As you know, breakfast is critical for student success in the classroom. Students who have had breakfast have fewer behavior problems and are more ready to learn!
Throughout February, we will be challenging you to create more accessible, engaging, and nourishing breakfast experiences for your students. Your efforts earn points for your school, and the top three point earners will savor victory with tasty cash prizes to support your school’s nutrition program!
To keep the game fair, schools will be divided into two groups based on school size: 1-600 and 600+. Both groups will compete for their own 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners and get a cash prize!
The Mountain plains Leadership Conference in Omaha, Ne is being held on November 3&4th 2023. We are excited about hosting this event and hope to see you there. This is a great event to help train and get people interested about leadership in your state.
If you have any questions feel free to contact me at this address or our Executive Director Mary Pat Vacek at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. we will be happy to answer any questions you may have. We have a hotel block set for people and you will get a link to the hotel after registration.
For 54 years, the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and the University of Nebraska Lincoln have aimed to elevate the School Meals Programs by delivering quality educational experiences for school food service professionals. This tradition of quality educational programming continues through the 2023 Child Nutrition Training Academy, which will be held June 5-9, 2023 at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, East Campus.
The Training Academy is designed to fit the needs of both new and experienced school food service professionals, and provides a learning environment which strengthens professionalism, builds confidence, inspires critical thinking, and cultivates creativity through experiential learning. Your district will benefit from a better understanding of program regulations to ensure integrity. Attendees will create S.M.A.R.T. goals to encourage accountability for changes they would like to implement in their food service operation. Additionally, attendees will have the ability to network with other school food service professionals.
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Two training opportunities are available; however, Year 1 must have been previously completed to participate in Year 2.
Year 1 (Limited to 35 participants)
•Recommended for school food service directors, managers, and staff
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•Topics include:
·        School Nutrition 101
·        Basic Culinary Math
·        Buy American Provision
·        Utilizing the Cafeteria as a Classroom
·        Managing Personalities and Conflict
·        Financial Management
·        Food Allergies
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•Coursework eligible for Level 2 School Nutrition Association (SNA) Certification*
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*40 hours – must have high school diploma or equivalent
Year 2 (Limited to 35 participants)
•Recommended for school food service directors, managers, and staff
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•Topics include:
·        Menu Development
·        Food Defense (tabletop exercise)
·        Foundation for Training Excellence
·        Forecasting the Procurement of Foods
·        Farm to School Workshop
·        Team Building
·        Communications Class
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•Coursework eligible for Level 3 or 4 School Nutrition Association (SNA) Certification*
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*40 hours – must have high school diploma or equivalent
*Please note, the registration fees from the 2022 Training Academy were mistakenly provided in a previous email to Administrators. The fees listed above reflect the accurate rates for the 2023 Training Academy.
Participants must be at least 19 years of age to attend the Child Nutrition Training Academy. All payments must be postmarked by May 23, 2023. No refunds will be issued after May 12, 2023.
COVID-19 brought changes for school nutrition programs around the country including in the way we serve breakfast. Keeping or starting an alternative breakfast model in our "new normal" can make it easier for kids to access the meals they need to learn and grow, encourage eating together as a community, and removing stigma associated with breakfast.