Events
The Food Service Department participates in a number of regionally- and nationally-recognized events in an effort to promote school meals and educate students, parents and the community about nutrition and the benefits of participating in school meal programs.
- Around the World in 80 Trays
- Cucumber Crunch
- Great Apple Crunch
- National School Breakfast Week
- National School Lunch Week
- School Lunch Hero Day
- Wisconsin Chili Lunch
Around the World in 80 Trays
Around the World in 80 Trays is celebrated state-wide with the purpose of increasing global flavors in USDA School Meals Programs. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) acknowledges that food can do more than just nourish the body; it can offer an invitation to explore the diverse cultures of Wisconsin students.
Around the World in 80 Trays is an annual one-week event which begins on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. What better way to celebrate the unique cultural backgrounds of students across the state than by remembering the legacy of MLK Jr. and his dream of equality and inclusion for all?
The 2025 Around the World in 80 Trays event was held the week of January 20. SPASH students were invited to try dishes from Brazil, Greece, Poland and Turkey.
The kitchen crew at SPASH did an amazing job preparing these special international dishes, and the feedback they received from both students and staff was nothing but positive. They've already started accepting requests for next year's event!
Cucumber Crunch
About Cucumber Crunch
Let's celebrate summer by crunching into some delicious, locally-grown cucumbers. The Wisconsin Cucumber Crunch event was established by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to celebrate local foods and promote Farm-to-School programs.
Each year during July, our summer school sites participate in the Wisconsin Cucumber Crunch by serving fresh, organic cucumbers from Cattail Organics, a USDA Certified Organic Family Farm located in Athens, WI.
Our district celebrated the 2025 Wisconsin Cucumber Crunch on Friday, July 11.
Cucumber Activity Pages
Cucumber Recipes
Enjoy these easy and inexpensive cucumber recipes. Click on the image to view the recipe. For even more recipes, explore MyPlate Kitchen.
Cucumber Salad
This salad has a light and creamy dressing. Make it ahead of time and chill it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve it.
Cucumber Salad with Tomatoes
Fresh tomatoes and cucumbers make this couscous salad a summer time treat.
Spicy Cucumber & Orange Salad
Chili powder and lime juice are the secret ingredients in this cucumber and orange salad.
Turkey & Cucumber Sandwich
These sandwiches, flavored with herbs and spices, are sure to hit the spot. With whole grains, lean protein and dairy, this well-rounded meal will keep you satisfied all afternoon.
Mango Cucumber Soup
Sweet, ripe mangoes are the basis for this refreshing and quick chilled summer soup. It's a no-stove recipe that's perfect when outdoor temperatures rise.
Cucumber, Yogurt & Cream Cheese Dip
Try this cool and tangy low-fat yogurt dip with your favorite vegetables.
Great Apple Crunch
The Great Apple Crunch is held annually in October to encourage healthy eating during National Farm to School Month. For this simple event, schools across Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest commit to crunch into locally sourced apples.
The event was created to generate excitement around local foods and increase appetites for regionally-grown and locally-grown produce, all while supporting Wisconsin apple growers.
The 2024 Great Apple Crunch was held on Thursday, October 10th. Hundreds of students across our district participated by crunching into delicious apples procured from Rock Ridge Orchard, a family-owned apple orchard located near Edgar, WI.
The Great Apple Crunch event was created in 2014 to celebrate Wisconsin farmers, healthy kids and strong communities. During the 2024 Great Apple Crunch, roughly 140,000 K-12 students across the Midwest crunched into locally grown apples.
National School Breakfast Week
National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) celebrates the importance of a nutritious school breakfast in fueling students for success. This special observance during the first week of March celebrates the National School Breakfast Program and the many ways it gives kids a great start every day.
NSBW25 was held from March 3 to March 7. The theme was Clue In To School Breakfast. Students in all nine of our elementary schools were given special breakfast options such as pancakes with blueberries and whipped topping, a sausage, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich, and a homemade chocolate chip muffin. On Thursday, March 6, students who ate school breakfast were eligible to win a prize through our Lucky Tray activity.
NSBW26 will take place March 2-6, 2026. The theme for NSBW26 will be The Quest for School Breakfast.
National School Lunch Week
The National School Lunch Program serves nearly 30 million children every school day. President John F. Kennedy created National School Lunch Week (NSLW) in 1962 to promote the importance of a healthy school lunch in a child's life and the impact it has inside and outside of the classroom.
NSLW24 was celebrated from October 14 to October 18, 2024. The theme for NSLW24 was School Lunch Pirates Find Your Treasure. Students in all nine of our elementary schools were offered special lunch entrées such as Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and gravy, fiesta tater tots, and cheese tortellini with meat sauce and garlic Texas toast. Students taking a school lunch were eligible to win a prize through our Lucky Tray activity.
NSLW25 will be celebrated October 13-17, 2025. The theme for NSLW25 will be Taste the World: Your School Lunch Passport.
School Lunch Hero Day
Not all Heroes Wear Capes
Stop by any cafeteria to watch school nutrition professionals prepare healthy meals for students - all the while adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies, and offering service with a smile - and you'll see they are true heros! Our staff's dedication to serving students an array of nutritious, flavorful foods is commendable. That's why we celebrate them on the first Friday in May with the annual School Lunch Hero Day.
Bannach Elementary
Ben Franklin Jr. High
Jefferson Elementary
Kennedy Elementary
Madison Elementary
McDill Elementary
McKinley Center Elementary
P.J. Jacobs Jr. High
Plover-Whiting Elementary
Roosevelt Elementary
Stevens Point Area Senior High
SPASH cashiers
Washington Elementary
Show your appreciation to your student's school lunch heroes!
A simple "thank you" goes a long way, and we've made it easy for you to express your appreciation. Just click on the images below to see an array of printable thank you cards and notes to tell your school lunch heros how their hard work and dedication impact your student's day.
School Lunch Hero Day’s Origin Story
School Lunch Hero Day was established in 2013 as a collaborative effort between the School Nutrition Association (SNA) and Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author of the Lunch Lady series of graphic novels about a cafeteria professional who also happens to be a crime-fighting spy.
Krosoczka—a New York Times bestselling author and a National Book Award Finalist—started writing the series back in 2009, and he loves the way the books have helped further SNA’s mission. “Through my partnership with the School Nutrition Association, I have received an excellent education on how much goes into getting food on every single student’s tray,” he says.
So, in that spirit, let’s spread the awareness even further - after all, doesn’t your whole community deserve to know how much goes into getting nutritious food on every single student’s tray?
Click on the image above to see author Jarrett J. Krosoczka's Ted Talk about School Lunch Hero Day.
Wisconsin Chili Lunch
The Wisconsin Chili Lunch event, which takes place every February on National Chili Day, was designed to promote healthy eating in schools and institutions across the state. The event is part of a broader initiative to celebrate school nutrition programs and food education.
The 2025 Wisconsin Chili Lunch was held on Thursday, February 27th. Our homemade chili was served with a cornbread muffin, fruits and vegetables, and a choice of 1% white or fat-free chocolate milk.
Mark your calendar for next year's Wisconsin Chili Lunch which will take place on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
