I hope that this finds you well and enjoying your summer! County Fair is gearing up; good luck to all of our St. James students who participate in 4H! A huge shout out to the parents for their time, effort, and teachings. Good work to the kids for their role in learning to care for animals, to creating and crafting, and developing leadership skills and friendships to last a lifetime. 4H is a wonderful family experience. I know as my three children will be showing cattle this week at the Keokuk County Expo fair. 

It won't be long before we fill the school house again. I would like to take this time to remind you that registration will take place on Tuesday, August 10 from 10am-6pm. We look forward to seeing you then!

I would also like to remind you of the snack changes for the 2021-2022 school year. 

St. James School will continue to provide daily snacks for students in preschool through 2nd grade. 

Preschool Nutritional Guidance: In accordance with the Iowa Department of Human Services and the Iowa Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program, St. James will be following the nutrition guidelines as outlined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Two food groups will be represented at each snack time as outlined in USDA guidelines.  A written snack/lunch menu is posted in the classroom and available to families.  All menus are kept on file for review by a program consultant.  The preschool serves a wide variety of nutritional snacks, and encourages children to expand their tastes by at least trying a portion of the food offered. 

All food is prepared, served, and stored in accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines.  Clean, sanitary drinking water is made available to children throughout the day.  Staff discards any foods with expired dates.  Foods that are hotter than 110 degrees Fahrenheit are kept out of children’s reach.  Foods requiring refrigeration will be kept cold until served.

For each child with special health care needs, food allergies, or special nutrition needs, the child’s health care provider should provide the program with an individualized care plan prepared in consultation with family members and specialists involved in the child’s care.  Children with food allergies shall be protected from contact with the problem food.  With family consent, the program posts information about the child’s allergies in the food preparation area and in areas of the facility the child uses to serve as a visual reminder to all adults who interact with the child during the day.  Program staff will keep a daily record documenting the type and quantity of food a child consumes when any child with a disability has special feeding needs and provide parents with that information.

High risk foods, often involved in choking incidents, will not be served.  For children younger than four years, these include hotdogs, whole or sliced into rounds; whole grapes; nuts; popcorn; raw peas and hard pretzels; spoonfuls of peanut butter; or chunks of raw carrots or meat larger than can be swallowed whole.

Collaborative preschools do not use foods or beverages as rewards for academic performance or good behavior, and will not withhold food or beverages as a punishment, nor will teaching staff ever threaten to withhold food as a form of discipline.