By Kris Goracke

Reporter

Embracing change is a way of doing business at Glacial Hills Elementary School in Starbuck. 

Two new changes for the school are the addition of childcare and starting a new farm-to-school program called Full Tray.

“Our target to open the childcare is the fall of 2023,” said school director Jodee Lund. 

“We are currently in the licensing stage, with our application already submitted and awaiting inspection from the Department of Human Services.”  The location of the childcare is within the school. Currently, Glacial Hills has two rooms available for preschool. The intent is to use one of the rooms for childcare and the other for preschool.  

The childcare will be licensed for seven children, offering a ratio of one adult per 7 children. 

The age range for childcare is 24 to 33 months. “As we are currently offering all-day preschool, we felt that providing childcare for the younger ages will be beneficial to our community as we recognize finding childcare is a difficult task,” said Lund. Currently, there is a wait list for the childcare; however, Lund noted that if there is enough of a solid commitment from parents, the school will consider increasing the number to 14, provided the staff can be found.

The childcare will follow the school year calendar, except in summer, when childcare continues to be offered. For more information about childcare, contact Lund at 320-244-3336.

Another change for the school is the addition to the Full Tray Program. The school just received a $17,000 Farm to School grant. The Full Tray program is an extension to the already implemented First Bite program the school offers the students.

According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website, “The Farm to School First Bite projects must focus on intentional, high-impact Farm to School efforts that highlight Minnesota grown and raised foods.”  Glacial Hills uses this grant to purchase and supplement its food program. For example, the school purchases carrots from Fresha out of Morris, Minnesota. 

“Our goal is to teach the students where their food comes from,” said Lund. “We have purchased cheese curds from the Red Headed Creamery, chickens from Gather Homestead, and recently honey from a local bee farmer.   With the honey, our students made peanut butter protein balls as part of unit to learn about the honey making and harvesting process along with simply learning how to read a recipe and make a healthy snack.”

Now, the school has been awarded the following program, Full Tray. The Farm to School Full Tray Grant is for school districts with experience who want to grow their Farm to School programming and expand local procurement from Minnesota producers. Projects must enhance and expand existing procurement and consumption of Minnesota-grown and raised foods. 

“With our grant, we will continue developing our partnerships with local farmers. 

Thursdays are designated as Taste Test Thursdays, in which students will be given samples of various foods that are locally grown.   We are also able to use this grant in our Young Roots program. These students study horticulture and wildlife. Part of the curriculum is planting and growing a school garden. The Ag Literacy Grant allows us to maintain our garden to create our own farm to school foods,” said Lund.

Neon Night is Feb. 9

The upcoming Neon Night on February 9, at the elementary school is a highlight to showcase the agricultural program.   “The theme of Neon Night is “Celebrating How Much We Glow,”” said Lund. “With our agricultural grant, we can serve samples of pork from our local pork producers and other foods from the area. The night is filled with glow-in-the-dark activities for all to participate in and is open to the public from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.  

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