Food Services
The nationally recognized St. Tammany Parish Public School System Child Nutrition Program’s mission is to provide good nutrition that fuels successful learning.
We provide a variety of healthy food choices, meeting USDA standards. In addition, we educate our students regarding proper nutrition necessary for a healthy lifestyle and wellness.
- Our Department
- Our Mission
- Nutrition Education
- Message from the Director
- Civil Rights Notice
- Wellness Guidance
- Menus
- Special Diet Requests
- Meal Account Transfer and Refund Forms
Our Department
The Child Nutrition Programs employ more than 400 professionals that include field managers, cafeteria managers and assistant managers, technicians, warehouse foreman, and maintenance.
We provide approximately 23,000 lunches and 10,000 breakfasts daily at all 55 schools. Additionally, we implement the after-school snack program and summer feeding program at several schools.
Our Mission
St. Tammany Parish Public Schools Child Nutrition Programs' mission is to provide good nutrition that fuels successful learning.
We provide a variety of healthy food choices, meeting USDA standards. In addition, we educate our students regarding proper nutrition necessary for a healthy lifestyle and wellness.
Nutrition Education
Nutritional Links for Parents & Teachers
Louisiana 2 Step
tips and ideas to eat right and move more
KidsHealth for Parents
lots of information about your child's health
The Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
nutrition info from food experts - registered dietitians
Nutritional Links for Students
KidsHealth
information, recipes, quizzes, and games all about nutrition and health
BAM! Body and Mind
learn about nutrition, diseases, exercise, and safety
Fuel Up to Play 60!
play games or keep track of your food intake and physical activity
Health and Wellness Tips for Successful College Years
getting prepared for a healthy future!
Message from the Director
St. Tammany Parish Public Schools Child Nutrition Programs offer healthy meal choices for our students. Our menus offer a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, healthy entrees, and milk. Our schools serve school-made bread, and we make most of our entrees from scratch. School lunch, breakfast, and snacks are consistent with the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.
Our Child Nutrition Programs engage students across all grade levels. Students assist us with taste-tasting new items. The ProStart classes participate in our Cook-Off where they create their own school lunch menu and promote to the students.
Get your child's day started with a healthy breakfast. In addition to the posted menu, all schools offer dry cereal, fruit, juice, and milk daily. Eating breakfast before starting the school day is linked to improved concentration, better test scores, increased energy, improved behavior, and a healthier body weight.
Civil Rights Notice
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
- mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; - fax: (202) 690-7442; or
- email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Wellness Guidance
St. Tammany Parish Public Schools Wellness Guidance
Purpose
This Wellness Policy establishes a formal system of building a school environment that is safe and healthy, thereby enhancing the potential for academic achievement among students. Students need access to healthful foods and opportunities to be physically active in order to grow and learn.
The St. Tammany Parish School Board is committed to providing school environments that promote and protect children's health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity habits. The School Food Service Director will serve as the coordinator of the Wellness Policy.
Members of the School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), formerly known as the Wellness Policy Committee will include students, parents, teachers, food service professionals, health professionals, and other interested community members in developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing district-wide nutrition and physical activity policies.
Nutrition Services
Qualified Child Nutrition Program professionals will provide students with access to a variety of affordable, nutritious, and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students; will accommodate the special dietary needs and cultural diversity of the student body in meal planning; and will provide clean, safe, and pleasant settings and adequate time for students to eat.
School Meals
St. Tammany Parish Public Schools will:
- Offer menus that meet the meal patterns and nutrition standards established by the USDA Child Nutrition Program and the Louisiana Department of Education.
- Encourage students, school staff, and families to participate in school meal programs.
- Ensure that food safety and sanitation are followed throughout the school, including providing facilities to wash hands before meal service.
- Ensure that school meals are accessible to all students with a variety of delivery strategies such as grab-and-go meals or alternate eating sites.
- Ensure that students receive adequate time to eat breakfast and lunch.
- Provide a cafeteria environment that is conducive to a positive dining experience, with socializing among students and between students and adults and with supervision of eating areas by adults who model proper conduct and voice level.
Foods and Beverages Offered Outside of the Child Nutrition Programs
Foods and beverages sold to students must meet specific nutritional criteria if sold on the grounds at any time during a period beginning one-half hour before the start of the school day and ending one-half hour after the end of the school day. (Refer to Smart Snacks in Schools).
Schools should discourage the use of foods and beverages as rewards for student accomplishment. Schools are encouraged to provide healthful food and beverage choices at school parties. Schools should promote fundraisers that sell items other than food and beverages or only foods and beverages that are nutrient dense (low in calories and high in nutrients.
It is recommended that schools have suggested guidelines in the student handbook regarding all outside foods brought into the school cafeteria.
Nutrition Education
School-based nutrition education includes traditional classroom lessons. It is taught in health education and science classes and can be integrated into core content area of instruction across the curriculum. A planned, sequential curriculum where the lessons are aligned with standards, benchmarks, and grade-level expectations is essential to impact knowledge, attitude, and behavior. The cafeteria can be used as part of the total educational system for modeling behavior.
Schools will:
- Implement nutrition education programs that promote lifelong healthful eating practices that are research-based.
- Use lessons that are age-appropriate, behaviorally focused content that is developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant.
- Use curriculum and lessons that are sequential and are correlated with standards, benchmarks, and grade level expectations.
- Provide hands-on activities that are fun and engaging.
- Promote positive aspects of healthful eating behaviors.
- Cafeteria will serve as learning laboratories by providing nutrition information.
Physical Education and Activity
Schools will:
- Implement quality physical education programs that emphasize and promote participation in lifelong physical activities and reaching a health enhancing level of physical fitness among all students.
- The physical education lessons should be aligned with standards, benchmarks, and grade-level expectations.
- Provide all students physical education and physical activity that meet or exceed the minimum standards established by the Louisiana Department of Education.
- Ensure enough age-appropriate and safe equipment is in place to guarantee that all students are able to be active for physical education and physical activity.
- Ensure qualified, certified physical education teachers guide physical activity instruction in all elementary grades as well as in middle and high school physical education classes.
- Provide staff development on standards implementation for physical education instructors.
- Provide daily recess for all children in K-8th grade.
- Encourage physical activity during recess for elementary students, intramurals programs, and clubs, as well as in physical education programs.
Communication
At the beginning of each school year, no later than the end of the first quarter, the SHAC will share a summary of the Wellness Policy with school staff and faculty, students, and parents via the school food services web page. Updates to the Policy may be highlighted and discussed.
Schools are encouraged to provide a link to the Wellness Policy on their web page.
Monitoring and Evaluation
The School Health Advisory Committee will evaluate the policy annually and revise as necessary.
Attachment A
WELLNESS POLICY ACTION PLAN
St. Tammany Parish
Objectives |
Meets Requirements |
Comments |
---|---|---|
SHAC has been established |
Yes |
|
SHAC provides information to: school administrators teachers cafeteria managers parents students |
Yes |
|
SHAC recommends revisions to Wellness policy as needed |
Yes |
|
School Meals are accessible to all students |
Yes |
|
Students eat in a pleasant atmosphere |
Yes |
|
Handwashing before eating is available & encouraged |
Yes |
|
Smart Snack Guidelines are followed |
Yes |
|
Students receive nutrition information in classroom or cafeteria |
Yes |
|
Hire certified Physical Education teachers (K – 12) |
Yes |
|
Follow LDOE guidelines for Physical Education instruction |
Yes |
|
Snack and Party Ideas
Attachment B
Snacks are important to provide nutrients for growing children.
- Include a wide variety of foods that are rich in nutrients.
- Have healthful snacks available and easily accessible. Cut up fruits and vegetables for easy eating, especially children with loose teeth or braces.
- Try low-fat versions of milk, ice cream, crackers, and chips.
- Avoid using food as a reward or punishment.
- Be a good role model by eating healthful snacks with your children/students.
- Choose fruits and vegetables as snacks so children/students can meet the goal of eating at least three or more servings of vegetables and two or more servings of fruits a day.
- Involve children/students in planning and shopping for foods and beverages for snacks and parties.
- Involve students in planning a party that provides healthy food choices and activities that do not focus the party on food.
- Offer food again, even if children/students did not like it the first time, especially fruits and vegetables. Students need repeated exposure to new foods.
- For more information, call the free American Dietetic Association Hotline at: (800) 366-1655 or visit the website at http://www.eatright.com.
Alternatives to Using Food as a Reward
Using food as a reward undermines nutrition education, encourages overconsumption of extra calories, especially foods high in fat and added sugar, and teaches children to eat when they are not hungry. Some alternatives for rewarding children include:
- Sit by friends
- Give a set of flashcards or books Reading time
- Extra time for art or music Hold class outside
- Listen to music while working Play a favorite game or puzzle Dance to favorite music
- Keep a treasure box filled with non-food items Go for walks
- Give stickers, pencils, and other school supplies Offer dress down day
- Offer free time at the end of the week Eat lunch with the principal or teacher
For more ideas, visit the following web sites:
- Michigan Department of Education Team Nutrition
- USDA Team Nutrition Create Healthy, Active Celebrations
Creative Fundraising Ideas
Attachment C
Healthy fundraising ideas promote consistent messages of practicing healthy eating and physical activity habits in the classroom, throughout the school, and at home. Listed below are some ideas for raising funds without selling food.
- Sports tournament – Sell tickets to students and family members to attend a student volleyball, tennis, or golf tournament. Include some local celebrities to increase sales throughout the community.
- Pledge ideas -- Walk-a-thon and fun runs – Hold a walk and or run on the school grounds. Ask for pledges to sponsor.
- Spring yard work to local community members – Offer to rake yards and spread compost at a bargain rate.
- Basketball tournament – Charge a team of three players $40 for entrance and ask local businesses for prize donations. Provide tee shirts for the event and raise the entrance fee.
- Plant sale – Sell perennials, herbs, or seeds; poinsettias during the holidays, and flowers for Valentine’s Day.
- Community job fair – Rent booths for a fee to local companies and solicit free advertisements for local radio stations or newspapers. Charge an entrance fee.
- Crafts fair – Local and regional crafts persons can rent booths for a fee. The school can charge a small entrance fee to the public.
- School event planners – Sell planners at school registration. Planners include all event dates, such as sports events, national tests, dances, plays, etc. Fifty percent of the sales can be profits.
- Sell seat cushions at sporting events – Sell advertisements on the cushions to 20 local businesses for $50 – 100 to make even more money.
- Administrative fun - Have money jars available for the students to make donations. The school secretary would count the money in the jars on a daily basis and post the total. At set dollar increments, the principal and/or vice-principal would have to do stunts, such as dress as a cheerleader, do cheers, etc.
- Raffle of gift baskets assembled by students - Choose a theme such as gardening, sports, or arts and crafts. Most items for the baskets can be donated.
- Sell candles, greeting cards, gift wrap, magazines, buttons, pins, pens, crafts, batteries, Frisbees, pet treats, and calendars.
- Rent a special parking place.
- Involve the community – Conduct workshops or classes, a scavenger hunt, a recycling program, a car wash for donations, a garage sale
- Sell school spirit supplies – megaphones, shakers, plastic cups, T-shirts, school supplies, bumper stickers, cookbooks or books developed by the school
- Host art, music, and science events such as a read-a-thon, spelling bee, science fair, talent show, art show, plays, and concerts
Adapted from Twenty Ways to Raise Funds without Candy, Illinois Nutrition Education and Training Program, Illinois Department of Education, Creative Financing and Fun Fundraising for Schools, Sports, and Clubs, California Project LEAN, and WIN Wyoming, Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service
Attachment D
Members of the School Health Advisory Committee
Jennifer Montz, Supervisor of School Food Services and Parent, Chair
Kay Hursey, Itinerant Programs Coordinator
Jackie Jenkins, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction
Stacey Russell, Pro-Start Instructor of FHS and Parent
Neely Estrade, Safety Coordinator
Rebecca Birkett, Principal Lyon Elementary
Stacey Alexius, Career and Technical Education Coordinator
Jodie Kain, Cafeteria Manager and Parent
Menus
Each school develops a custom menu each month. Please refer to the school website or contact the school cafeteria for menus.
School meals are planned by our certified field managers with input from our director who is a registered dietitian. Students are offered a choice of nutritionally balanced lunches and breakfasts that meet or exceed the USDA standards and reflect the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Student preferences are determined through surveys and taste parties. The feedback received plays a major role in our menu offerings. Low cost, nutritious school meals are served to more than 23,000 customers every day.
Special Diet Requests
If a child has been determined by a doctor to be disabled and the disability prevents the child from eating the regular school meals, schools will make any substitutions. If a substitution is prescribed, there will be no extra charge for the meal. If your child needs substitutions because of a disability, please have a physician or recognized medical authority complete the “Prescription for School Meal Modification” form. Dietary requests will be valid only for the school year in which they are written and will expire at the end of each school year. A signature from a physician or other recognized medical authority is required.
Meal Account Transfer and Refund Forms
Meal Payments
Students may want to deposit money in their General account to purchase “extra sales” items such as milk, juice, water additional menu items, and healthy snacks.
Pay Online
The online payment portal allows families to check student purchases and monitor meal account balances. To register you will need your child’s student ID number which can be obtained from the student’s school office or cafeteria.
Pre-Payment
Parents are encouraged to pre-pay for extra sale items by using www.MyPaymentsPlus.com.You may also send a check, cash, or money order in a sealed envelope with the student’s first and last name (no nicknames please) on the outside of the envelope to your student’s cafeteria.
Meal Prices
School meals are FREE for the 2022-2023 school year.
Breakfast Prices
Students: Free
Employees: $1.50
Visitors: $2.25
Lunch Prices
Students: Free
Employees: $3.50
Visitors: $5.00
Most schools offer a variety of extra sale items available for purchase after receiving a meal.
Please contact your school’s cafeteria for more information.
We're Hiring
Job Opportunities
Applications are being accepted for cafeteria personnel. STPPS offers a highly competitive hourly rate of pay for cafeteria personnel, starting at $16+ per hour. Both full-time and part-time opportunities are available. An excellent benefits package is available for full-time employees.
Visit the Careers page for current vacancies and to find out how to apply.
Pre-employment training is required. Email food.service@stpsb.org to get more information.
Reasons to work for the Child Nutrition Programs
Reasons to work for the Child Nutrition Programs
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Flexible hours
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Opportunity for advancement
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Training
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Great benefits for full-time employees: medical, life insurance, retirement
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School schedule (off summer and most holidays)
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Supportive, friendly work environment
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Supportive supervisory team
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An opportunity to serve America's future - our children
Contact
Food Services
Food.Service@stpsb.org
985-898-3371