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Ohio Department of Education
National School
Breakfast Week
Students Encouraged to Start the Day with Breakfast
Well-nourished students have well-nourished minds. Starting the school
day with a nutritious breakfast is a healthy way to help students focus
and concentrate on schoolwork. To encourage more families to take
advantage of the healthy choices available to them, the Ohio Department
of Education is promoting National School Breakfast Week.
“National School Breakfast Week provides an opportunity for schools to
highlight the importance of starting each day with a nutritious meal,”
said Paolo DeMaria, superintendent of public instruction. “For students
who do not have the chance to eat at home before school, the breakfast
program ensures all kids can be ready to learn and succeed in school. I
appreciate the efforts this week to educate Ohio’s students and
families about the importance of breakfast.”
The 2017 campaign theme is Take the School Breakfast Challenge. The
Department’s Office for Child Nutrition is pleased to work with school
meal program sponsors to increase breakfast participation in Ohio
schools. Schools taking part in the school meal programs are encouraged
to “Take the Challenge” from March 6-10 with special menus,
decorations, cafeteria events and more. Many Ohio schools participating
in the free and reduced priced meal program will be celebrating the
week and holding events to promote the importance of breakfast.
The Department organized special events in February to promote National
School Breakfast Week. One contest encouraged schools to share unique
ideas for increasing breakfast participation. Clinton-Massie Elementary
School in Clinton County submitted the winning idea for suggesting a
series of themed days, which include visits from local firefighters and
morning radio hosts and performances by high school music groups. The
district will receive a visit from the school meal program mascot,
Munch the Fox, this week.
A second contest encouraged students to create posters using the theme
A Healthy Breakfast Leads to Successful Learning. The Department
selected six winning posters. Winners were from West Elementary School
and Vinton County Middle School in Vinton County Local School District;
St. Nicholas School in the Diocese of Youngstown Catholic Schools;
Hillcrest Academy in Hamilton County; Stepstone Academy in Cleveland
Metropolitan School District; and Kramer Elementary in Talawanda City
School District.
The winning ideas and posters will be on display at the Child Nutrition
Program’s Training and Vendor Show on March 6 at the Quest Conference
Center, 8405 Pulsar Place, Columbus. The show provides opportunities
for 500 Ohio food program sponsors to network and receive free training
from the Department's Office for Child Nutrition.
Launched in 1989, National School Breakfast Week raises awareness of
the availability of the School Breakfast Program to all children and
promotes the links between eating a good breakfast, academic
achievement, and healthy lifestyles. For data about school breakfasts,
visit fns.usda.gov.
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