This week, May 5th-9th is Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week. We have talked often about the changing times, especially in education.. School lunches have not been immune to the times, having changed tremendously over the past few decades. Today, there are very stringent guidelines outlining what can and cannot be served and how it can or cannot be prepared. There is a mountain of paperwork and record keeping, not to mention recent developments like computerized tracking of student meals. Oh yes—and thousands of people to feed!
One thing that hasn’t changed is the dedication of the men and women who make it happen everyday. In our county there are over 10,000 meals served on a daily basis. These meals nourish the bodies of our children so that their minds can grow. Without this nourishment, a student’s attentiveness drastically lessens. The reality is that some our students receive their most nutritious meal of the day at school, and all of our children are healthier because of the care, concern, and planning that goes into each meal. Our child nutrition employees also serve very important roles as mentors and counselors as well. Some of the best role models our students have are the men and women they see everyday at lunchtime.
When I eat lunch with students at each school, without fail I leave with a full stomach and a little awe that these managers and workers can pull off the daily feat of feeding so many so well. I think most of us take for granted the intense planning and preparation that goes into running an effective school cafeteria, and I would like to take a moment to thank all of our child nutrition workers for the “ordinary miracles” they create everyday – giving not only nutrition- but themselves to our children.. They are the lifeblood of our schools, and without them education would be impossible.
We welcome your comments on my blog at drstrickland.blogspot.com. Please visit our website at www.columbus.k12.nc.us.
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