Letter from Dorothy - Summer 2009
At the end of the school year, the Kids First staff and I celebrate the many accomplishments and changes that we have seen happen in school districts and communities to improve the health of Rhode Island schoolchildren. As a small state we have our challenges, but one of our greatest advantages is that we are able to share ideas and best practices with one another either through word of mouth, on websites or at events that feature discussions about health and wellness. I’d like to mention some of this past school year’s highlights and help spread the word about all of our collective efforts!
This was the school year that 13+ districts implemented the Rhode Island Nutritional Requirements (RINR) in their school meals program. RINR, as mandated by RIDE, will be in effect statewide, in all schools, for September 2009. RINR exceeds the nutritional USDA standards and ensures that all Rhode Island schoolchildren are eating healthier foods in their cafeterias. Districts that incorporated RINR this year were able to experience firsthand how more fruits and vegetables, more whole grains and less sodium (we’re aiming for less highly processed foods) looked on cafeteria trays AND tasted to kids.
The early incorporation of RINR not only put healthy food criteria into practice but it also gave participating food service directors a chance to increase their local purchases through the Farm to School program. All 36 school districts in the state purchased at least one Harvest 2008 locally grown food to serve in their cafeteria and many districts purchased LOTS! Thank you! Highly notable is that in addition to apples, peaches, corn, squash, cabbage, cider, carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, and green beans, over 40,000 pounds (that’s 20 tons!) of fresh roasted RI baby white potatoes were served in at least 30 RI school districts. The Farm to School Harvest 2009 already started off strong with over 18 districts (more than ½) serving Rhode Island grown strawberries and lettuce to students during the last weeks of school in June. We look forward to hearing about summer meal programs that serve locally grown foods from Rhode Island farms – as so much more RI grown is available during summer months. Please contact our Farm to School Specialists to learn more or learn how.
RINR inspires schools and food service providers to find creative (and local) ways to educate and encourage students and staff regarding menu changes. This past year many schools organized taste tests, started fruit and veggie bars, held recipe contests, celebrated the RI harvest, and practiced healthy eating role modeling. RINR is a progressive and effective way to ensure that school meals continue to improve in Rhode Island, but its success depends on all of us continuing to be involved in our schools and on our Wellness Committees. Please contact any of us on the Kids First staff if we can help your district with the transition and implementation of RINR this fall.
Kids First workshops and programs, including the brand new “Rethinking Fundraising” workshop for parent and student organizers, were very well attended this year by teachers, administration, school food service staff, parents and students. Throughout the school year, Kids First provided over 200 nutrition, physical activity and wellness workshops reaching over 11,500 Rhode Islanders with hands-on wellness education.
New this year, the Providence school department offered its teachers Professional Development credits for attending a Kids First Wellness Workshop and 360 Providence schoolteachers participated! And … four more districts completed their Superintendent’s Wellness Workshop in which principals and district leadership are provided with information and hands-on activities to help them build healthier school environments and encourage them to serve as role models for their staff and students. To date, 30 out of 36 Rhode Island districts have participated in a Superintendent’s Workshop - if your leadership team would like to have one (or a second!), please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Although all of our Kids First workshop presenters - chefs, master gardeners, nutritionists and physical activity professionals - provide a wealth of customized information for your school community, our workshops are only as great as the people who attend them. The effectiveness and success of OUR educational workshops is directly related to YOUR active involvement. I’d like to personally thank every individual who has worked to improve the health and wellness in their school, in their classroom or in their district/community. Please visit the Wellness Advocates section of our website to be inspired by a few of RI’s outstanding wellness stars and feel free to contact us if you know an Advocate in your community we should meet.
Here’s to an active and healthy summer vacation!
Dorothy Brayley
Executive Director
