"It" being probably the volume, or intensity, or something like that.
I should just ask it as a question in the English-Whatever pair.

*It's an intensifier, so it can mean "set high goals/raise standards," "put more energy into something," "do something faster," etc., depending on the circumstances. One would have to see more text to decide exactly what means in your case.

"kick it up a notch" is one of many similar English language expressions that mean something like make it more intense, make it more powerful. The notch gives the sense of a notch you can climb up, or a notch that measures like marking on the wall, or some other measurement tool.

The use of "kick" adds that sense of power or force.

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE that is probably similar to your source and may help you find a similar expression in another language.

“If you have a great ambition, take as big a step as possible in the direction of fulfilling it.
The step may only be a tiny one, but trust that it might be the largest one possible for now.”
Mildred Mcafee
FRM-SBB.81
Kick It Up A Notch
If you’ve ever watched the Food Network on cable television, you’ve probably seen celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse and heard his famous saying “kick it up a notch!” Emeril has developed a blend of spices called “Essence” to add additional flavor to foods that he prepares. When he tells an audience he’s going to “kick it up a notch,” he puts a pinch or two of Essence on a dish and everyone, in unison, says “BAM.”
“Kick it up a notch” is also a strategy to improve your health and increase your wealth. In this case, it doesn’t mean adding more spice to a recipe but, rather, ratcheting up healthy behaviors that you are currently performing (or maybe not performing) in order to make them better.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/hes/fcs/FACTSHTS/frm-ssb-81.pdf

kick it up a nothc is a catchy phrase from a popular cooking show, since you are translating a school newsletter you are ooking for something equally as "llamativa" and catchy. I would suggest this phrase "sube la temperatura" because not only does it make a reference to heat and cooking, but also because of its cultural relevance from songs and tv shows.--good luck!

Creo que la siguiente definición alude directamente a lo que propones (entorno gastronómico o culinario):

"to make something more exciting, intense, or interesting, as a ****food dish**** or a social gathering"
Example: kick it up a notch with fresh garlic
Etymology: 1990s+; fr chef Emeril Lagasse
Usage: slang"
(dictionary.com)

En este caso, la traducción no puede ser literal y se debe realizar conforme al contexto.

Creo que la siguiente referencia "Las especias, un toque de sabor para cada receta" te ayudará:

http://www.consumer.es/web/es/alimentacion/en_la_cocina/truc...

Suerte y saludos, Marta.

Hierbas frescar para buen sabor - energía para el buen saber

Suggestions

If this text is recent, I think there's a good chance it refers to the song "Kick it Up a Notch", featuing the guitarist Slash, the end-credit song for the new film "Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension", based on the TV animation "Phineas and Ferb", which is hugely popular at the moment with kids in America, Spain and no doubt just about every other country too:
http://phineasandferb.wikia.com/wiki/Kick_It_Up_A_Notch

In Spanish it's called "Siempre más allá":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PozmZL0OVQg

Even if it doesn't refer to this song, "Siempre más allá" wouldn't be a bad translation.

¡Echale ganas!

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"Pump it up", "Kick ass", "Kick it up a notch", etc.

Saludos
eski :))

Mi sugerencia engancha con el tema de la comida, que es de lo que se trata en el texto fuente; además, con el origen más conocido (no digo necesariamente el único) de la frase, un famoso cocinero de la TV. Por último, la traducción sugerida intenta pegar el mismo registro informal y entusiasmado del texto fuente.

Explicación: Dado el contexto relacionado con comidas, el instar a las familias a preparar comidas sanas para los chicos y sobre todo sazonarlas para que sean más apetitosas, me juego que es una alusión al cocinero televisivo Emeril Lagasse, oriundo de Massachusetts pero muy identificado con las tradiciones culinarias de Luisiana sobre todo las conocidas como 'Cajun' y 'Creole'. La frase 'Let's kick it up a notch!' devino su 'marca de fábrica' y la emplea sobre todo cuando está sazonando a la comida, haciéndola más picantita. De ahí mi sugerencia.

http://www.emerillagasse.net/

"Cooking fans all over Hampton Roads are getting ready to “kick it up a notch” when the Virginia Culinary Expo presents Emeril Lagasse ..." (http://www.emerils.com/newsroom/388/emeril-to-kick-it-up-a-n...