From Training To Tasting: 5th Annual Kelso’s Test Kitchen Puts 5th Grade Students In The Judge’s Seat - 11/14/25

Creativity will be on the menu November 24 as Kelso School District’s Nutrition Services team fires up the stoves for the fifth annual Kelso’s Test Kitchen recipe contest and training.

Each year, this friendly competition transforms required USDA professional development into a fun, hands-on culinary challenge that benefits both staff and students. Teams of elementary school nutrition professionals collaborate to develop new recipes that meet USDA meal pattern requirements, incorporate seasonal and local ingredients, and—most importantly—appeal to students’ taste buds.

This year’s focus ties directly into the district’s Farm to School grant, emphasizing the use of local foods and seasonal ingredients. Staff from all six elementary schools will form four teams tasked with creating a complete meal featuring a locally sourced food item, but there’s a twist. Teams won’t know which ingredients and staples they’ll have access to until the contest begins, keeping creativity (and kitchen energy) at full boil. With just an hour and a half to plan, prep, and plate, they’ll blend ingenuity, skill, and practicality to design meals that could one day be served in cafeterias across the district.

After cooking, teams will present their dishes and discuss when and how each might best fit into school meal rotations, considering attendance patterns and nutritional guidelines. Then comes the ultimate taste test: 5th grade students from each of Kelso’s six elementary schools will join the judging panel to sample and vote for their favorite dish—alongside votes from the Nutrition Services team. Their input continues Kelso’s practice of including and elevating student voice.

Winning recipes often make their way onto Kelso menus; previous champions now served regularly include chicken pot pie, taco soup, hand-rolled bean burritos, roasted garlic green beans, and chicken and waffles.

“Kelso’s Test Kitchen lets our team be creative and gives them a sense of ownership and pride in the meals we serve,” said Kaydee Harris, Kelso School District Nutrition Services Director. “The team’s different backgrounds, cultures, and cooking styles add a wonderful variety to new recipes. And they really know their students’ likes and dislikes.”

This year’s Test Kitchen and training will take place Monday, November 24, from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm at Lexington Elementary School, with recipe/meal presentation, tasting, voting, and results happening from noon to 12:30 pm. The winning recipe will be featured on future school menus, giving students a literal taste of their nutrition team’s creativity and care.

Why It Matters
Kelso’s Test Kitchen is more than a cooking competition, it’s a recipe for success. By turning annual USDA training into a fun, collaborative challenge, Kelso’s Nutrition Services team:

• Strengthens professional skills in recipe development, standardization, and nutrition compliance.
• Supports local farms and businesses through Farm to School partnerships that bring fresh, seasonal foods to students’ plates.
• Encourages student engagement and satisfaction by crafting meals that reflect real student preferences.
• Builds pride and teamwork among staff whose creativity helps fuel healthy, delicious school meals every day.

From kitchen innovation to classroom focus, Kelso’s Test Kitchen continues to prove that when meals are made with care and creativity, students thrive.

Kelso School District recently received two Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service, in partnership with Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK). These awards celebrate the district’s innovative approaches to improving the nutritional quality of school meals while keeping students at the center of the process.

About Kelso School District
Kelso School District has a goal of 100% (bit.ly/ksd-100) of students graduating high school and having post-secondary plans for college, career, trades, or military. Our mission is to prepare every student for living, learning, and achieving success as a citizen of our changing world.

Kelso School Board Recognized As A Board Of Distinction For Third Year In A Row - 11/13/25

The Kelso School District Board of Directors has been recognized as a 2025 Board of Distinction by the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA). Selected for their visionary leadership and commitment to closing opportunity gaps, Kelso’s board is one of 49 across the state to receive this honor.

To earn this distinction, boards must provide clear, evidence-based examples of how their actions have directly improved student outcomes. Kelso’s nomination centered around the district’s Freshman Student Success Team, a collaborative initiative that has transformed student achievement and increased graduation readiness.

Since launching in 2022, the Freshman Student Success Team has implemented early interventions, data-driven strategies, and whole-student systems of support for more than 350 ninth graders annually. As a result, Kelso’s 9th-grade on-track rate—the percentage of students earning six or more credits by the end of the school year—has risen dramatically from 66% in 2022 to 80% in 2025, marking a significant step toward higher graduation rates districtwide.

“This recognition reflects the heart of Kelso’s work—ensuring every student has the opportunity and support to succeed,” said Superintendent Mary Beth Tack. “Our board’s focus on data-informed decision-making and meaningful partnerships has created real, measurable change for our students.”

“We’re honored to once again be named a Board of Distinction because it validates the deep, on-going commitment our board and district have to student success,” said Board President Jeane Conrad.

This marks the third consecutive year Kelso’s board has been recognized by WSSDA, earning Board of Distinction honors in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025, and being named Washington State Board of the Year in 2023.

This honor builds on a year of state and regional recognition for Kelso’s efforts to improve student achievement. The district also received the WASA Student Achievement Leadership Award (ESD 112 Region, May 2025) and the WASA Learning from Leaders Award (Washington State, June 2025) for its innovative work in supporting freshman success.

Kelso’s continued commitment to student-centered improvement is a cornerstone of its 2025 Strategic Plan, focused on closing opportunity gaps, fostering belonging, and preparing every graduate for life beyond high school.

About Kelso School District
Kelso School District has a goal of 100% (bit.ly/ksd-100) of students graduating high school and having post-secondary plans for college, career, trades, or military. Our mission is to prepare every student for living, learning, and achieving success as a citizen of our changing world.