Another summer is behind us and it’s goodbye to long, lazy summer days and back to books, routines and student nutrition programs! We hope you’ve enjoyed your summer with your friends and family and that you’re looking forward to getting back to school.
The Brant Food For Thought staff have geared up to help student nutrition programs and their volunteers get a great start to the school year! Check our website frequently as we update available resources to help you run a successful program. Be sure to subscribe to our website, like on Facebook at Brant-Food-For-Thought and follow us on Twitter @BrantFFT.
September is a good month to promote your Student Nutrition Program! Brant Food For Thought can help by providing you with a template 
letting the parent community know what the program is about and when it will be offered. It also outlines the costs tailored to your specific program and provides details on how the parents can contribute financially or with in-kind donations.
Contact our office for a copy of the ASK letter template and find out how you can start promoting your program!
September is an ideal time for Student Nutrition Program volunteers to recruit new volunteers for their programs.
Volunteers are the heart of our programs and Judy Maidment, Volunteer Development Coordinator (VDC), will be visiting your programs this fall to get pictures and stories and even offer an extra helping hand if needed. Judy will be happy to chop, serve whatever you need! The VDC will bring tips on recruiting, recognizing and retaining your volunteers. So gather your volunteers for a group photo, showcase your program and get any questions answered. Be on the lookout for an email from your VDC, Judy. She’ll be in contact with you to arrange your visit.
Brant Food For Thought staff is available for Meet the Teach
er Nights, on a first come first served basis. We will bring information about Student Nutrition Programs, volunteering opportunities and treats or giveaways for the students. Contact VDC Judy Maidment to arrange. Let us help you recruit more volunteers and even encourage your existing ones!
Community Development Coordinator, Nancy Waldschmidt, will be reaching out to all Student Nutrition Program Coordinators and school Principals with the latest updates, news and events. Watch for her email outlining this year’s program and data expectations, along with upcoming workshops and events.
Come join the Brant Food For Thought Team as they ‘Kick Start’ the new school year and host the Annual Kick Start Breakfast at the Best Western Brantford Hotel & Conference Centre on Wednesday September 26, 2018. Registration begins at 8:00 am and is limited to the Principals and Coordinators of Student Nutrition Programs (maximum 2 per program). Please RSVP by September 19 to Diana Tedford, Administrative Services Coordinator by email diana@brantfoodforthought.ca.
This annual meeting will give Principals and program volunteers an overview of expectations for the upcoming year for Student Nutrition Programs, while enjoying a delicious buffet breakfast. Find out about important upcoming dates and events, get information on the School Fresh Produce Box, Fresh Apples Program and White Milk Initiative. Meet special guests from our Lead Agency, along with funders and local suppliers. Get a chance to network with other student nutrition program staff and volunteers and be inspired with new ideas.
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, formerly Ministry of Children and Youth Services, requires that ALL student nutrition programs receiving provincial funding be assessed annually.
Site Assessments will be starting up again in September. Community Development Coordinator (CDC), Nancy Waldschmidt, will be contacting programs to arrange a date and time. Site Assessments are based on six Quality Assurance Standards to ensure best practices are being followed in all Universal Student Nutrition Programs supported and facilitated by Brant Food For Thought.
The CDC can answer any questions you may have regarding:
- Program type and delivery styles
- Webtracker reporting
- Menu planning
- Centralized food purchasing
- Online food vendors
- Special School Nutrition Initiatives
- Grants available for Student Nutrition Programs
- Fundraising opportunities
The CDC may refer you to Judy Maidment, Volunteer Development Coordinator, should you have questions regarding:
- Building volunteer capacity
- Recruiting and retaining volunteers
- Safe Food Handling Certification
- Upcoming volunteer training workshops
A reminder to all Principals and Coordinators of Student Nutrition Programs that it is now mandatory that a minimum of (1) person from each program hold a valid Safe Food Handling Certificate. This individual must be on site during any food preparation.
Safe Food Handling Test Dates are available the last Thursday of every month at either 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. at the Brant Food For Thought office. Please contact VDC Judy Maidment directly to arrange an alternate date, if needed. Groups of 5 or more can be accommodated, offsite at a mutually convenient location.
Stay tuned for more information on the Brant Food For Thought Fall Workshop Forum in October. We encourage all SNP Coordinators and volunteers to come out and enjoy a delicious dinner with our staff and special guests and enjoy the opportunity to network with other program volunteers. Hear what’s new in Student Nutrition Programs for this year and get some hands on learning in the kitchen! This is always a fun evening and we hope to see you there!
The Brant Food For Thought Team is committed to supporting you, the Principals, school staff and volunteers, this school year. We want to know about all the good work that goes on behind the scenes to making your student nutrition programs a success. Share with us what you are doing to actively promote your program and what the students like most about your program. Tell us about your volunteers, highlight the individuals who have gone above and beyond so we can nominate them for special awards. Ask for assistance with recruiting volunteers, along with ideas for retaining and recognizing the committed people who make the program a success in your school. Share those “feel good” success stories with us so we can share the impact that volunteers are having and the tremendous difference they make in our school communities.
Thank you in advance for being a part of student nutrition programs and the Brant Food For Thought team. We look forward to another great year!