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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.
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
•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
•Coursework eligible for Level 2 School Nutrition Association (SNA) Certification*
*40 hours – must have high school diploma or equivalent
Year 2 (Limited to 35 participants)
•Recommended for school food service directors, managers, and staff
•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
•Coursework eligible for Level 3 or 4 School Nutrition Association (SNA) Certification*
*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.
Submitted by: Amanda Aldridge, Nutrition Services Supervisor's Assistant Lincoln Public Schools
{gallery}/media/jw_sigpro/users/0000000548/LPS summer feeding{/gallery} When schools abruptly closed and talk of alternative meal service started last spring, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of it. Working at a Title 1 Elementary school, in the heart of a community of families that are at a higher risk for severe negative impacts from this pandemic, I wanted to do all I could to give a little familiarity to the students and families I serve. Our district had several sites throughout the city for families to pick up weekly children grab and go meals throughout the summer, in which nearly 750,000 meals were distributed. Nutrition Services staff who choose to work were supported with district provided staff from purchasing, transportation, custodial services and delivery/warehouse. At my school we also had help from our Family Care Coordinator and Assistant Principal, it really was our community coming together to serve the community. For a majority of students and staff it was our main source of outside the home socialization, we were greeted with just as much excitement and enthusiasm as given. It gave us the opportunity to get a little glimpse of how our students were doing and allowed us to show students and families that no matter what we are there for them. We got to know a few family pets, some new to the city families, grandparents gathering meals to help out their families and neighbors, it also allowed us to reconnect with neighborhood students who have moved on to middle and high school. We were one of the first in the district to learn how to manage working in masks, with quite a few families and students quickly following suit. We experienced all types of weather from near freezing temps after spring break, to rain and wind, luckily we only had a few of those hot and humid Nebraska summer days. This is a stressful and uncertain time for all, but all that who pitched in agreed that the grab and go distribution was as beneficial to us as the families we served.
When the flood hit Boyd County on March 13, 2019, the Orphan Grain Train from Norfolk, NE was first on the scene with water, food, clothing and much needed supplies. Without the help of these people, many would have found it very difficult to begin the recovery process.
At the 2019 Nebraska School Nutrition Association State Conference held in Kearney, a request was made to name the Orphan Grain Train in Norfolk, NE, the recipient of our annual fund raiser, Pennies A Day. It was also then decided to donate all the proceeds from our basket raffle as well. Because of all the generous donations from our members, NSNA was able to make a donation to the OGT in the amount of $2,836.00.
When asked what project they had in mind to use the money for, immediately Mr Trampe said they had a bike project in mind but no funding at the time. Not long after our visit with Mr Trampe, I received this message from him. Bethel Bible College in Ghana received a shipment of aid which included bicycles from the Norfolk warehouse. OGT received this heartfelt ‘Thank you’ from one of the boys that received a bike, his only mode of transportation. Hello Dr.Zina, I am very grateful to you and your ministry, I used to trek long distances to School, but since you gave me other friends ab bicycle, it has really helped us to go to School with ease. I want to stand on behalf of my friends and all those who benefited from your generosity and thank you so so much for this great support you have given to boost our lives and education. May God richly bless you. Yours Faithfully, Godwin Barfou
A big thank you to all our NSNA members who found it in their hearts to give so generously.
Keep. It. Simple. That’s how SNF’s fundraising message always gets straight to the heart of the matter: Donations help to feed hungry children.
But you know that the road to this goal is anything but simple! It’s a winding road, full of hills and valleys, unforeseen obstacles blocking the way, unexpected detours and uncharted territory. To navigate this road, school nutrition professionals need directions, green lights, route markers and even some roadside assistance. This is our metaphor for explaining how professional development gets everyone closer to the goal! And for many SNA members, the Foundation holds the key to that valued growth.
A wide range of growth opportunities can be yours, from taking a single course on leadership to attending your first School Nutrition Industry Conference (SNIC) to earning such letters as “SNS,” “MBA or even “PhD” after your name. Professional development comes in many forms, but the common denominator is learning that helps you SNAC Bites Questions or feedback? Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. June 2019
do your job—feeding hungry children—better. Why donate to the Foundation? It’s simple: Giving = Feeding.
And whether a cafeteria manager contributes $5 at a state conference or an industry partner contributes $25,000 for a named scholarship, every single dollar counts toward that goal.
Thanks you to all who donated to Pennies a Day! This year it went to The Orphan Grain Train.
Since 1992, Orphan Grain Train’s 27 regional locations have delivered more than 25 million meals and 3,202 shipments of humanitarian aid to needy people in various states and 68 countries on 5 continents. The mission of Orphan Grain Train is uniquely dependent upon dedicated volunteers, many of whom have given numerous years of service for the sake of others. Since 1992, more than 3.7 million hours have been volunteered!
