School Lunch Changes for the Better!

Dear William Tell Elementary families,

This fall, all Tell City-Troy Township school cafeterias will be implementing new meal pattern guidelines that are required by the State. This new pattern will ensure that meals are healthy, well-balanced and provide students the nutrition they need to succeed at school. School meals currently offer students milk, fruits and vegetables, proteins and grains, but now they must meet strict limits on saturated fat and portion size. Since the new requirements began in 2012-2013, our school lunches have met additional standards requiring:

· Age-appropriate calorie limits

· Larger servings of vegetables and fruits (students must take at least one serving of produce)

· A wider variety of vegetables, including dark green, red/orange vegetables and legumes

· Fat-free or 1% milk (flavored milk must be fat-free)

· More whole grains

· And less sodium (The regulation for sodium reduction in school lunches actually does not go into effect until school year 2014-2015, but our cafeterias will gradually begin to enforce this guideline over the next couple years.)

Applying the new meal pattern guidelines to our menus will help provide your children a high quality, nutritious lunch. We’re always working to offer our students healthier and delicious choices

School meals are a great value and a huge convenience for busy families too!

Now is the perfect time to encourage your children to choose school lunch! We look forward to welcoming your children to the cafeteria this fall.

Wellness Initiatives

Here is a Smart Snack Calculator to see if your snack measures up:

https://www.healthiergeneration.org/take_action/schools/snacks_and_beverages/smart_snacks/link_to_the_alliance_product_calculator/

Walking School Bus (August to Nov.)
Walking Wednesdays
Positive Messages about health and Wellness in hallways
Little Marksman Running Club (spring)
SHAQ Assessments (spring)
Vision Assessments
Backpack food for weekends for students who are risk for hunger.
Penny drive for Alexis Dalton and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Summer Open Gym!
Pint Size Heroes (this year we plan to have 3 blood drives)
Wellness and Parent Advisory Meetings
Staff Health Fair
Staff initiatives- encouraging walking with walking school bus & use of workout room
Free Classes offered for staff and students at the Jr-Sr High
International Walk to School Day
Treats for the troops overseas
ACES Walk
Lunch menus with Fear Factor Foods highlighted
Super Food HEROES through I.U. (4th grade)
Community Garden
Past participant of National Bike to School Day
Recess and field days are used as rewards
P.E. Classes utilizes the SPARK program
Summer Lunch Program
Triathlon (1-6)
Minds in Motion for Kindergarten students
Healthy Snacks offered (Olweus) on Fridays
Wear Red Luncheon for Heart Awareness at Jr-Sr High
Healthy Snacks provided by our café to Pre-K, K & 1st