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Celebrating School Lunch Hero Day on May 1, 2020
Compton, California – Between preparing healthy food, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies, and offering service with a smile, Compton USD nutrition professionals have a lot on their plate. To celebrate their hard work and commitment, CUSD schools will celebrate School Lunch Hero Day on May 1. This day, celebrated annually since 2013, was designated by The School Nutrition Association and Jarrett Krosoczka, author of the “Lunch Lady” graphic novel series. School Lunch Hero Day provides an opportunity for parents, guardians, students, school staff, Board Members and community members to thank those who provide healthy meals to nearly 30 million of America’s students each school day.
Compton, California – Between preparing healthy food, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies, and offering service with a smile, Compton USD nutrition professionals have a lot on their plate. To celebrate their hard work and commitment, CUSD schools will celebrate School Lunch Hero Day on May 1. This day, celebrated annually since 2013, was designated by The School Nutrition Association and Jarrett Krosoczka, author of the “Lunch Lady” graphic novel series. School Lunch Hero Day provides an opportunity for parents, guardians, students, school staff, Board Members and community members to thank those who provide healthy meals to nearly 30 million of America’s students each school day.
“Our Student nutrition services staff have long been a critical part of how we enable student success and ensure that every child served by our district has to a nutritious meal. Now, in these unprecedented times, our staff have stepped up to the challenge of pivoting how meals are served and have worked in earnest to ensure that not one child in Compton need go without a meal during the week,” said CUSD Superintendent Dr. Darin Brawley.
All across the school district, school nutrition professionals will be honored and recognized from students, school staff, parents, and the community through a social media takeover celebrating them with one post each hour from 8am to 3pm on all of CUSD’s social media channels.
“School nutrition employees must balance many roles and follow numerous federal, state and local regulations to ensure safe and healthy meals are available in schools. School Lunch Hero Day provides the opportunity for the community to thank these hardworking heroes,” said Ladislao Figueroa, Jr., Senior Director of Student Nutrition Services. Federal nutrition standards ensure that school cafeterias always offer low-fat or fat-free milk, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. School meals also meet limits on calories, sodium and unhealthy fats.
The importance and nutritional value of school meals are well documented. For many children, school lunch is the most important and nutrient-rich meal of their day. All CUSD enrolled students have access to healthy meals at no-cost to them. Our students enjoy over five million servings of healthy breakfast, lunch, supper and snack annually at thirty-one schools serving grade groups from Pre-K trough 12th grade.
“Nutrition Services Staff, are not only a source of physical sustenance, they are a beacon of hope and a reminder to our children and families that they are loved and regarded. We are grateful to them for being an extension our district’s commitment to ensure the wellbeing of our students and the entirety of the Compton community, especially in this time of school site closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said President Micah Ali.
To learn more about the school nutrition program for Compton USD, visit Student Nutrition Services.
Compton Unified School District, whose Superintendent is Dr. Darin Brawley, is located in in the south-central region of Los Angeles County. CUSD encompasses the city of Compton and portions of the cities of Carson and Los Angeles. The district currently serves nearly 24,000 students at 36 sites and is in the midst of a dramatic turnaround, marked by increases in student achievement rates, a graduation rate nearing 90%, dramatic facilities improvements, and a focus on STEAM throughout all schools. The mission of the Compton Unified School District is to empower leaders to lead, teachers to teach and students to learn by fostering an environment that encourages leaders and teachers to be visionary, innovative and accountable for the achievement of all students. CUSD’s Superintendent, Dr. Darin Brawley, was named 2019 Superintendent of the Year by the Los Angeles County Office of Education. For more information, visit http://www.compton.k12.ca.us.
The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Founded in 1946, SNA and its members are dedicated to making healthy school meals and nutrition education available to all students. To find out more about today’s school meals, visit www.schoolnutrition.org/SchoolMeals.
