St. Mary's County Food Services Celebrates National School Lunch Week - National School Lunch Week Campaign “School Lunch Pirates: Find Your Treasure” highlights the importance of the school lunch program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 11, 2024

Dr. J. Scott Smith, Superintendent of Schools, 301-475-5511, ext. 32178
Ms. Tammy McCourt, Deputy Superintendent of Fiscal and Supporting Services, 301-475-4256, ext. 7

LEONARDTOWN, MD –  To recognize the National School Lunch Program, serving nearly 30 million children each day, St. Mary’s County Public Schools will celebrate National School Lunch Week from October 14-18, 2024. The fun and creative campaign theme, “School Lunch Pirates: Find Your Treasure,” highlights the importance of a healthy school lunch to a student’s success both in and out of the classroom.

Research shows children are getting their healthiest meals at school. National School Lunch Week will highlight the nutritious foods available daily at St. Mary’s County Public Schools. This week, St. Mary’s County Public Schools Department of Food & Nutrition Services will bring back a kid-favorite, shrimp poppers, and have pirate-themed activities for students in the lunchroom.

“School lunches offer students fruits and vegetables, whole grains and milk, and meet federal nutrition standards limiting fat, calories, and sodium. National School Lunch Week helps us educate parents and students about all the wonderful benefits of our lunch program,” said Megan Doran, Director. The federally funded National School Lunch Program has been fueling students for success for 77 years. Students can enjoy the convenience of a healthy school lunch for just $3.00 in elementary and $3.25 in secondary schools. Some students may qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

The “School Lunch Pirates: Find Your Treasure” campaign is made possible by the nonprofit School Nutrition Association. Parents and students can follow the fun on social media using the hashtags #NSLW24, #SchoolLunchPirates and #SchoolLunch.

For more information on National School Lunch Week, visit smcps.org/meals or https://schoolnutrition.org/nslw/.