School Nutrition

Whitney Thornton, School Nutrition Director

Nutrition Information

We know that well fed children are able to focus in class and ultimately perform better in school –“You cannot teach a hungry child” is the age old saying!

Remember! Encourage your child to receive a breakfast and a lunch meal this year!

Crockett County Schools cafeterias offer:

Lower salt and fat recipes
Steams vegetables
100% whole wheat and grain items
Rainbow of fresh fruit and vegetables daily
Butter replacement (no transfat items)
Choice of fresh salads
Choice of sandwiches
Hot entree daily
Healthy snack program that meets the State and Federal guidelines

The Director of Food Services & Nutrition assumes leadership in improving the nutrition program within the school system following standards developed by federal, state, and local agencies. Her office is responsible for training and supervising lunchroom personnel as they plan, prepare, and serve breakfast and lunch each school day. In addition, the director plans the menus and supervises the purchasing of all foods and food service equipment that will ensure an efficiently operating cafeteria program.

The director's office prepares and submits an annual budget that includes food and equipment purchases that meet or exceed local, state, and federal guidelines. This department oversees the Free & Reduced Meal Program, Summer Feeding, and the After-School snacks program The school nutrition program is a federally operated program and is self-sufficient with meal prices covering the cost to operate the program.

Whitney Thornton, MS, RD, LDN, Director of Nutrition. Phone: 731-696-2116

Healthy Diet Eating Food Nutrition - Transparent Nutrition Clip ...

Cafeteria Managers, under the direction of the Director of Nutrition, are expected to operate a food service program in an effective and efficient manner. If you ever have a question about your cafeteria, you can talk with the School cafeteria Manager or the Nutrition Director.

Darlene Baker, Crockett County High School Manager. Phone: 731.696.4525
Sandy Laws, Crockett County Middle School Manager. Phone: 731-696-5583
Linda Lipford, Friendship Elementary Manager. Phone. 731-677-2718
Charlotte Crocker, Gadsden Elementary Manager. Phone: 731-663-2453
Keri Perez, Maury City Elementary Manager. Phone: 731-656-2244

School Cafe

SchoolCafe - Online Meal Payment System

Parents have the ability to pay online and manage their child’s account, including spending history, low-balance notification, and spending limit settings. There is no fee to enroll or to view cafeteria account balances/statements. A $2.25 convenience fee is charged for each online payment made via www.schoolcafe.com. Fees can be avoided by sending payment (cash or checks made payable to your schools cafeteria) to the school to be deposited in the student’s account.

For those who are unable to access www.schoolcafe.com, balance inquiries and account statements are available by contacting Whitney Thornton at whitney.thornton@crockettcavs.net or calling 731-696-2116.

SchoolCafe- Online Free and Reduced Meal Applications

Our preferred method of application is via this online process, but if you still require a paper application, please contact the cafeteria manager, child nutrition office, or school office for a paper application.

Applications may take up to 5 business days to be reviewed, but experience tells us that most applications are reviewed within 2 business days. A letter will be sent home with your child confirming the determination status of your application. You may check in School Café to check for your application status.

Wellness

A local school wellness policy is a written document of official policies that guide a local educational agency (LEA) or school district’s efforts to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity.

The Local School Wellness Policy requirement was established by the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, and further strengthened by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. It requires each local LEA participating in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program to develop a local school wellness policy that promotes the health of students and addresses the growing problem of childhood obesity. The responsibility for developing a local school wellness policy is placed at the local level so the unique needs of each school under the jurisdiction of the LEA can be addressed. (***Taken from https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/local-school-wellness-policy)

FFVP

FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM

One of our elementary schools received a very generous USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Grant. We are very proud that Friendship Elementary was chosen for this grant and students will be able to learn about and taste a variety of new fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the 2022-23 school year.

The goals of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) are to:

Create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices.
Expand the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience.
Increase children's fruit and vegetable consumption.
Make a difference in children's diets to impact their present and future health

2023 Friendship Elementary FFVP Letter

*The USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program encourages consumption of fruits and vegetables by making fruit and vegetable snacks available at no cost to all children in participating schools. The Nutrition Programs Title of the 2002 Farm Act provided $6 million for USDA to award to schools through a Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program (FVPP) for the 2002-03 school year. The program has since become a permanent program that was expanded to cover selected schools in all 50 States, as part of the 2008 Farm Bill.

**Copied from USDA website

Summer Feeding

Friendship, Gadsden, and Maury City Elementary school students will continue to receive meals at no cost for the 23-24 school year due to being a Provision 2 or CEP school.

Breakfast will remain at no cost for Crockett County Middle School and Crockett County High School students. Free and reduced lunch meals will still be available to those CCMS and CCHS students who qualify based on household income via free and reduced meal applications. All other CCMS and CCHS students must pay full price ($2.85) for their lunches. Free and reduced meal applications will be sent home with students at the beginning of the school year and will also be available at Open House. Applications may also be completed online at www.schoolcafe.com/crockettcs as well.

Crockett County School Nutrition remains committed to providing safe, healthy, and enjoyable meals to our students. We thank you for the support that you have given to us over the last several years, and we look forward to continuing to do what we love most- feeding our children!

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The Crockett County Schools Nutrition Program’s vision is to serve nutritious meals at breakfast and lunch, keeping our students healthy and ready to learn.

Documents

Free & Reduced Application Forms -English
- SY 23-24 Free and Reduced Meal Application
- Parent Letter and Application Instructions
Aplicación de comida gratuita y reducida
Formas - Español
Charge Policy

If your child needs a dietary modification please click on link below to print. Please complete form by a licensed medical professional and submit to the cafeteria manager at your child's school.

Request for Meal Modifications

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School Nutrition

Whitney Thornton, School Nutrition Director

Breakfast & Lunch Menus

Nutrition Information