Inderkum sophomore Kenneth Aquino picking up a free meal after school before heading to Jazz rehearsal. / Photo: V. Carrillo
BY VALENTINA CARRILLO, IHS INTERN
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
A new after school Supper Program was introduced last month at Inderkum High School which serves free meals to students who participate in extracurricular activities.
Inderkum senior Damian Freeman displaying food he received from the Supper Program after school. / Photo: V. Carrillo
About 700 students across the Natomas Unified School District participate from the Supper Program. Seven school sites serve the free after school meals including Bannon Creek Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, American Lakes Elementary, H. Allen Hight Elementary, Leroy Greene Academy, Natomas High, and Inderkum.
“NUSD is helping develop recipes for the state, and was chosen based on our staff and their experience,” said Vince Caguin, Supervisor of Food Services and Warehousing for the Natomas district.
The meal program is paid for by federal Child and Adult Care Food Program which was “started as a means to supply students with food who do after school activities, like tutoring, athletic events, and band,” said Caguin, adding that input from students is used to help develop the recipes.
The California Healthy Kids Resource Center manages the after school meal program and selected the Natomas school district to be one of only 10 districts statewide to receive a grant to participate.
The grant is meant to help schools develop fresh and healthy recipes for the Supper Program meals.
“It is part of our strategic plan to involve more (from-)scratch cooking,” said Caguin. “We are trying to create a culture. This is an effort to be healthier and use much better products.”
Eventually the Natomas district’s recipes will be available for use by other school districts.
“We develop recipes in central kitchen by the district office, then test recipes at our supper sites,” said Caguin. Recipes to date have included kung pao chicken, meatloaf, chicken pot pie, chile verde, and gumbo.
Montel Ward, a junior at Inderkum, said he enjoys the chance to eat supper every day at school.
“It’s the only food I get all day,” said Montel.
Inderkum vice principal Dan Motherspaw said he believes that the school’s new free meals will help with academic success by providing an an incentive for students to attend peer tutoring available after school from National Honor Society Club members.
“Mrs. Henderson reports that the Peer Tutoring program has seen an increase in student attendance since the (supper) program has begun,” remarks Mr. Motherspaw. “She reports that athletes are attending peer tutoring and eating supper before their practices.”
Sophomore Kenneth Aquino is often busy after school with activities, so the supper program is a great chance to fit in an extra meal.
“I get really hungry because normal lunch doesn’t fill me up,” said Aquino, who was on his way to Jazz Band rehearsal.
Motherspaw said he’s already seen the positive effects the after school supper program has had on Inderkum students.
Added Caguin, “It may be just food, but it’s still helping out our students’ overall education.”
Montel Ward – Inderkum junior enjoys the free meals from the new Supper Program every day.
Inderkum junior Montel Ward enjoys the free meals from the new Supper Program every day. / Photo: V. Carrillo
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