Cafeteria & Meal Policies

The school cafeteria is maintained as a vital part of the health program of the school environment.  To encourage good nutrition, a well-balanced breakfast and lunch is offered free of charge to all students.  The cafeteria staff and your fellow students will appreciate your cooperation in:

• Depositing all breakfast & lunch litter in trash cans.

• Returning all trays and utensils to the dishwashing area.

• Leaving the table and floor around your place in a clean condition for others.

• Leaving the cafeteria immediately upon completing your meal.

Note:  No food may be brought to a student during the school day unless the student is on a special diet.  A statement from the doctor is necessary for verification of a special diet.  By law, students are not allowed to receive food delivered from outside vendors or businesses (i.e. McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, etc.).  Students are not allowed to bring food or drinks into classrooms, and they will not be excused from class to eat delivered food regardless of the person who brought it.  Due to social distancing guidelines, allowable exceptions are Grab and Go Meals to eat in the classroom from the cafeteria.

Students with Food Allergies must provide the Diet Prescription for Meals at School Form completed and signed by a physician as well as meet with the school nurse, cafeteria manager and other stakeholders for special arrangements.

All schools are PEANUT and SEAFOOD free.

Child Nutrition Services Parent Information

Meals from Home

Food may be brought from home; however, it is at the discretion of each principal.  If the principal allows students to bring meals from home, the following rules apply. All meals from home must incorporate whole grains and other nutrient-dense foods by following the current meal pattern (meat/meat alternate, grains, fruit, vegetables, and milk) for breakfast and lunch in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations and policies.  To ensure proper holding temperatures, please make sure the food products are kept cold using ice packs until meal service.  The cafeteria cannot store student meals brought from home.

Fast food, candy, chips, and soft drinks or sugar-based juice drinks are not allowed in the cafeteria.  Milk and 100% juice drinks are allowed and can be purchased in the cafeteria.

Allergies

All school campuses are Peanut and Seafood Free.  Any food brought from home may not contain any type of nuts or any kind of seafood.  There are several students with allergies that are enrolled in our schools.

Microwave

Students at the elementary level (K-8) are not allowed to use the microwave at school.  Therefore, parents are encouraged to pack student meals with ice packs to ensure proper temperature control for the safety of the student.

Students at the high school level (9-12) may use the microwave, if available; however, it is at the discretion of each principal.  If microwave use is allowed, the following should be adhered to:

• There should be adult supervision when students are using the microwave

• Adults and students must remain by the microwave when it is being operated.

• Operating instructions should be available to users.

• School staff should provide instructions for safe use of the microwave.

Meal Accounts

My School Bucks payment service is currently disabled due to the extension of free student meals.  There is no requirement to place money in a student account while meals are free.  Extra food or drink items must be paid for at time of purchase with the correct amount.  If you have any questions, please call the Child Nutrition Program at 337-948-3657 and we will be happy to assist you.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.