School Breakfast Week March 5-9, 2007

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 28

February 2, 2007

INFORMATIONAL

TO:

Division Superintendents

FROM:

Billy K. Cannaday, Jr.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT:

School Breakfast Week March 5-9, 2007

In Virginia, participating schools served more than 33 million breakfasts to students last school year. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in partnership with the School Nutrition Association (SNA), recognizes School Breakfast Week each year to raise awareness about the availability of breakfast at school. During the week of March 59, 2007, schools around the country will participate in School Breakfast Week activities. This years theme, A World of School Breakfasts, encourages schools to celebrate breakfast around the globe.

Studies have shown that students who participate in the School Breakfast Program have improved overall diet quality, including greater consumption of grains, fruits and milk; improved academic performance; and improved attendance. Increasing the number of students who eat a nutritious meal as part of the School Breakfast Program is an important step in improving the health of Virginias students, and their academic achievement as well.

Visit USDAs Eat Smart. Play Hard. website at the following link for a Power Up with Breakfast lesson plan and supporting materials: http://www.fns.usda.gov/eatsmartplayhard/collection/PowerPlans/Kids/powerup.pdf

The Discover School Breakfast Tool Kit is also available to assist school divisions in promoting and expanding the School Breakfast Program. The complete kit is available for download from the USDA website at the following link:

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/breakfast/toolkit/Default.htm

Your support of this important program is essential to its continued success. I encourage you to celebrate School Breakfast Week and to make breakfast an important part of each academic day.

For more information about the USDA School Breakfast Program, please contact Lynne Fellin, acting director of school nutrition programs, or the assigned school nutrition program specialist, at (804) 225-2074.

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