The mission of South Valley Preparatory School (SVP) is to provide a small, safe and unique family learning community where students are prepared for high school and beyond. The Charter school provides instruction to approximately 179 students. The FoodCorps mission will bring value to our organization by providing daily curriculum to our students, 6-8th grade instruction in the topic area of healthy foods, cooking, hands on activities, and demonstration. The entire school wide culture will be impacted by this service member’s participation in our overall program. The FoodCorps service member will collaborate to build a healthy and strong cultural awareness about healthy foods, school gardening, and assisting with current initiatives for student service learning opportunities with local partners. SVP is a school that will benefit from a full time designated member to facilitate in collaboration with students and community the expansion of our community gardens, assist with planning and creating a sufficient site based hoop house and collaborate with our City of Albuquerque, Senior Affairs Nutrition Program to create a new garden for the community at large. The service member will be required to fulfill the majority of duties designated as a member with local supports at the school site.

The service member will primarily be working at the SVP school site, Monday-Friday during school hours. The member will support current community service learning initiatives for all grade levels that involve the larger community as well as the onsite expansion of the school garden. There will be opportunities for the member to work with non-profit local partners and stakeholders to educate and promote the FoodCorps projects. 1)The FoodCorps member will be hands-on providing direct activities and instruction for students as it relates to the focus areas of service in and out of the classroom setting, this will include the SVP Cooking Club and Gardening Club 2)The FoodCorps member will experience and contribute to the development of our new 2020/21 onsite cafeteria, this could include utilizing various kitchen resources and overall nutrition education for students and families. 3)The FoodCorps member will contribute daily inside various classroom settings to the healthy food culture and consciousness at SVP. Traditionally we have catered student lunches with some organic and mostly fresh and homemade menu, some non-meat dishes and the use of organic foods to the greatest extent possible. This healthy approach to school meals will continue with the support of the FoodCorps service member. Taste tests and the creations of menus for the cooking club will be expected. The FoodCorps service member will nurture and celebrate the values we have instilled in the current nutrition program at SVP by identifying and measuring the success of the changes and growth patterns in our students, as well as report our regularly to the educational community, including parents and stakeholders.