U.S. Department of Agriculture officials to present award to New Hampshire Estates Elementary School on March 6
 
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will celebrate National School Breakfast Week with a special event at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School. The Silver Spring school will host United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials on Friday, March 6, from 8:15 until 9:00 a.m. USDA officials, Board of Education President Shirley Brandman, and Principal Jane Litchko will join second grade students as they eat breakfast in their classroom. The visit will include presentation of a Healthier U.S. Challenge Award to Principal Litchko and Cafeteria Manager Fidelia Arriaza for the school’s high level of participation in the School Breakfast Program.

The event is the culmination of National School Breakfast Week, a weeklong celebration highlighting the importance of eating breakfast and its link to learning and achievement. This year’s theme for National School Breakfast Week is Power Up with School Breakfast. School breakfast is the most important meal of the day for children as it provides the necessary power to start the day. Eating breakfast at school has been shown to enhance academic performance, reduce absenteeism, and improve student behavior.

Nearly 23 million breakfasts were served in Maryland schools during the 2007–2008 school year. Of those breakfasts, 16 million were served to children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. In Montgomery County, there are more than 3 million breakfasts served to MCPS students, 68 percent of whom qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The county serves more than 17,000 breakfasts a day through the free, reduced-priced, and paid program.

The School Breakfast Program is a USDA, federally funded nutrition program administered by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). This program provides nutritionally balanced meals to children each school day. Some children can receive free or very-low-cost meals. Over a week’s time, school breakfast provides at least 25 percent of a student’s Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein, calcium, iron, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C.

For more information about Maryland’s child nutrition programs, visit the link below or call Kathy Lazor, director, Montgomery County Public Schools Division of Food and Nutrition Services, at 301-840-8170.

New Hampshire Estates Elementary School is located at 8720 Carroll Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland.