Guide to School Visits

Why Get Involved? To Build Relationships To Improve Communication Involve Key Players

Who to Invite Local V.I.P. School committee / member Board of selectmen / member Finance committee/ member Fire or Police chief Local pediatrician or medical field representative with emphasis on child health and nutrition. Local farmer or food vendor Government V.I.P. Mayor State representative Member of Congress USDA representative Secretary of Education / ESE representative from “Healthy, Safety & Nutrition”. Governor Senator Keep in mind, inviting students to award events or having breakfast/ lunch with the invited guest make great photo opportunities!

Promote your Program Invite your V.I.P. to Events that Promote your School Nutrition Program  “ National School Lunch” or “National School Breakfast” week.  “Farm to School Week” – highlighting local farms or salad bar lines.  “World Food Day”  “Team Nutrition School”  “Fuel up to Play 60 School”  “Healthier USDA Challenge Award “  “Fuel up to Play 60 Grant Winner”  “New England Dairy Grant Winner”  Grant Awards from other sources.  New or improved breakfast program.  Catered events promoting your food service or to show off new cafeteria or kitchen improvements.

 Meet with Superintendent, Business Manager and building Principal on type of event you would like to hold and who you would like to invite. You will need their support to hold a successful event!  Organize a group to help coordinate the event from the beginning to end. Group size depends on the length and type of event being held. Will it be a short 15 minute photo opportunity with a grant award or a sit down breakfast/lunch with a “meet and greet” session?  Set date, time and place. If inviting a member of Congress or Senate allow enough time between the invitation and event. Schedule your event when representatives are not in session to increase chance of attending.  Create guest list and send out invitations. Make sure to include your contact info, phone numbers, , and physical address of event.  Write a list of who will be part of the greeting party and who will be speaking. Make a schedule of events noting time and length of speeches, breakfast/lunch and photo opportunity. Forward and confirm list with participants.  Start media blitz on upcoming event. Planning the Event

Before the Event  Review area of where the event will be held and start a check list of cleaning or staging needs. Will you need a podium, microphone, table, and chairs? Is photo opportunity area large enough for a group? Are there posters and banners celebrating event?  Make sure to have drinking water, paper, and pens available.  Permission/release slips for media statements and student pictures. One week before confirm list of greeters and speakers.  Breakfast/lunch event? Have your group/staff walk through your kitchen and cafeteria as if it was their first visit and note areas that may need some attention or brightening up with posters or decorations. Student wall art celebrating the event is an inexpensive way to decorate and is always a big hit!  Meet with your staff if they are preparing and serving during the event to address their concerns. Have a fun mock run though of the event to ease their fears.  Is it time for some new uniforms, aprons or hats? Everyone should look their personal best when celebrating an event.

Before the Event  Write a one page article about your food service program and use facts for conversation with your V.I.P. This is your chance to promote all the good things going on in your food service!  Gather Your Current Data On: ADP’s, enrollment, F/R %’s, relevant Bills/Legislation in process at the state or federal level, etc. and insert on district info talking points sheet. Download Director Info – Cheat Sheet from power point.  Prepare a Packet that Includes: Agenda, guest list, cheat sheet facts, contact information for guests/speakers, media information and a thank you card.

Talking Points School Breakfast More kids are participating in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) million children served daily 83,600 schools participate in SBP School Lunch More kids are participating in National School Lunch Program (NSLP)1 31 million children served daily 96,500 schools participate in NSLP Students who eat school meals provided through the NSLP and the SBP are more likely to be at a healthy weight.2 NSLP participants are more likely than non-participants to consume vegetables, milk and milk products, and meat and other protein-rich foods, both at lunch and over 24 hours; they also consume less soda and/or fruit drinks.1 School Meals are Balanced and Healthy NSLP lunches must meet federal nutrition guidelines. These meals must: Limit fat and saturated fat Provide one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of protein, calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C Contain age-appropriate portion sizes Provide the right balance of protein, dairy Grains, fruits and vegetables. 1 Source: USDA 2 Source: Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, August Source: Classroom Breakfast Scores High in Maryland, Maryland Meals for Achievement. October 2001

Talking Points – Sound Bites  We are the largest restaurant in town.  We are the largest child feeding site and serve a healthy balanced meals using local fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, and meats from __________ at an affordable price.  Students who eat school breakfast have greater gains in standardized test scores and show improvements in math, reading, and vocabulary scores. 3  Research has shown that students who eat school meals perform their best academically. Student behavior and attention improve significantly in class when a child is not hungry.  Healthy eating correlates with less trips to the school nurse and less absenteeism. Get quotes and facts from school nurse.  Quote from student or faculty on your food program. Make sure to mention their name and grade. 1 Source: USDA 2 Source: Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, August Source: Classroom Breakfast Scores High in Maryland, Maryland Meals for Achievement. October 2001

District Info – Cheat Sheet  Cut & copy this slide into a Word Document to enter your own information.  The current enrollment in our district is _______ in grades _____to _______of that enrollment currently ______% are approved to participate in the free/reduced feeding program.  In our district we have _______ feeding sites that serve breakfast and ______ and _________serve lunch.  Our average daily participation (ADP) is _______for breakfast and ________for lunch.  Our ADP for free/reduced breakfast is _______% and _________% for lunch.  In addition we currently have _________afternoon snack programs and or _________ afterschool meals.  During the summer we have __________ feeding sites that feed an average of _________per day.  Our district supplies ________ weekend food backpacks.  We currently serve or satellite meals to _________? Ex: Senior meals, private schools or head start programs.  Our breakfast cost _________ and lunch ____________.  Reduced breakfast cost __________ reduced lunch cost ______.  We currently participate in _____________programs. Ex: Farm to School, Team Nutrition and “Fuel up to Play 60”.  Our schools have /or are receiving funding from grants/rewards from ___________. With this funding we are currently ____________ or have purchased __________.  Currently there is a bill/ruling/amendment #____________going before the house/senate on ___________ we would appreciate your support in passing/not passing because ___________________ will have a positive/negative effect on our food program.

Have a Great Event Take Pictures Share with: Local Newspaper School Newsletter School Committee School Nutrition Association of MA

Helpful Links       

After the Event  Personally thank all committee members, staff, faculty and students that helped make your event successful.  Hand out your pre-prepared packet of the days event which includes the agenda, guest list, cheat sheet facts, contact information for guests/speakers and a thank you card to your V.I.P. and media present.  Committee members could hand out prior to start of event or closing minutes.  / Mail your packet to media that were not able to attend.  1-2 weeks after the event send a written note along with a photo of the days event to your V.I.P’s. and committee members, staff, faculty and students that helped make your event successful.