Franklin County Schools (Alabama)

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

BEHIND THE TRAY : SPOTLIGHT SERIES!

This week we are getting to know the Belgreen Bulldogs’ Child Nutrition Manager, Kristi Gargis. Kristi has been working in Child Nutrition since 2005, where she began as a cashier at Phil Campbell High School. Three years later, she began managing the cafeteria at Belgreen High School.

Kristi says interacting with the kids are her favorite part of the job: “It is never boring.” Holiday meals are Kristi’s favorite meal to serve because the kids love when family comes to eat a meal with them at school. She says caring for students includes providing nutritious meals while they are at school; and meeting kids where they are, knowing they can have bad days, and providing hearty meals and a stable environment for them to regulate their emotions. She is proud of her team because they work together to feed the kids and make sure they all feel loved and seen.

When asked what she hopes students feel when they come through her cafeteria line, she replied, “I hope they feel loved and know that they are important to us.”

More Q&A with Kristi:

•What was your favorite school lunch when you were a student?
Chicken nuggets and mashed potatoes.

•What is your favorite food to cook at home?
I love cooking casseroles and desserts.

•Are you more of a breakfast or a lunch person?
Breakfast

•What is your favorite fruit or vegetable?
Blueberries and bananas

•What is one cafeteria item you could eat every week?
Kale salad.

•What is your secret talent outside the cafeteria?
I’m a Jill of All Trades.

•What is something your coworkers might be surprised to learn about
you?
I think they know everything, we have worked together for so long.

•What song would be playing during your perfect work day? Anything Miranda Lambert, my favorite is What About Georgia.

•Coffee, sweet tea, or water
Water & Coffee

•Biscuits or pancakes?
Biscuits

We appreciate Kristi’s dedication to the kids! Franklin County CNP is proud to have her as a leading team member!

Stay tuned for more Behind the Tray Spotlights!

09/03/2026

The Shark is Broken

09/03/2026

Monday, September 7, 2026

09/03/2026

A child can get every answer wrong on a test and still have had a really brave day at school.

Maybe they walked through the gate despite feeling anxious.
Maybe they put their hand up for the first time.
Maybe they asked for help instead of giving up.
Maybe they sat with someone new at lunch.
Maybe they kept trying when the work felt hard.
Maybe they came home smiling.

Grades matter, but they are not the full story of a child’s progress.

Children need to know they are more than their marks, behaviour points or report card. When we notice their effort, kindness, confidence and resilience, we help build the self-belief that carries them through the hard days too.

Ask them: “What was something you found hard but kept going with today?” You might hear an achievement no test could ever measure.

FREE A CHILD’S SUCCESS ISN’T ALWAYS A GRADE POSTER PDF

LIKE the photo and comment "GRADE" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

🚀 Bring NASA Directly to Your Classroom — Completely FREE! 🌌
Attention Alabama K–12 teachers! Looking to spark your students' interest in STEM, astronomy, and real-world space exploration?
The Alabama Space Grant Outreach Ambassadors offer hands-on, university-led presentations and activities tailored to your grade level:
✨ Mission Menu Options:

🪐 Our Solar System (Grades 1–3): Explore planets, moons, and build a "Pocket Solar System."
🚀 Artemis: Going Back to the Moon (Grades 3–5): Discover NASA's Moon-to-Mars goals with a hands-on balloon rocket launch!
🤖 Coding a Mars Rover (Grades 5–12): Learn coding basics using ELEGOO robots to navigate hazards.
🌌 Artemis: NASA's Return to the Moon (Grades 6–8): Reinforce core physical science, force, and velocity concepts with two-stage rocket activities.
✨ Decoding Dark Matter (Grades 9–12): Dive into cutting-edge Alabama astrophysics and galaxy mapping.
📍 Cost: 100% FREE!
📧 Contact: Melissa Simmons ([email protected])
🌐 Learn More: www.uah.edu/asgc
👉 Ready to book a visit? Scan the QR code on the flyer or reach out to match with an Ambassador today! 🎓✨