The Whole Carrot is a monthly e-newsletter for friends, supporters, and partners of MPS Culinary & Wellness Services brought to you by the Student Wellness team of MPS Culinary & Wellness Services--which includes Farm to School, School Gardens, Nutrition Education, Safe Routes to School, and other active living efforts. It contains wellness news, events, opportunities and more. Enjoy!
Minneapolis Public Schools is planning for its second annual WINTER WELLNESS WEEK with themed days and events designed to foster a culture of social, emotional, and physical well-being across the district.
MONDAY: Mindful Monday
Staff have resources to explore mindfulness exercises for themselves first. Then they can try a breathing lesson with their students.
TUESDAY: Tall Sock Tuesday
Let's dress for being outside! Everyone is invited to sport tall socks and winter hats to show that being warm is oh so cool.
WEDNESDAY: Winter Walk Day
This is the day to get outside and take a walk. Schools will celebrate walking to school and walking at school. Has my school signed up? SEE LIST of REGISTERED SCHOOLS
THURSDAY: Health Is In Your Hands
Did you know that hand washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection? Today, count the number of times you wash your hands for at least twenty seconds per time.
FRIDAY: Freekeh Friday
On February 7-9 during lunch, K-8 students across the district will have the opportunity to participate in a True Food Taste Test featuring Moroccan Freekeh! Not at a taste test school? No problem! Enjoy some freekeh at home using the recipe below.
VOLUNTEER ~ True Food Taste Test ~ February 7-9
We are still looking for more volunteers for our True Food Taste Test next week! On February 7th-9th, K-8 students across our district will be sampling Moroccan Freekeh!
Help us spread the word! Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) is now seeking bid proposals from farms (and farm groups) to provide sustainably-grown produce to our school district’s Farm to School Program for the 2018-2019 school year.
Our 2018-2019 Farm to School Request for Proposal (RFP) can be found online at: http://purchasing.mpls.k12.mn.us/open_bids_and_proposals. Interested farms, farm cooperatives, food hubs, and aggregators are invited to complete the RFP to share information about their farm(s) and bid on specific produce items.
Ben Doherty and Erin Johnson from Open Hands Farm in Northfield, MN.
Through funding from the SHIP, we have purchased a second bicycle fleet, effectively doubling the number of teachers who can implement the Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum during the school day. Check out the AWESOME ADAPTIVE BICYCLE, the second in the fleet, giving more children access to the joy of bicycling. Bike shops are another one of the many partners helping to achieve the vision of universal bicycle education outlined in the MPS SRTS Strategic Action Plan.
MPS Bike Leaders
Thank you to all who joined us last Friday to celebrate the Our Streets Awards received by the awesome bike/walk leaders from Pillsbury Pedal Power and Seward Montessori. A HUGE thank you to Ethan Fawley for sharing the details behind the selection and to Lisa Herr, Mark Trumper, and Susan Tuck and the amazing parent-community-staff teams that support their work!
Intrigued? Want to bike along with the awesome adults and students of Pedal Power? Join them this Thursday evening on the Super Roll.
SMART SNACKS MADE EASY
Need snacks for an event happening at school? There's no need to drive to the warehouse store. Parent groups and PTA's can order snacks directly from the school's food service coordinator. These snacks comply with Smart Snack standards required by Minneapolis Public School's Wellness Policy 6690.
SAVE THE DATES Feb 5-9: Winter Wellness Week Feb 7: Winter Walk Day Feb 7-9: Winter True Food Taste Test April 25-27: Spring True Food Taste Test May 9: Walk/Bike to School Day, Let's Roll
May 7-11: Spring Wellness Week
RECIPE of the MONTH
For more of your favorite MPS recipes, click HERE.
