At Coxsackie-Athens, our dedication to student success goes beyond the classroom, and that includes making sure our students have access to healthy, nutritious, and delicious meals each day.
Our Food Services Department works hard to provide students with balanced meal choices while finding new and exciting ways to make school lunches something students look forward to. From introducing new menu items to celebrating locally grown foods, there is always something happening in our school cafeterias!
During National School Lunch Week, students had the opportunity to try some new and exciting food options that meet the nutritional standards of the Child Nutrition Program. Students at the high school sampled new menu items, with help from students in Mrs. Collins' Life Skills class, who got hands-on experience helping serve the samples. Dr. Kalbfliesh also stopped by to help hand out samples! Additional samples were also shared with middle school students.
C-A also joined schools across New York State in celebrating the Big Apple Crunch, an annual event that encourages students and communities to take a bite out of a locally grown New York apple. The event celebrates the importance of fresh, local foods and gives students a chance to enjoy some of the great agricultural products grown right here in our state.
This year, students in Mrs. Collins' Life Skills classes took that celebration a step further. Using apples from the event, students worked together to make homemade apple turnovers, which they then shared with teachers and staff throughout the district. It was a sweet way to bring the school community together while giving students valuable opportunities to practice teamwork, food preparation, and life skills in a real-world setting.
These experiences are about more than what is on the lunch menu. They give students opportunities to try new foods, develop practical skills, and take part in activities that connect classroom learning to everyday life.
We are proud of the work our Food Services Department does each day to support the health and well-being of our students. From providing nutritious meals to creating meaningful learning experiences, their dedication makes a difference throughout C-A, both in and beyond the classroom.