Foto February #4: Healthy Food Kids Love to Eat?

Today we received a very special visit from the U.S. Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, Kevin Concannon, in recognition of four schools' award as Healthy U.S. Schools. Beverly Park Elementary, Madrona Elementary, Southern Heights Elementary, and White Center Heights Elementary were recognized for promoting healthy options for school lunches and providing opportunities for physical activity.

I am so proud of our Nutrition Services team for their efforts to include more healthy options in our school lunches. To brag a little, only five districts in Washington State had award winning schools, and the four schools in Highline had the highest recognition in Washington State - silver medals - placing them in the top 1% nationally according to Under Secretary Concannon.

Madrona kitchen staff (center) make a great school lunch!

Mr. Concannon and I ate school lunch, and made some friends in the second grade!

They didn't have a fresh fruit and vegetables bar when I was in school!

Nutrition Services Director Chris Neal (right) with Mr. Concannon

L to R: Registered Dietician Megan De Vries, Principals Leslie Perry, Deborah Holcomb, Dave Darling, and Daniel Yarbrough, and Nutrition Services Director Chris Neal

White Center Pride



Sili Savusa (left) with Principal Dave Darling at the White Center Summit

 Tonight marks a changing of the guard between two titans of the White Center community, who both dearly love their community and the community loves them back. A sincere thank you to outgoing board president Sili Savusa, whose leadership led to the Equity Policy and the district's heavy involvement in White Center Promise, among many, many other things. And welcome to new board member Tyrone Curry, longtime custodian and track coach on the Evergreen campus.

Last Saturday, I spent the afternoon at White Center Heights Elementary for the annual White Center Summit, organized by the White Center Community Development Association. The event brought together hundreds of White Center residents and supporters for a day of community building. Participants heard speakers on a variety of topics and got to enjoy free family portraits, music and dance performances, and great food! Here are a few pictures from this wonderful event...



Participants signed an "I Love White Center" banner



The huge gathering was entertained by groups, such as these dancers



Music teacher Mark Rice led WCH students in performance 

White Center CDA staff celebrate the opening of the Unity Village residences

I love this mural of Martin Luther King, Jr., made from traced hands of WCH students