Special to IFN
January brought a delicious celebration to Iredell-Statesville Schools, as the district focused on promoting the nutritional benefits of dairy to students. Schools throughout the district creatively decorated their cafeterias with festive dairy-themed displays, including bulletin boards, balloon arches, photo booths, cow print and vibrant dairy posters.
Central and Harmony elementary schools took the celebration to the next level with dairy-themed coloring sheets and a fun dress-up contest. Students were encouraged to dress in dairy-inspired outfits, and winners were rewarded with dairy-themed prizes.
“The students loved the bracelets!” said Rachel Cope, manager of Harmony Elementary’s cafeteria.
Meanwhile, Central, Lake Norman, and Cool Spring elementary schools made things even more exciting by inviting live milk carton characters to the schools. At Cool Spring, the milk carton character handed out dairy-themed items such as milk mustaches, bracelets, and pencils, adding an extra layer of fun to the celebration.
Sharon Elementary School hosted a coloring contest in which one winner from each grade was recognized. These students proudly received certificates and prizes from The Dairy Alliance, and their enthusiasm was evident.
“They loved it. It was a great day!” shared Suzanne Bailey, Cafeteria Manager at Sharon Elementary.
While the cafeteria was the focal point of many celebrations, several schools also worked to bring dairy education into the classroom. At Coddle Creek Elementary, the School Nutrition team partnered with Prime Time for Kids to dive deeper into the importance of dairy in their diets. Students enjoyed yogurt for snack time, colored dairy-themed items for a “Legen-Dairy” bulletin board, and learned about dairy farming.
“I am thankful to have a great working relationship with Prime Time. I am happy to promote dairy; it’s my favorite food group,” said Chanin Murawski, Cafeteria Manager at Coddle Creek Elementary.
Troutman Elementary’s physical education teachers, Donette Clendenin and Kim Koehler, incorporated dairy into their curriculum with a lesson and game called “Milk vs. Sugary Drinks.” The lesson focused on the benefits of dairy and helped students understand the daily recommended servings of dairy. Every student walked away with a fun dairy-themed item.
Union Grove Elementary coordinated with classroom teachers to promote dairy in the classroom. As part of the celebration, all students at the school received a dairy-themed prize. The school-wide effort helped reinforce the importance of dairy in a fun and engaging way, ensuring that students understood the value of including dairy in their daily diets.
Throughout the month, Iredell-Statesville Schools emphasized the importance of dairy in a balanced diet, while students enjoyed learning through hands-on activities, creative contests, and delicious snacks.
“We would like to thank The Dairy Alliance for their invaluable support during our month-long dairy celebration,” said district officials.
The Dairy Alliance commended Iredell-Statesville School District for its dedication to student health and nutrition by highlighting the benefits of milk during the month of January. Milk provides 13 essential nutrients that nourish brains, bones, and bodies, helping students thrive both in and out of the classroom.
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