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EGUSD in the Spotlight
Harvest of the Month program teaches elementary students about the wonders of fruits and vegetables
Photo: First grade students in Cathy Murphy’s class sample cabbage as they learn more about the vegetable.
October brought winter squash. In November, persimmons were highlighted. Dried fruit were the stars of December. And mandarins had their chance to shine in January.
Each month, Elk Grove Unified elementary school students learn about new fruits and vegetables and delicious ways to prepare them through the Harvest of the Month program.
Photo: First grade students closely inspect the cabbage during a discussion.
The Harvest of the Month program is offered at 38 elementary schools by EGUSD’s Food and Nutrition Services in partnership with Network for a Healthy California and a $46,000 Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) grant from Kaiser Permanente.
Through the partnership, participating schools receive a box of locally grown, in-season, fresh California produce containing a different fruit or vegetable each month, giving students the chance to study and sample produce. Teachers receive a monthly educator newsletter that provides information, curricular ties and activities for incorporating the produce item of the month into their core curriculum. Students also receive a newsletter for their parents explaining the produce they sampled in class and a recipe to use the produce at home.
Photo: First grade teacher Cathy Murphy adds the “dressing” to the cabbage salad.
“The Harvest of the Month program is also a great way to teach nutrition education,” said Anne Gaffney, nutrition specialist for the district. “It encourages students to take a greater involvement in healthy food preparation, making them more likely to taste new and healthful foods. Classroom cooking projects also support and encourage the family meal.”
The objectives of the Harvest of the Month program include:
- Increasing students’ access to fruits and vegetable through school meal programs, classrooms, school gardens, farmer’s markets, grocery stores and community gardens;
- Stressing the importance of participation in daily physical activity and understanding why it is important; and
- Increasing students’ knowledge of and familiarity with California-grown fruits and vegetables and the rich agricultural bounty of the state.
Photo: First grade students at Kennedy enjoy a cabbage salad.
“The Harvest of the Month program ties in perfectly with our district’s wellness policy,” said Nancy Lucia, associate superintendent of education services for the district. “The goal of our wellness policy is to create a school environment that includes healthy food choices and encourages physical activity. Harvest of the Month is a great way to reinforce the importance of improving the health of our students and preventing childhood obesity.”
Photo: Kennedy 1st grade teacher Cathy Murphy hands out cabbage salad to her students.
Harvest of the Month produce has been offered to 12 elementary schools over the past 3 years. Due to the success of this program and the lasting nutrition impact this program provides EGUSD students and families, this fall, Harvest of the Month expanded to include all teachers participating in the Food and Nutrition Services SHAPE program, a program that provides nutrition education training, materials and nutrition support for teachers and the classroom. Currently, Harvest of the Month provides close to 600 boxes of produce throughout the district’s elementary schools.
For more information on the Harvest of the Month program, please visit www.harvestofthemonth.com.
Spotlight Archives
2009
February 5, 2009 - Community board meetings return for a third year
January 23, 2009 - EGUSD students see history through a veteran’s eyes
January 13, 2009 - A, B, C in A-G – Chart Your Course to College
2008
December 18, 2008 - Winners honored for EGUSD/U.S. Attorney’s Office Internet Safety Video Contest
December 01, 2008 - Winners of the 2008/2009 No Excuses – Go to School
November 17, 2008 - Bright Lights, Big Talent
October 24, 2008 - Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles visit Florin High School
October 9, 2008 - EGUSD Walks to School
October 2, 2008 - EGUSD’s Science Initiative
September 19, 2008 - Stephanie Lopez-Cox returns to Elk Grove a “Golden Girl”
September 10, 2008 - Valley High School Students Get a Start on College
August 25, 2008 - Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle School and Cosumnes Oaks High School Open
August 14, 2008 - Incoming 7th graders take a “Jump Start” into their school year
August 4, 2008 - EGUSD’s Math Initiative
July 14, 2008 - Parents and students grow and learn together at Partners Preschool
June 16, 2008 - EGUSD Goes Gold – Celebrating 50 Years of Educational Excellence
June 6, 2008 - Kaiser Permanente Rewards EGUSD Elementary students with perfect attendance with the gift of a two-wheel ride
May 30, 2008 - Sheldon High School Student Matthew King wins Elk Grove Auto Mall 2007/2008 Graduating Seniors Attendance Drive
May 20, 2008 - Harriet Eddy Middle School student wins pair of round-trip tickets from Southwest Airlines
May 21, 2008 - Elk Grove Unified and the Elk Grove Education Association Celebrate the Day of the Teacher
May 6, 2008 - Elk Grove Unified School District’s 2008 Employees of the Year
April 28, 2008 - Sacramento County Educators Host Budget Forum at State Capital
April 16, 2008 - EGUSD Launches New Attendance Campaign Videos
April 4, 2008 - Winners selected for 3rd Annual Superintendent’s Art Contest
March 26, 2008 - Megaconference Jr. 2008 - Arthur C. Butler Students Take Their Voices to the World
March 17, 2008 - Elk Grove Unified Joins Call to Fix Governor’s Proposed Budget
March 4, 2008 - Elk Grove Unified Hosts Sacramento County Superintendents’ Press Conference on State Budget Cuts
Feb. 19, 2008 - 4th Annual High School Conference helps train the leaders of the future
Jan. 16, 2008 - Laguna Creek High School hosts ConnectEd Policy Site Visit
Jan. 02, 2008 - Senior Attendance Drive returns for second year
2007
Dec. 12, 2007 - John Ehrhardt Elementary students combine academics and community service
Dec. 03, 2007 - EGUSD’s Commitment to Service Learning Honored
Nov. 15, 2007 - Winners announced for No Excuses – Go to School Rhyme & Poster Contests
Nov. 13, 2007 - Veterans Day celebrated at Elk Grove Unified
Oct. 23, 2007 - Time of Remembrance Project and Website
Oct. 15, 2007 - Markofer Elementary offers “Donuts for Dads/Muffins for Moms"
Oct. 3, 2007 - EGUSD elementary schools participate in Walk to School Day
Sept. 18, 2007 - Options abound on new College and Career website
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