Summer Harvests of the Month: nectarines and plums

The Harvests of the Month for the summer are the white nectarine and black plum from Kingsburg Orchards located in Kingsburg, Calif. Both fruits should be on school salad bars every Wednesday during the summer.

Watch the latest Harvest of the Month video to learn more about how local farmers are providing our students with delicious, healthy fruits and vegetables every month.

Summer Harvest of the Month Virtual Field Trip video links:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPgTEdvETmk (available outside district)

SandiTube:  http://tube.sandi.net/video/videos/4345/harvest-of-the-month-stone-fruit

Two students win Food Services recipe contest

IN THE NEWS: Two Point Loma cluster students have won a San Diego Unified School District recipe contest, and their concoctions will be on next year’s menu. Ocean Beach Elementary School fourth-grader Zarai Rosenzweig-Bullard took first place in the K-5 age group and won an amazon Kindle for her “Terrific Turkey Tacos.” Correia Middle School eighth-grader Ava Marie Bunn also claimed first place in the grades 6-12 category for her “AVAcado salad.”

Read more from SD News.com

Watch Zarai make her terrific tacos on the KUSI Morning News

Eat smart, play hard at this summer's free lunch program

Where can you enjoy a great BBQ, see the circus, play hard, win prizes and rub elbows with the mayor AND the Padres Friar all for free? – the Summer Fun Café Kickoff BBQ, of course! The barbecue is Thursday, June 25 from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at Skyline Hills Community Park, 8285 Skyline Drive (92114).

The kickoff event will feature San Diego’s own Fern Street Circus with jugglers, acrobats, aerialists and live music. A free BBQ lunch for all children and accompanying adults will be provided. This family-friendly event will also feature the San Diego Padres Friar and Pad Squad, fun games with lots of prizes, an inflatable jumper, crafts, music and prize drawings.

Summer is a difficult nutritional time for many children. Not only does food insecurity increase among low-income families during the summer months, but children are also at greater risk for obesity as they lose access to the school meals they rely on during the school year. The summer meal program gives children the nutritious meals they need to remain healthy throughout the summer. 

San Diego Unified’s Summer Fun Café meals also support the community’s other summer programs and help draw children into educational, enrichment and recreational activities that keep them learning, engaged, active and safe during school vacation.  The EAT SMART. PLAY HARD. theme translates to eating healthy food and being physically active every day.

“It is important that San Diego learns about this valuable summer lunch program for children,” said Gary Petill, San Diego Unified¹s Food Services Director.  “It’s fun, it’s free, it’s easy and when the kids head back to school in the fall, they will be strong and ready to learn.”

San Diego Unified has offered the summer lunch program since 2003, and now serves nearly 250,000 meals and snacks each summer. The program is funded through the United States Department of Agriculture’s “Seamless Summer Feeding Option” and will be at 58 sites: 27 park and recreation centers, 14 community and military sites, and 17 schools.  For a complete schedule and locations, go to www.sandi.net/food and select Summer Fun Café or go to http://www.211sandiego.org/summerlunch. Participating in the program requires no paperwork, reservations or income qualifications.

More than 1,500 children and their parents/guardians are expected to attend the kickoff event. The community resource fair at the event provides participants with a wide variety of information about services from community partners.  Additionally, every family goes home with a bag of fresh fruit and vegetables from the San Diego Food Bank or Feeding America San Diego.  The San Diego Honda Dealers are underwriting the cost of the adult meals at the kickoff event, and General Mills is sponsoring parent participation in other BBQ events.

Summer Fun Café kick off, summer resources for parents and students

As the school year winds down, the district and others across the County are preparing summer reading programs, camps and other events to keep kids active and healthy during the summer.

The district launches its Summer Fun Café on June 25 with a kickoff barbeque at Skyline Community Park (8285 Skyline Dr., 92114) from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (lunch served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.). There will be free lunch for all, as well as, games, prizes, music and free bags of fruits and vegetables from the San Diego Food Bank and Feeding America San Diego. Visit the Food Services website for more information.

The Summer Fun Café is an opportunity for kids to eat healthy food, engage in active play and have fun. FREE lunches will be provided for children 18 years and younger at various locations throughout the summer. No proof of income or paperwork is necessary. Parents accompanied by children are welcome to eat with their children for only $2. Click here to view all of our Summer Fun Café locations and times. 

In addition to these great opportunities, the district’s Parent Outreach and Engagement Department and Public Information Office have compiled a list of summer reading programs, camps and other events for kids and families throughout the summer. A list of resources is available by visiting the main web page at www.sandi.net and going to the Parent tab/Resources/Summer Resources for Students. We'll be adding to the list as new opportunities become available.

June Harvest of the Month is Red Seedless Watermelon

The Harvest of the Month for June is the Red Seedless Watermelon from Eagle Eye Produce in Hemet, CA. Find this refreshing fruit on school salad bars every Wednesday during the month of June.

Watch the latest Harvest of the Month video to learn more about how local farmers are providing our students with delicious, healthy fruits and vegetables every month.

June Harvest of the Month Virtual Field Trip video links:

YouTube: http://tube.sandi.net/video/videos/4300/harvest-of-the-month-red-seedless-watermelon

SandiTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4VDFDmOaZQ&feature=youtu.be

 

May Harvest of the Month is the organic Peewee Avocado

The Harvest of the Month for May is the organic Peewee Stehly Farms Organics in Valley Center, CA Find this super veggie on school salad bars every Wednesday during the month of April.

To help educate students on where the Harvest of the Month produce item comes from, San Diego Unified has created monthly Harvest of the Month videos that act as virtual field trips to the farm. These videos are an opportunity to connect students to their food and local farmers. We encourage principals to have their teachers share the videos in the classroom so students can experience the full circle of their food. We encourage parents and students to watch as well!

May Harvest of the Month Virtual Field Trip video links:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLxhxhZJyn0&feature=youtu.be

SandiTube: http://tube.sandi.net/video/videos/4245/peewee-avocados-harvest-of-the-month

 

San Diego Unified showcases Farm to School Program for national audience

As part of a national food services conference, more than 60 school district representatives, members of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and members of National Food Service Management Institute took a trip to Crawford High School to observe San Diego Unified’s Farm to School program in action.

Attendees were welcomed by Gary Petill, the director of San Diego Unified’s Food Services department.

“We all know about the challenges of the stigma associated with school food over the years,” said Petill. The meals served at schools across the district do not look like the typical school lunches of the past. They are colorful, with vibrant hues revealing the focus on serving fresh fruits and vegetables.”

As part of their trip, attendees had the opportunity to tour Crawford High’s garden and kitchen facilities.

Crawford High has implemented a Garden to Café program, allowing fresh produce to be grown and harvested on site and served in the cafeteria. Members of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) run internships at Crawford High for students to work in the garden, gaining job experience and learning about nutrition.

Pictured: Jomar, Susan, Shafie, Pawlay and Irene

This afterschool garden club allows for students like Susan, Irene, Pawlay, Jomar and Shafie to participate in a social activity while growing various crops such as lettuce, spinach, radishes or kale.

“It’s interesting because when I came here, it had been three months that I’d been in the United States,” said Jomar, a junior. “I wanted to compare gardening here to in the Philippines.”

Crawford High has a prep kitchen that services the surrounding school campuses in addition to its main campus. While touring the kitchen, attendees were able to meet some of the San Diego farmers who sell organic crops to San Diego Unified.

Some of the more surprising foods served to students include kabocha squash, cremini mushrooms, jicama and kumquats. George Edwards, an attendee from New York City’s Department of Education, explained that even though these foods may be unusual to serve to elementary school students, children can easily learn to like them.

“Yes, kids are picky.” said Edwards. “Adults are picky. Sometimes it’s easier to convince a child to try something new as opposed to an adult. Usually it takes one child, and the rest seem to follow.”

To conclude their trip to Crawford High, the attendees were served a California Thursdays lunch. This meal, presented by the Center for Ecoliteracy in collaboration with San Diego Unified, features California-grown food and includes a Mary’s Chicken drumstick.

The Major Cities Training Symposium by NFSMI was an opportunity for individuals from food services departments in school districts across the nation to exchange ideas and information. Crawford High and San Diego Unified served as an example of a successful and innovative Farm to School program.

Nation’s School Districts Take A Seat At San Diego Unified’s Table

IN THE NEWS: Food service officials from 30 school districts from across the country on Thursday stopped by Crawford High School for lunch. The officials were there to learn about San Diego Unified School District's farm-to-school program. The Department of Agriculture brought the school food bosses to San Diego for a symposium hosted by the National Food Service Management Institute. Read and watch more from KPBS.

April Harvest of the Month is the crimini mushroom

The Harvest of the Month for April is the Crimini Mushroom from Mountain Meadow Mushrooms located in Escondido, Calif. Find this super veggie on school salad bars every Wednesday during the month of April.

To help educate students on where the Harvest of the Month produce item comes from, San Diego Unified has created monthly Harvest of the Month videos that act as virtual field trips to the farm. These videos are an opportunity to connect students to their food and local farmers. We encourage principals to have their teachers share the videos in the classroom so students can experience the full circle of their food.

Youtube Video Link: http://youtu.be/5YhVG3n1N3o

SandiTube Video Link: http://tube.sandi.net/video/videos/4884/harvest-of-the-month-crimini-mushrooms

 

Harvest of the Month is the Organic Minneola Tangelo

Even though we are halfway through the month, there is still plenty of time to try February's Harvest of the Month - the organic Minneola Tangelo from Sunrise Farms in Vista, Calif. Find this super fruit on your school salad bar every Wednesday during the month of February.

View the video

To help educate students on where the Harvest of the Month produce item comes from, the Farm to School program has have created monthly Harvest of the Month videos that act as virtual field trips to the farm. These videos are an opportunity to connect students to their food and local farmers. We encourage principals to have their teachers share the videos in the classroom so students can experience the full circle of their food.

Please share these Virtual Field Trip Video links with teachers, staff and students:
http://tube.sandi.net/video/videos/4014/harvest-of-the-month-minneolas

Bringing the Farm to Schools in San Diego

IN THE NEWS: Any onsite operation that uses large quantities of produce is at an advantage in Southern California. The perpetually beautiful climate means year-round access to local fruits and veggies. But that doesn’t mean that it’s simple to connect farmers to cafeteria trays in local school districts. That’s why San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) has two farm-to-school specialists who are responsible for overseeing everything that goes into the farm-to-school program. Read more from Food Management.

Harvest of the Month is Organic Dino Kale

The Harvest of the Month for January is Organic Dino Kale from Go Green Agriculture in Encinitas, Calif. Find this super veggie on your school salad bar every Wednesday during the month of January.

View the video

Go Green Agriculture is a pioneer in growing organic greens using hydroponics and has been recognized on the local state and federal level for their innovative model of farming. Farmer Pierre was invited to the White House this summer to receive the Champion of Change award in the Future of Agriculture.

To help educate students on where the Harvest of the Month produce item comes from, we have created monthly Harvest of the Month videos that act as virtual field trips to the farm. These videos are an opportunity to connect students to their food and local farmers. We encourage principals to have their teachers share the videos in the classroom so students can experience the full circle of their food.

Please share these Virtual Field Trip Video links with teachers, staff and students: http://tube.sandi.net/video/videos/4662/harvest-of-the-month-organic-dino-kale

Harvest of the Month is Organic Bloomsdale Spinach

The Harvest of the Month for December and January is Organic Bloomsdale Spinach from Go Green Agriculture in Encinitas, Calif. Find this super veggie on your school salad bar every Wednesday during the months of December and January.

View the video

Go Green Agriculture is a pioneer in growing organic greens using hydroponics and has been recognized on the local state and federal level for their innovative model of farming. Farmer Pierre was invited to the White House this summer to receive the Champion of Change award in the Future of Agriculture.

To help educate students on where the Harvest of the Month produce item comes from, we have created monthly Harvest of the Month videos that act as virtual field trips to the farm. These videos are an opportunity to connect students to their food and local farmers. We encourage principals to have their teachers share the videos in the classroom so students can experience the full circle of their food.

Please share these Virtual Field Trip Video links with teachers, staff and students: http://tube.sandi.net/video/videos/3961/harvest-of-the-month-bloomsdale-spinach

Winter Fun Café offers free lunches and snacks during Winter Intersession

Food Services will be offering free lunches and snacks for children 18 and under during Winter Intersession, Jan. 5-16, 2015. The Winter Fun Café will be open at 16 community locations (see below). There is no application or proof of income needed to participate. Winter Fun Café is a Food Services program that is funded through the USDA Seamless Summer Feeding Option. San Diego Unified is one of few districts in the U.S. offering meals during Winter break intercession for year-round schools.

Location	Address	Zip	Lunch Time
Bayside Community Center	2202 Comstock St.	92111	12-1
City Heights Rec. Center	4380 Landis St.	92105	12-1
Colina Del Sol Rec. Center	5319 Orange Ave.	92115	12-1
Jackie Robinson YMCA	151 YMCA Way	92102	12-1
Linda Vista Rec. Center	7064 Levant St.	92111	12:30-1:30
Logan Heights Branch Library	567 So. 28th St.	92113	12:30-1:30
Malcolm X Branch Library	5148 Market St.	92114	12-1
Mt. View Rec. Center	641 So. Boundary St.	92113	1-2
North Park Rec. Center	4044 Idaho St.	92104	1-2
Paradise Hills Rec. Center	6610 Potomac St.	92139	12-1
Southcrest Rec. Center	4149 Newton Ave.	92113	12:30-1:30
Willie Henderson Rec. Center	1035 So. 45th St.	92113	12-1

Military Connection - Open to the Public: 

Location	Address	Zip	Lunch Time
Gateway CYP	2741 Mendonca Dr.	92110	12-1
Murphy Canyon CYP	4867 Santo Rd.	92124	12-1
Murphy Canyon Kid Connection	3493 Santo Rd.	92124	12-1

Open to children with military base access only:

Location	Address	Zip	Lunch Time
MCAS Miramar Youth	2700 Moore Rd.	92145	12-1

Farm to School program joins California Thursdays pilot project

San Diego Unified’s Farm to School Program has been “growing” strong since 2010 and is now looking beyond the salad bar.

As part of the California Thursdays pilot project, Food Services will expand its focus to sourcing the entire school meal, not just the salad bar, from California farms. California Thursdays launched at 27 elementary schools on Oct. 23 with a special kick off event and lunch at Pacific Beach Elementary School (right). Lunch featured a freshly prepared school meal sourced entirely from California growers and producers.

Media coverage from PB Elementary

   NBC7 San Diego, watch video. 

   CBS8 San Diego, watch video.

The California Thursdays menu will be served every Thursday and will highlight Mary’s Chicken Drumsticks from Pitman Family Farms located in Sanger, CA, where they raise free-range, air-chilled and antibiotic-free chickens. In addition, our locally grown salad bar, milk from Southern California cows and a whole grain roll will be offered. The goal is to expand to all elementary schools within the district.

To learn more about the district's participation in California Thursdays, watch this video.

District dietitian recognized by FoodService Director Magazine

IN THE NEWS: FOODSERVICE DIRECTOR Magazine has named San Diego Unified dietitian, Jessica Keene, R.D., to its list of 30 rising young stars in the industry under the age of 30. Jessica has made an impact on foodservice by aligning menus to new regulations, managing special diets and implementing the TrakNOW system.Read more in FOODSERVICE DIRECTOR Magazine.

San Diego Unified Welcomes You to the 2014-15 School Year

The new school year is full of anticipation and excitement. New classes, new faces and the possibilities seem endless for the year ahead.

Parents can help prepare their students to return to the classroom, says Superintendent Cindy Marten, by emphasizing the importance of school.

“Build up the excitement about school and talk about what it means to be a lifelong learner,” Marten says.

Next is proper preparation. To get back in the groove of school, the US Department of Education suggests establishing healthy at-home routines for school days, such as consistent waking times and getting-ready patterns. Decide on a regular homework time, and create a comfortable, quiet work space. Set bedtimes that allow elementary-age kids to get 10 to 12 hours of sleep and teens to get 8½ to 9½ hours.

It’s also important to make sure kids have breakfast and lunch to fuel their growing minds. To ensure that all students receive a healthy breakfast and lunch, district programs such as “Breakfast in the Classroom” and “Free and Reduced Lunch” are available to income-eligible families. More information can be found on the district’s Food Services Department page.

When it comes to learning, students who miss school….miss out. They miss out on opportunities to learn, build lasting friendships, and develop the skills and attitudes needed to become good citizens and valued employees. There is a very strong connection between student attendance and student performance in school. Higher attendance equals higher achievement for all students. You can learn more at the Attendance Matters web page.

As instruction gets under way, there will be many opportunities to visit your child’s school to meet the principal and their teachers, and learn about opportunities to get involved. Research shows that students are more likely to be successful when they have parents that are involved. Check with your school to find out when “Back to School Night” is scheduled and if they host other events like “Coffee with the Principal” and mark your calendar. Our PTA partners have some great tips for how parents can be involved  on their website.

Attending these events will also help you get familiar with the curriculum your child will be taught. This year will be the first full year of the Common Core State Standards implementation. Teachers and principals can answer school-site and grade-level specific questions while general resources can be found on the district’s website at www.sandi.net/commoncore.

We continue to work hard on our Vision 2020 to ensure a quality school in every neighborhood, with academic, social and physical environments worthy of your child. This means greater attention than ever on creating broader measures of student achievement, and engaging parents and community volunteers in the educational process. Learn more at http://www.sandi.net/vision2020.

Rest assured that there are many exciting things happening at your child’s school. Be a part of it. Get involved. Help your child make this year one of the most memorable.

Future chefs show culinary creativity, win prizes from Uncle Ben

Jacob Spears, a first grader at Hancock Elementary in Tierrasanta, and Isabella Genoso, a seventh grader at Challenger Middle School in Mira Mesa, have won Kindle Fire digital pads and a personal video for their culinary creations in the district's first Kids Create Recipe Contest.

Watch Videos

Jacob Spears» Isabella Genoso»

Both recipes were Asian themed and used whole grain brown rice and may find their way onto the cafeteria menu next fall. The contest was sponsored by Uncle Ben's Rice, which donated the Kindles and gift cards for the second- and third-place finishers. Students had to create recipes that used brown rice or whole-grain flour tortillas. More than 200 recipes were submitted.

Spears won first in the division for students in grades kindergarten through five for his Teriyaki Vegetable Rice. Katie Bohonak, Noah King, Carlos DeCastro grade four at Green Elementary School in San Carlos took second for their Fiesta Lettuce Wraps. Third place went to Annabelle Isaacson, first grade, Dailiard Elementary School in San Carlos, for her Mexican Pizzaz.

In the division for students in grades six-12, Genoso, a seventh grader, won for her Teriyaki Chicken with Asian Vegetables and Brown Rice. Second place went to fellow Challenger student Sarah Thach, an eighth grader, for her Wrapped Delight. Kyla Yu-Swanson, in grade six at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Scripps Ranch, took third place with Ma Po Dofu (Asian Brown Rice w/Turkey and Tofu).

Grand prize winners Spears and Genoso each starred in a video with Uncle Ben's Chef Evan Coben.

The Kids Create Recipe Contest invited students from across the district to try their culinary skills by creating a recipe that used either whole grain brown rice or whole grain flour tortillas and could be served on the school lunch menu. The increased use of whole grains in school meals prompted the contest because San Diego Unified's Food Services Department wanted to hear from the students how they would like to see these foods on their cafeteria menu.

After Isabella created her recipe for the video, Challenger students were invited to try the dish and gave rave reviews, according to Sam Esparza, Food Services Site Leader at Challenger. Same goes for Jacob, whose friends and classmates at Dailiard got to enjoy his creation.
The contest was supported by Uncle Ben’s Rice who donated Kindle Fires for the first place winners. The winners also won a starring role in their own cooking video side by side with a professional chef from Uncle Ben’s and had their recipe served to students at their school. The video was produced by Mary Tyranski, a Food Corps service member with the Food Services Department.

For more information about the Kids Create Recipe Contest, contact Joanne Tucker, Food Services Marketing Coordinator at jtucker@sandi.net

Free lunch for families kicked off 2014 Summer Fun Café

Combine a “Walk with Meb and the Padres Friar,” a nutrition decathlon and a free barbecue and what do you have?

The kickoff event of San Diego Unified School District’s Summer Fun Café program, held June 25, 2014 at Skyline Hills Community Park. Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Sandip Kaur, Director of Nutrition Services, California Department of Education, and Superintendent Cindy Marten are joined in the fun.

Summer is a difficult nutritional time for many children. Not only does food insecurity increase among low income families during the summer months, but children also are at greater risk for obesity as they lose access to school meals they rely on during the school year.

The summer meal programs give children the nutritious meals they need to keep hunger at bay and remain healthy throughout the summer. San Diego Unified’s Summer Fun Café meals also support the community’s other summer programs and help draw children into educational, enrichment and recreational activities that keep them learning, engaged, active, and safe during school vacation. Participating in the Summer Fun Café program requires no paperwork, reservations or income qualifications.

San Diego Unified School District Food Services Department partners with the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department, Military Child and Youth Programs, San Diego Public Library and several non-profit organizations to help fill the summer nutrition gap. The Summer Fun Café is funded through the US Department of Agriculture’s “Seamless Summer Feeding Option” and will be at 61 sites: 28 Park and Recreation Centers, 14 community and military sites, and 19 schools.

“Join us for lunch this summer,” said Gary Petill, San Diego Unified¹s Food Services Director. “It’s fun, it’s free, it’s easy and when the kids head back to school in the fall, they will be strong and ready to learn.”

Check out the Food Services website for a list of locations and special barbecues.

'Salute to Education' looks at Farm to School in the Classroom program at Audubon Elementary

IN THE NEWS: Kids who eat better, usually perform better in school, but students don't always make healthy food choices when they have the option. The Farm to School in the Classroom program is helping change that by linking nutrition education in the classroom to the lunch offerings in the cafeteria. Cox 4 visits Audubon Elementary School in Skyline to find out how. Watch video from Cox 4 San Diego»