Philadelphia Tribune - Index

Philadelphia Tribune - The Learning Key, Tuesday September 22, 2009 - Index

Temple University, Drexel
University, University of
Pennsylvania Hospital and at
least 12 other local and national
advocacy groups. Temple
University is onsite, in my office,
entering nutritional data into the
school database to compile nutritional
information on how our
children are eating day-to-day.”
“We constantly charge suppliers
to develop innovative products
on a pilot basis,” said
Grasella. “Kids are our toughest
critics so we have them to do the
taste testing. Philadelphia is one
of the few school districts that
have an Eat. Right. Now. Program
initiative. Healthy eating is they
key.”
In addition, all 267 schools
have Nutrition Education in their
buildings. Grasella said that they
apply for grants through the
USDA, Pennsylvania Partnership
in Education and other foundations
focused on nutritional
health.
“We get $10 million per year in
funds which is used on a curriculum
based platform to get kids
into following good lifelong nutritional
habits,” Grasella said.
The Food Service Division
caters on average to 51,000 students
for breakfast and 110,000
students for lunch. They are also
responsible for providing meals to
students in the after-school
snack program, the after-school
dinner program and Saturday
feeding programs.
The after-school feeding programs
are offered in more than
half of the district’s schools that
offer after-school academic and
community-based programs for
their students.
Last year, under the direction
of School District Superintendent
Arlene C. Ackerman, every district
school became a part of the
Universal Breakfast Program.
What this means is that every
student regardless of income who
is registered at a school qualifies
for a breakfast at no cost. No
child should complain of being
hungry because they didn’t get
breakfast.
Generally, most schools serve
breakfast between the hours of 7
and 8:30 a.m. (hours may vary
according to your school).
Students, all you have to do is
wake up a little earlier, show up
on time and you can get a breakfast.
Ackerman added, “When students
have empty stomachs, it is
harder to fill their minds with
information and knowledge and
their hearts with ambition and
hope.”
School Superintendent Arlene Ackerman is pictured having lunch with students at Univerity City High School last year.
– PHOTO/MELVIN EPPS, THIRD EYE PRO/SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
A student is served lunch, while school Superintendent Arlene
Ackerman stands in line to get her lunch.
– PHOTO/MELVIN EPPS, THIRD EYE PRO/SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
A food service employee serves up a healthy lunch at
University City High School.
– PHOTO/MELVIN EPPS, THIRD EYE PRO/SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
SEPTEMBER 22, 2009 / PAGE 5