It’s hard to believe that 2014 is almost over, but here we are! With just a few days of school left before winter break we wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you to our readers for your support. We had a wonderful 2014, with really exciting moments for breakfast-in-the-classroom as well as SNF’s fundraising and scholarship efforts. Among some of the stories you all liked best this year were:
- Our interview with Dayle Hayes from School Meals that Rock on using photography and social media to promote school nutrition;
- This year’s National School Breakfast Week theme was ‘Get in the Game!’ We love National School Breakfast Week, and we’re already looking forward to NSBW 2015 when we can ‘Make the Grade’ with School Breakfast!
- A collection of breakfast-in-the-classroom and school breakfast infographics to help school nutrition professionals market their program online, and in school;
- Our announcement that Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom is switching gears in an effort to bring school breakfast to high-need districts through new, state-level partnerships and action;
- The #GivingTuesday social media event that helped us raise over $5000 for the Annual Fund, to help fund SNF scholarships.
There is an awful lot for us to look forward to in 2015. In addition to bringing breakfast-in-the-classroom to more students, we are going to be expanding the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom social media efforts, awarding scholarships to SNA members who want to pursue higher education, and updating our Breakfast Resource Center—and that’s just for starters! One of our New Year’s resolutions is to bring our readers even more school breakfast and breakfast-in-the-classroom news in 2015, so stay tuned.
And while we’re on the subject of resolutions, we have one more list for our readers before the end of the year. Below you will find a list of three great resources for your school nutrition program in 2015. Whether you want to offer physical activity, educational programming, or more fresh fruits and veggies to your students, these three suggestions will help you create a healthier, more active school environment in the New Year. Happy holidays everyone—see you in a few weeks!
Visit www.fueluptoplay60.com for more information!
Resolution #1: Add Physical Activity with Fuel Up to Play 60
If your school isn’t a Fuel Up to Play 60 school, make 2015 your year! Any adult who wants to help activate a Fuel Up to Play 60 program at their school can sign up to become a Program Advisor. Plan a kick-off celebration for after the New Year, or in the spring, to raise awareness and interest in the program.
Resolution #2: School Breakfast/Breakfast-in-the-Classroom
It’s not exactly a secret that we love breakfast-in-the-classroom around here! SNF and the other Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom are thrilled to continue the work of expanding access to school breakfast for students across the country. As we mentioned, in 2015 our Breakfast Resource Center will be getting a makeover, and we will be adding even more school breakfast-related content to the blog here at BeyondBreakfast.org.
Resolution #3: Extend Opportunities by Partnering with Extension
One of the most popular stories at Beyond Breakfast in 2014 was our profile of the partnership between Alaska Farm-to-School and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Services. Farm-to-school programs a hot topic at the moment, thanks to USDA’s new, $5 million farm-to-school grant announcement, which means we will be hearing a lot more about farm-to-school efforts in the new year.
When it comes to educational programming, your local extension is an amazing resource at your disposal. If you haven’t yet reached out to your university’s extension services we urge you to do so. Extensions offer programs and services that can help you create healthier opportunities for your students.
From all of the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom, we wish our readers a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy New Year!