The Pittsford Central School District in New York state cautioned families that breakfast and lunch menus may change on short notice because vendors are struggling to meet higher demand under the state's new universal free school meal program. District officials said participation has doubled, with more than 700 breakfasts served on the first day of school compared to none last year.

The Gretna Public Schools Foundation in Nebraska has started a weekend meals program for families dealing with food insecurity, sending students home with bags of food every Friday. The initiative, which was inspired by two elementary principals, is supported by local donors and volunteers and aims to address the needs of the 1 in 10 students in the district who experience food insecurity.

Ensuring children understand proper nutrition is crucial for academic success, with most consuming up to half of their daily calories at school, the CDC notes. Dr. Maya Bryant emphasizes the importance of nutritious meals and snacks to help prevent health problems, and Nadia Zamarripa of CHRISTUS Children's Chef Culinary Medicine Program recommends following the USDA's MyPlate guidance for balanced meals. SNA underscores the importance of breakfast for students' academic success.

Holmen High School agriculture students teamed up with elementary students to harvest apples from the district's orchard, which are incorporated into the district's breakfast and lunch programs, appearing on fruit bars for students to enjoy. By growing and harvesting their own apples, the district reduces the need to purchase fruit, saving approximately $45 per case and expecting 30 to 40 cases this year.

Oatmeal and millet both provide important nutrients, with oatmeal having more soluble fiber, calcium, and potassium, while millet offers higher levels of niacin, folate, and antioxidants. Both grains also provide manganese, phosphorus and magnesium, and are naturally gluten-free, making them nutritious breakfast options. "In the grand scheme of things, these grains aren't that different nutrition-wise," said registered dietitian nutritionist Lindsay Malone, who notes oatmeal is less expensive and more widely available, but millet offers a nutritious alternative.

Stanford University and NBC News conducted an analysis of vaccination rates and school exemptions across the US, revealing significant gaps in herd immunity, particularly against measles. The investigation, which involved extensive data collection and standardization, highlights the potential for outbreaks in areas with declining immunization rates, such as St. Louis. A database of kindergarten vaccination and exemption statistics was created with data from state governments, mainly health-related agencies.

When you're overwhelmed as a leader, it can impact your organization's efficiency, decision speed and employee morale as teams wrestle with unclear priorities, which can result in lost opportunities and turnover, writes Allison Dunn with Deliberate Directions. To prevent this, Dunn outlines how to achieve strategic, operational and personal clarity by creating systems for setting priorities and hierarchies about how decisions get made and by whom, taking most of the weight off of you.