Hemlock Elementary School and the Early Childhood Center are excited to launch the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), bringing breakfast, lunch, and snacks to the entire Early Childhood Center, starting with our preschool classrooms. Billie Jo Davis, Hemlock’s Director of Dining Services, has teamed up with school leaders, teachers, and food service and support staff to bring this program to life.
CACFP ensures young children have access to healthy meals and snacks while easing the stress of meal prep for families. Preschool and Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) classrooms are introducing family-style dining, where children serve themselves from shared dishes with teacher guidance. This hands-on approach helps kids build independence, social skills, language, and healthy eating habits, following Michigan GSRP guidance. Kindergarten and Young Fives students are already thriving in the cafeteria, showing that structured, social meals support healthy routines at this age.
“We want every child to have what they need to grow and succeed,” said Amanda Sensabaugh, assistant principal. “By offering healthy meals, we support our students’ development while also making mealtime easier for families.”
“We’ve worked to meet licensing requirements while improving meals and service,” said Sarah Bradd, childcare director. “I’m excited to see how family-style dining helps our youngest learners grow independence and enjoy their routines.”
Families will receive details about schedules, menus, and classroom plans from the Early Childhood Center. Staff are being trained on family-style service to ensure smooth implementation, and updates will continue as the program expands through November.