Board highlights Farm to School Week, Rock City Regiment band awards and National School Lunch Week

The Harrisonburg City School Board on Oct. 7 recognized Farm to School Week and upcoming National School Lunch Week and welcomed members of the Rock City Regiment to the dais after the band’s recent competition successes.

School Nutrition

Heather Yutze, director of school nutrition, described this week as Farm to School Week and said the division is increasing local produce on school menus by expanding partnerships with Shenandoah Valley farms. Yutze identified Showalter’s Orchard in Timberville as one local source, and led the board in the Virginia Department of Education’s ninth annual “Crunch Around the Commonwealth” apple crunch that schools use to highlight local apples and healthy eating. She also said National School Lunch Week (the following week) will carry an “around the world” theme to showcase international menu items and to promote the nutrition program’s role in introducing students to new foods.

Rock City Regiment band

Board members recognized the Rock City Regiment band for a string of awards this fall and invited drum majors to speak. Students identified themselves by name and role: Annie Snow (drum major, Harrisonburg High School), Jose Rocha Salva (drum major, Rocktown High School), Tylen Brutus (drum major, Rocktown High School) and Josiah Nassinger (drum major, Harrisonburg High School). Student speakers described the band’s shared experience after the split into two high schools and emphasized the community and commitment that sustained the ensemble through competitions. One student said the ensemble’s success “cannot be done without all the hard work and grind of all these students.” Board members invited the group to perform Friday at the Rocktown–Harrisonburg football game.

Why it matters

The nutrition program’s emphasis on local procurement and educational food events connects school meals to local agriculture and health education. Band recognitions highlight extracurricular continuity as the district opens two separate high schools while maintaining shared student activities.

Quotes

Heather Yutze, Director of School Nutrition: “This week is Farm to School Week...these apples are from Showalter's Orchard in Timberville, Virginia.”

Annie Snow, Drum Major, Rock City Regiment (Harrisonburg High School): “I'm Annie Snow and I am one of the drum majors for the Rock City regiment.”

Ending

Staff invited the public to attend National School Lunch Week events and the Oct. 9 “Crunch Around the Commonwealth” apple crunch; the Rock City Regiment will perform at a home football game later in the week.