School bells ring for area schools
The two schools in Pierce County are starting back to school a week apart. Wolford School started on Thursday, August 23 while Rugby School District which includes Little Flower Catholic School, Ely Elementary School, and the Rugby Junior and Senior High School will start on Wednesday, Aug. 29.
Wolford School began classes at 8:40 a.m. and ended at 3:15 p.m., as they will most school days of the year. Other schools in the area also started earlier than Rugby. TGU-Towner and TGU-Granville students began on Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 8:35 a.m. and concluded at 3:10 p.m. Their Graduation Day is scheduled for May 26. Leeds and Rolette schools both started on Tuesday, Aug. 21. Leeds School Class of 2013 will graduate at 3 p.m. on May 26. Rolette School District #29 seniors will graduate on May 26.
School Lunch
Program changes
School lunches will be a bit different as reported earlier by Rugby’s Superintendent Mike McNeff. This Year, schools must follow a federally-mandated lunch program in order to receive federal funding from the National School Lunch Program. The changes are happening nationwide.
Students will now be required to have cup of fruit or vegetables on their tray for it to count as a full meal. The Rugby School plans to offer a variety of fruits and vegetables to give the students more to select from.
The amount of food and calories offered at each meal will be based on three different age groups; grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12.
On the menus, many of the items are the same, but portion sizes and recipes will be designed to meet the specific age groups.
Schools need to offer cup of fruit to grades K-8 and 1 cup of fruit to grades 9-12.
sSchools need to offer cup of vegetables to grades K-8 and 1 cup of vegetables to grades 9-12.
Schools are now limited as to how much meat/meat alternative (cheese, yogurt, peanut butter) and grains they can offer. Previously, the lunch program followed by the schools only had a minimum to meet, but could offer more. Now they have to stay within the specified ranges for each age group. This means main entrees may not be as large as they have been. Remember, though, that there are more fruits and vegetables available than before. Schools can offer extra meat and bread if the school considers it a la carte and charge students for seconds or extra bread. All students will need to pay for seconds including those who are the Free and Reduced meal plan.