Wisconsin School Breakfast Challenge School Year 2011-2012

In an effort to increase the number of schools with a School Breakfast Program the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), the University of Wisconsin-Cooperative Extension, and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board have issued the Wisconsin School Breakfast Challenge. The challenge is to encourage all public and private schools to implement a SBP if they currently do not offer one and to increase school breakfast participation by 50 percent in existing school breakfast buildings.

DPI Mailing

About the Challenge

• Goal: For every student to have access to a nutritious breakfast and to encourage more students to participate.
• How do we apply? Applications were due October 31, 2011.
• How does my school succeed at the challenge?
  • To succeed at this challenge schools must increase breakfast participation by 50% of their baseline.
  • Schools that did not offer breakfast in the previous year: If a school did not have a SBP in the 2010-2011 school year, a baseline benchmark of 25% will be used (state averages indicate that approximately 25% of the students participating in the lunch program also participate in the SBP). Schools are challenged to increase their participation 50% over the 25% baseline. Therefore schools that achieve 37.5% of students participating in lunch also participating in breakfast have succeeded at the challenge.
  • Schools that have an existing breakfast program: As a measure of increased participation, the SBP Average Daily Participation (ADP) for May 2011 will be compared to the ADP from the 2011-2012 school year for the first year of the challenge. These schools will be measured based on increases in ADP of 50% or greater.
• What is the prize?
  • May 2012: The six schools with the largest increase in breakfast participation will be named the winners of the challenge. Winning schools will receive a minimum grant award of $3,000 and a banner to display at their school.
• What do I need to submit?
  • In April of 2012, applicants will be asked to submit the following:
    • SBP marketing plan
    • SBP success story
    • Documentation to ensure compliance with meal pattern requirements
    • Documentation to confirm ADP from October 1 to March 30
    • Note: documentation can include, but is not limited to, menus, production records, meal component worksheets, Child Nutrition (CN) Labels, and participation reports

The 2011 Wisconsin School Breakfast Challenge Winners Announced

• The six schools/districts named the winners are:
  • Brillion Elementary School - Brillion replaced their traditional breakfast and Wisconsin school day milk break with breakfast in the classroom. They promoted the program with parents, teachers and students.
  • Westby High School - Westby offered free breakfast to all students the first week of school and surveyed the students on menu preferences. They also incorporated breakfast into the school day by offering breakfast during the previous 10 minute a la carte break and expanding it to 16 minutes.
  • All Saints Catholic East Elementary - Catholic East now offers breakfast free to all students in the classroom. They also partnered with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and hosted a PB&J Challenge to kickoff and build excitement surrounding their breakfast program.
  • Concordia University School - Concordia University School instated breakfast in the classroom and saw not only an increase in participation but that the students were more energized and ready to learn.
  • Fall River Middle/High School - Fall River introduced a breakfast program with help from a breakfast start-up grant. They offer breakfast during the mid-morning from grab n' go carts; students are able to eat their breakfasts in the classroom.
  • Cochrane Fountain City School - Cochrane Fountain added a mid-morning break to give students a second chance for a reimbursable breakfast.
• The following schools succeeded at the challenge and receive a certificate recognizing their accomplishment:
  • Richfield Elementary
  • Gresham Elementary/High School
  • Hillsboro High School
  • Royal Middle/High School
  • Kendall Elementary, Royal School District
  • Elroy Elementary, Royal School District

Congratulations to all schools that participated in the 2010-2011 Wisconsin School Breakfast Challenge. All schools/districts who met the challenge were recognized by DPI and received an award certificate. The six schools/districts with the highest increase, listed above, were chosen as winners and received a banner to display in each school with a breakfast program, as well as a $1500 grant to enhance the school breakfast program.

Marketing/Promotion

• Get Parents and Staff on Board

  • Letters to
    • Parents
      • Starting a program
      • Have an existing program
    • Teachers
    • Superintendent/Principal
  • USDA's Resources for Involving Key Stake Holders
  
  

• Get to know your audience

  
  
  • Surveys
    • Benefits of a Survey
      1. It sends a message that you value the opinion of those surveyed
      2. It is a marketing tool
      3. It provides planning data that you may otherwise miss
      4. It is valuable in decision making
      5. It may prevent a major mistake or problem
    • Sample Surveys
    
    
  • Promotional Ideas by Grade
    • Elementary
    • Middle School
    • High School
  • Lessons/ worksheets
  
  

• Wisconsin School Efforts

  • Email your success stories to Sarah Combs or Kelly Williams
  • Sign up to join the School Breakfast listserv
  
  

• Resources

For questions about this information, contact Julie A. Cox (608) 267-9206

Last updated on 1/11/2012 12:49:18 PM