Chartwells Dining Services Awards Weston Public Schools

Weston Public Schools was recently honored as the Be-A-Star Northeast Regional Account of the Year by Chartwells School Dining Services. 

The Northeast Regional Account of the Year is awarded to a district that exemplifies business excellence and goes above and beyond the call of duty in areas, such as community service, financial performance, customer and client satisfaction, wellness and diversity.

Prior to this honor, Weston was also recognized by the Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine with a Golden Carrot Award Honorable Mention, a winner of the Whole grains Challenge from the National Whole Grains Council, received a Fuel Up to Play 60 Grant from the National Dairy Council, and received a Healthier US Schools Challenge Bronze Award from the United States Department of Agriculture for Hurlbutt Elementary School.

The district has been setting itself apart as a true market leader in the foodservice industry demonstrating operational excellence with its programs and personnel.  The school nutrition program in Weston is led by a culinary expert, a registered dietitian and a team of dedicated foodservice associates. 

Andre Santelli, Director of Dining & Culinary Development, utilizes his skills in working with whole/natural food products to implement a premiere "from scratch," locally grown culinary program. He has developed a popular catering program that is raved about by teachers and administrators. Santelli provides on-going culinary training to associates.

Jill Patterson, RD, Resident Dietitian, works with Santelli to position Weston as a leader in school nutrition programming by keeping current with latest trends in the school nutrition industry, implementing nutrition programs, providing nutrition communications and conducting nutrition training for foodservice associates. She also has led Weston to winning several recognition nutrition awards.

Weston Public Schools' School Nutrition Program has gone above and beyond the call of duty in the following areas:

• Weston is used as a showcase account for Chartwells;
• Weston was the first Chartwells account to have this level of specific nutrition standards, and districts from across the country have used Weston's program to emulate it in their districts;
• Weston has innovative culinary concepts including "Street Food," "Comfort Food," International Cuisine and Asian Nation Station- Weston High School is the only Chartwells School in the country to offer hand-rolled sushi from this station;
• Weston contributes to scientific reasearch that is presented at the national Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference.