By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
Delisle Elementary School has been selected as one of 20 schools across Saskatchewan to receive a $20,000 grant to support student nutrition, which the school intends to use for some one-time infrastructure upgrades and the costs of starting up a “Classroom Meal Makers” program.
The Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) announced via its website last week that Delisle Elementary School was one of 20 recipients of a $20,000 grant through the Mosaic School Nutrition Challenge.
Notably, it is the only school within the Prairie Spirit School Division to be selected for a grant in 2026, which also marks the 20th anniversary of the Mosaic Challenge.
This initiative, which represents a partnership between the SSBA and The Mosaic Company, began originally in 2006 as a way to encourage grassroots initiatives that support student nutrition and healthier school environments.
Each year, provincially and federally-funded K-12 schools throughout Saskatchewan are encouraged to support an application explaining their current school environment and improvement plans for the upcoming school year.
This year, a total of $400,000 is being given away to celebrate the challenge’s anniversary.
“We are thankful for Mosaic’s ongoing support and particularly grateful for the exceptional funding this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mosaic Challenge,” said SSBA president Dr. Shawn Davidson, in a release.
An SSBA spokesperson indicated via e-mail that nearly 90 schools applied for a $20,000 grant this year, noting that there are always more applications than grants.
“Through the Mosaic School Nutrition Challenge, we’re supporting student health today while helping grow stronger Saskatchewan communities for tomorrow,” added Marnel Jones, Mosaic’s Director of Government and Public Affairs – Canada.
Delisle Elementary School Principal Edla Landry said they were “very excited” to have been selected for a Mosaic grant and were appreciative of the company’s financial support and commitment to school nutrition programs.
Noting that Delisle Elementary has an established breakfast program that is sustained by long-standing partnerships and a strong volunteer culture, Landry said Mosaic’s support “will help us expand our breakfast programming from a food-provision model to one that builds capacity in our students.”
Landry said they formed their plan for the grant money around three big ideas: growing food, growing skills and growing community.
“We hope to give students opportunities to practice real-world problem solving, use kitchen tools, and grow/prepare food, all while discovering how fun and easy food can be when they help make it themselves.”
The cornerstone of the school’s plan, Landry said, is a rotating weekly classroom snack/lunch experience dubbed Classroom Meal Makers. Each week, one class will take on the role of Meal Makers and prepare an age-appropriate, nutritious snack/lunch item for their class.
Through this experience, students will gain hands-on practice with tools, recipes and kitchen safety.
Landry said the class of the week will also have the opportunity to extend their learning at home with a ‘library’ of take-home Kitchen Kits.
A limited number of these kits, each containing the simple tools and ingredients needed for an easy-to-follow recipe, will be available to borrow.
“The kits will help build connections between home and school, and give families a structured opportunity to learn, cook, and eat together,” she said.
Landry added the funding will go towards creating a food-safe, accessible kitchen area at the school.