Edge 2000, Menu Planning, Commodities and People Skills for Managers.
  • Track three includes Quantity Food Production.
  • Track four is for participants who have completed the first three tracks. It teaches administrative details such as ordering and receiving, record keeping, menu planning, storage procedures, quality food production and scheduling.
  • Track-five content varies from year to year. This year, it will cover the Basics of Implementing HAACP, the new Wellness Policy Requirements, the HealthierUS Challenge, the new Dietary Guidelines and Blowing Your Own Horn.
  • Additional tracks include baking, entry-level computers and advanced computers.

Registration information will be forthcoming soon. Contact Amy Richards at (605) 773-4718 or Janelle Peterson at (605) 280-4278.

Training sessions for Summer Food Service Program scheduled

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) will conduct three training sessions in March.

The first is slated for March 29, 9-10 a.m. (CST), via the Dakota Digital Network (DDN). This session is for SFSP Seamless Summer or “waiver” participants only.  

The second session also will be held March 29, 10 a.m.-noon (CST), via the DDN. This session is for experienced sponsors from 2004.  

The third session is for new sponsors that have not participated in the program or have new staff responsible for its operation. This session will be held March 31 at the State Library Conference Room in Pierre. The session runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (CST). 

Packets will be mailed to all interested sponsors the first part of March. Child and Adult Nutrition Services must receive a completed agreement – contained in the packet – by April 10 to be considered. This agreement also must be approved before a sponsor can begin to serve meals at its site.  

For more information, contact Cassandra Rupe at (605) 773-3110. cassandra.rupe@state.sd.us. 

Dollars available to food service workers

The School Nutrition Association – through its Child Nutrition Foundation – offers scholarships and financial assistance to food service and nutrition staff to achieve their professional and educational goals. In addition, the association has research grants available to its members to conduct research related to food service. 

For more information, visit www.asfsa.org/continuinged/assistance/. 

Update: Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)

Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization law mandates that all school food authorities must implement a food safety program using Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles. The original implementation deadline of July 1, 2005, has been expanded, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects implementation during the 2005-06 school year.

In the meantime, HACCP assessments at 20 districts in South Dakota have been completed. HACCP assessments looked at basic standard operating procedures relating to sanitation. In addition, a questionnaire was left for employees to fill out – in an attempt to gauge experience level, attitudes and general knowledge of food service staff.   

The assessment project will aid Child and Adult Nutrition Services in planning training needs for school food authorities. USDA expects to have HACCP training material available in early spring. Training for school food authorities will begin in early summer and continue throughout the end of the year.  

Update: Fresh fruit and vegetable program

After a successful pilot program in 2002-03, Congress approved $9 million in the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 to expand the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. This act made it a permanent program.

Last year, schools on the Pine Ridge Reservation were selected to participate in the program. In some cases, food-service staff members deliver the fruit and/or vegetable for the day to the classrooms, as either a morning or afternoon snack. Some schools have added items to their salad bars at noon. Others have a variety of fruits and vegetables sitting in designated areas around the school, so that students and teachers have access to healthy snacks anytime during the school day.

One school even reported vending machine sales down – a sure sign that students are choosing a healthy snack when it is offered to them!

 

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