With an estimated 40% of parents between the ages of 38 and 18, millennials are part of an ever growing parent population in K-12 schools. This generation of the early cell phone adopters, now Facebook, Snapchat and tweet constantly, turn to Alexa for daily problem solving, and require Uber as a main source of transportation.  With the increasing reliance on convenience-based technology as a part of daily life, here are some ideas to help engage with your parents and promote your meal program in the digital age:

Since the National School Lunch Act was first signed in 1946, a lot has changed in the world of school nutrition. Meal requirements have been defined and redefined, federal cuts and grants have altered the way programs are managed, and of course the advent of technology has completely changed the way your program operates. 

It’s that time of the year again! Today kicks off this year's National School Breakfast Week from March 5-9. This year's theme is 'I Love School Breakfast' and is the perfect opportunity for you to boost student participation, increase revenue in your cafeterias, and inform students about the importance of eating a healthy breakfast.

Being a part of your students' daily lives - whether in the lunchroom or in the classroom - creates a special and unique bond. What better day to celebrate the friendship and care you provide them than on Valentine's Day?

Below are a few simple ways to get students engaged and show them you love them:

Stop by and say hi at SNA's second annual Virtual Expo!  This is your chance to earn CEUs, connect with your peers, and visit 30+ industry representatives (including us) all from the comfort of your home or office!

From all of us at Heartland, we'd like to wish you a happy holiday season and a joyful new year!

Registration is open for next year's Heartland Training Conference in Nashville, TN! Join us on April 10-12 for extensive software training, guest speakers, open forum discussions, and amazing content.

We’ve all heard recent news coverage around the latest hacks, security breaches, and the like. In a world where electronic information is the new norm, a school environment can be at risk of exposing sensitive information involving students, parents, and staff.

Cybersecurity is at the forefront of many industries, including the K-12 space, and can be a challenge to address. Here are some reminders to help ensure your school data is secure:  

Earlier this year, in an effort to help promote student participation in lunchrooms, the MySchoolBucks Growth Grant Program offered additional funding to school nutrition programs nationwide.

We wanted to help get students pumped up about school lunch in ways that were specific to each of your lunch programs and the ideas came pouring in. Out of 225 applications, we were thrilled to award 86 school districts with Growth Grants for the 2017-18 school year! 

Take a look at how some of the funds were used:

Thanksgiving is around the corner and we know that you are always looking for fun and creative ways to celebrate in your schools! What better of a way to celebrate than by serving a Thanksgiving themed meal to your students.

Here's some ideas to help you get ready!