October is Farm to School Month and More
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Family University is a celebration of our community, building healthy futures through food, families, and learning. Being held on Saturday, October 18.
Celebrate October’s National Farm to School month as Danbury Schools celebrate food education, school gardens, and lunch trays filled with healthy, local ingredients. It’s a time to rejoice in the connections that occur all over the country between children and local food, from food tastings to farmers' markets to what is on students' food trays, to families learning to plant and grow small gardens.
Oct 4-11, 2025, is CT Grown for CT Kids week. This week aims to celebrate and support local agriculture, public education, and our community's commitment to the importance of healthy, nutritious meals in our schools. Danbury will celebrate the week and month by hosting the 2025 Family University, focusing on great meals and gardening, attending Danbury's Farmers Market, conducting taste tests in schools, offering family workshops, and participating in the Great Plate Contest.
Family University is a celebration of our community, building healthy futures through food, families, and learning. Being held on Saturday, October 18, beginning at 8:30 am, there are workshops for families and activities for children, raffles, taste testing, cooking and gardening classes, a gift for each family, and a special breakfast and lunch featuring farm fresh ingredients supplied by Danbury School's new food provider, Chartwells. Pre-registration is required at
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJZwhdpqksjkTkzhvE2nYc9oissGId_HamRfSXEmopz306iQ/viewform. Look for more information on the month's events through Parent Square, and don't forget to register for Family University.
Next month, parent-teacher conferences begin to discuss how their child is succeeding in school. Schools welcome each family to pre-register for a time slot during the day or evening, and interpretation services are available. Conferences are an important opportunity to hear about your child's progress in school, learn strategies to use at home, and have any questions answered. Each school will send home more information about the dates and times, as well as how to sign up. Please take advantage of this one-on-one time to talk to your child's teacher. The weeks of the different grade conferences are listed on the school calendar at
Lastly, on a beautiful Sunday morning at a youth football game, I witnessed the worst behavior by adults that I have ever seen in my life. Youth sports are for the kids, as they learn vital skills in their chosen sport and how to solve problems peacefully. Adults who are coaching them must remember their role in this development, and at no time should they ever display undesirable behaviors. Everyone says, “Sports are all about the kids.” That manta was not displayed that day. I do have to thank the coaches who quickly removed the players and cheerleaders from the direct view of what was happening. Hostility and fighting between adults on a sports field do not set a good example for what we want children to learn. Instead, players should be able to partake in a sport knowing that they will learn the skills they signed up for in an environment that is supportive, encouraging, and free from violence. It is every adult’s responsibility to ensure this happens.
For more information on the Farm to School month, Family University, or to request the Guide to Productive Conferences, contact the Office of Family, School, & Community Partnerships at 203-797-4734.
Anne E. Mead, Ed. D. is the director of Family, School, and Community Partnerships for Danbury Public Schools. She can be reached at 203-830-6508 or by email at meadan@danburyu.k12.ct.us.
