Departments & Programs

Community Relations

For Immediate Release
September 6, 2011

Contact:
Cass Cannon
Community Relations Specialist
Charlottesville City Schools
434-245-2962
Cass Cannon@ccs.k12.va.us

Media Release

City Schools Nutrition Staff Honored as Trailblazers

Local Food Hub and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have selected two Charlottesville City Schools Nutrition Services employees to receive its Trailblazer Award.

School Dietician Alicia Cost and Child Nutrition Coordinator Sandra Vasquez will be honored for their innovative efforts in bringing locally grown food into their food procurement policies and their commitment to increasing students’ access to fresh, healthy local food.

The Trailblazer Award will be presented at the Local Food Hub Celebration of Continued Growth and Expansion, held at the warehouse in Ivy on Thursday, September 15 at 11a.m. Terri Allard will be the Master of Ceremonies.

In the past five years, CCS Nutrition Services has introduced a number of innovations in healthier school meals, including:

  • Local produce from area farms is served at elementary schools
  • Student taste tests of new products, e.g., vegetarian black bean and brown rice tacos
  • Made-to-order salads and sandwiches at Walker, Buford and CHS
  • Pizza with whole wheat crust offered
  • Increased lunch periods from 2 to 4, to ensure shorter lines and allow more time for slower, healthier pace of eating at CHS and Buford
  • Awarded USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable grants since 2008 to provide daily snacks at 4 of 6 elementary schools. Expanded the snack to all elementary schools with support of volunteer parents and equipment grants.
  • Salad bar at Burnley-Moran sponsored by Whole Foods
  • Awarded VFHY grant for vending machine audit and improvement
  • Ongoing partnership with local chefs in recipe development and staff training.
  • Presentations for parents on wellness, nutrition and cooking.
  • Collaborative partnerships with City Schoolyard garden at Buford and other programs such as PB&J fund, Community Obesity Task Force, Local Food Hub, Boys & Girls Club, and Parks and Recreation to promote nutrition, physical activity and overall wellness
  • Cafeterias eliminated fryers years ago
  • Vending machines, which include healthy options, are available only to CHS students after school hours

 

* * *