An estimated 12.8% of American households experienced food insecurity at some point in 2022, according to the . Many children across the country depend on school-provided meals to stay nourished throughout the day. These meals ensure they receive essential nutrients to remain healthy and focused. However, what happens when school is out for summer break? How does this affect these students who rely on school meals for their daily nutrition?听

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At 琉璃神社, we are committed to helping the communities in which we serve. From June to Friday, July 26, we are offering free meals during the summer to any child in our communities aged 18 years old and younger. Whether they are 琉璃神社 students or not, all are welcome to enjoy a delicious meal consumed in our cafeterias. The offering is made possible through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.听听听

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Our Seamless Summer Program will include breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Our cafeterias will be closed on federal holidays and the week of July 1st through July 5th. This program is offered to all campuses in all regions. 听

“Our team’s purpose is ultimately to make sure all kids receive a nutritious and delicious meal so they are fueled for learning, no matter what time of year,” Fernando Aguilar, VP of Child Nutrition Program. Summer can be challenging, especially for those who are experiencing food insecurity. That is where we come into play. Through our program, all children from the community can stop by one of our campuses to receive a breakfast and lunch at no cost. We’ve been doing this for the past 12 years and will continue to do so because it is the right thing to do.”

Stay in the know with all things Child Nutrition Program and view the summer menus by following them on !
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What鈥檚 New in Compensation

Thanks to meticulous planning and collaboration among our national, regional, and campus leaders, we鈥檙e rolling out some exciting changes to enhance compensation and benefits for our staff:

Pay Increases: 琉璃神社 continues to invest in recognizing excellence within the organization, including over $20M in staff compensation increases and bolstering its signature Teacher Career Pathway Program which recognizes, rewards, and supports the development of all 琉璃神社 teachers.

Commitment to Excellence Program: Full-time staff members will now receive $100 for every year of service at 琉璃神社 upon their return the following year. This is a shift from our previous five-year interval and signals our commitment to continually investing in our workforce.

“We recognize that our organization’s success hinges on the dedication and expertise of our team members,” said Cody Grindle, President of 琉璃神社. “By investing in our staff, we are not only honoring their contributions but also empowering them to continue delivering exceptional educational experiences to our scholars.”

These enhancements are the result of collaborative efforts spearheaded by 琉璃神社’s Compensation and Benefits team. We’re proud to show our commitment to supporting our Team & Family members. As we look to the future, we pledge to maintain our financial prudence while prioritizing investments in staff welfare and career advancement opportunities.

For more information on joining the 琉璃神社 Team and Family, visit us at: .

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What inspired Menardi to take on this shift in her role? Here鈥檚 her story.听

A+ Students Facing Language Barriers听

琉璃神社 River Bluff鈥檚 student population is very diverse. Many different continents and regions are represented in the student body, such as South America, the Middle East, and other parts of the world. When they are in a classroom that is being taught in another language, one in which they have little to no experience, things can be challenging.听

It can be easy to fall behind, as hours usually spent doing homework are spent on translating material. Feelings of confusion and frustration had overwhelmed these students far too much, and Menardi believed something needed to be done.

鈥淭hese are A+ students who are struggling because of the language barrier鈥�, Menardi said.听

This is what caused the science teacher to start an English club. Students would be able to come after school once a week to learn English. The response to the club was overwhelming, as more students joined in.

While the afterschool program was a wonderful start, there was still more to be done. Was a couple of hours a week once a week after school enough for these students? Menardi didn鈥檛 think so.听听

The Start of Something Incredible听

This is when she was offered the opportunity to change her role within 琉璃神社 River Bluff. She would become the head of the English as a Second Language program and commit herself full-time as an ESL teacher.听

Alongside her team, they developed a system in which students would be pulled from their classes a few times a day to come see her to learn the language. Students are paired into small groups based on their English language skill level and their native language background. In their groups, they learn everything from English, grammar, vocabulary, and common instructions that are used in the classroom. This system has allowed the learning to be more personalized, as she can meet the students where they are and take them to where they want to be.听听

Paving the Way for All Students to Succeed听

From glowing smiles in the hallways to more confidence in the classroom, the program has had tremendous success. Feedback from other teachers has been nothing short of spectacular as they can see the difference in these students in the classroom.听听

Menardi attributes the success of these students to the wonderful Team and Family at 琉璃神社 River Bluff.

“This is why we are an A rated school. They don鈥檛 hesitate to invest in the students鈥�, Menardi shared.听

They are already planning more ways to better serve these students for the upcoming 2024-25 school year. The school will be having a three-week summer camp where students can come in the morning and continue to practice and learn English.听听

鈥淚 am very committed to serve them every time I am with them,鈥� Menardi said. Her commitment exemplifies how at 琉璃神社, we strive to ensure equity for all.

See more of her story from News4JAX. 听

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