HSE FOOD SERVICES NEWSLETTER

If your student does not have a full lunch, one will be provided to them from the cafeteria. We will never deny a student a full meal regardless of account status. Charges will apply.

Each school year a new application must be on file to continue receiving meal benefits. Instructions on how to apply electronically via Skyward family access. Although electronic applications are processed quickly paper applications are available in many languages at hseschools.org under Food Services.

Please note if your student(s) qualifies for Direct Certification from the state, you will not be able to submit an application through Skyward. This is due to your student(s) already qualifying for meal benefits.

Student balances, payments, and purchases are updated daily and can be viewed in Skyward family access under the Food Services tile. If you would like to add purchasing limits to your student's account please contact your student's school cafeteria manager.

Did you know you can fund your student's lunch account electronically? Go to Skyward family access and navigate to the eFunds tile. Be sure to click Fund Lunch to ensure your payments go to your student's lunch account and log in with Skyward. Please note electronic payments include a processing fee and can take up to 48 to post.

Don't want to pay the fee?

You can always send in cash or a check with your student. Be sure include the student's name and ID number with the payment to ensure the funds are applied to the correct account.

Unused Food Service funds will stay in a student's account from year to year. If you are needing to transfer funds from one student to another please email tluce@hse.k12.in.us with the details of the transfer of funds.

Please encourage your student to memorize their Student ID number. This number will stay with them until graduation and is used in many areas of the school. Memorizing this number also aids in faster service through the lunch line. This number can be found in Skyward under the Food Services tab.

At Hamilton Southeastern Schools, we provide our students with nutritious meal options every day including milk, protein, fruits, vegetables, and grains.

While the most nutritious lunch contains all of the options, we understand that sometimes our students do not like some of the items we serve. To make our young customers happy, we like to give them the option to decline items they do not want to eat. In order to be in compliance with Offer Versus Serve standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), students are required to take at least three components for their meal. One of these must be at least ½ cup of fruit or vegetable.

Did you know we serve a hot and cold breakfast daily in our cafeterias? If your student is interested in eating breakfast at school just head to the cafeteria upon arrival. Students receive approximately 20 minutes to eat breakfast after arriving to school.

If your student is receiving free or reduced lunch, it's important to encourage your student to take the correct components to qualify for meal benefits.

It is important to note that even if your student doesn't have the funds in their account, a Meal Deal is never denied.

A breakfast Meal Deal consists of at least three and no more than four items. One item must be a 1/2 cup of fruit and/or vegetable to qualify as a Meal Deal. A juice can be a fruit at breakfast however due to sugar content, only one juice can be included in a Meal Deal.

If your student is receiving free or reduced lunch, it's important to encourage your student to take the correct components to qualify for meal benefits.

It is important to note that even if your student doesn't have the funds in their account, a Meal Deal is never denied.

A Meal Deal consists of at least three components but can be up to five. One component must be a 1/2 cup of fruit and/or vegetable to qualify as a Meal Deal. The five components consist of a whole grain, protein, vegetable, fruit, and a milk.

To build your Meal Deal you must first select an entree which contains two of the five components. Then a 1/2 cup of fruit and/or vegetable must be taken. Milk is optional but is included if your student chooses to take one. Although there are several different ways to make a lunch meal deal, for a truly nutritious meal choose all five!

If your student is receiving free or reduced lunch it's important to encourage your student to take the correct components to qualify for meal benefits.

Breakfast and Lunch menus can be found on the Food Services section of our district website at hseschools.org. Select your student's school and the menu will generate. A separate printable menu will not be posted on our page as items listed are subject to change based on availability. Check the online menu or app for the most current information.

A la Carte items cost extra and are not included in a Meal Deal. Student accounts would need to have the available funds to cover this cost in their lunch accounts. Meal Deal purchases will always be sold and available regardless of a student's account balance. You can track student purchases and account balances under the Food Services tab in Skyward.

Questions??

Please reach out to the cafeteria manager at your child's school.

1. What criteria is used to plan our menus?

When creating a menu and ​staying within our guidelines, we try to find a good balance between the student favorites as well as expanding their taste buds with different foods. Other things that we have to include in our planning are budget, product availability (all of our products must be made in America!) staffing, skill levels, kitchen equipment, timeliness etc.

2. What guidelines must be adhered to?

We follow the rules and regulations set by the USDA for the NSBP and NSLP. These programs help ensure healthy and age-appropriate meals. It requires us to be within certain ranges in regard to sugar, salt, calories and fat. We are also required to provide whole grains, meat or meat alternates, fruit, vegetables, and milk every day. The vegetables must represent all the different categories each week, dark greens, red/orange, legumes, starchy and others.

3. How long does it take to finalize our menu?

By early spring the menu is mostly decided for the upcoming school year. It will take most of the summer break to develop the menu. We make updates to the menu throughout the school year as well, to keep the students excited about the lunchroom. In Fall, Winter, and Spring we introduce new items and include the "loved" items as well.

4. What is our main goal?

To provide healthy, exciting, flavorful meals that will nourish the students throughout the day.

5. What are some of our student's favorite meals?

Some of their favorites are Nachos, Pizza, and Chicken Nuggets. Breakfast for lunch and Orange Chicken are popular as well.

6. How has scratch cooking changed the nutrition in a meal served?

It will enhance the meals in regard to flavor, which is easier when building a meal from scratch. Also, it lets us provide less processed foods. Fun and creativity are side effects, which we want to encourage!

7. What else is going on in Food Services?

To learn what the students would like to have on the menu we try to survey them in different ways. Recently we had a district wide competition where each school kitchen manager created an entree that will be considered for our Winter menu. Students from each school level joined us to taste and select their favorite choices. Our Superintendent Mr. Mapes, Mr. Orr, Board members and several teachers and administrators. We will announce the winner after fall break. We also offer alternative meals to students with allergies and diet preferences. We are always looking for ways to be accommodating and provide diverse and culturally inclusive options.

Our food services procedure/management policy E05.00 can be found at hseschools.org under the Board section.

The public is always welcome to observe and/or participate in the Wellness Committee. Please contact Karen Ogden kogden@hse.k12.in.us if you are interested.

Our Wellness policy can be found at hseschools.org under the Food Services section.

All student debt is expected to be paid at the end of each school year. Any unpaid amounts may result in collections activity.

The following student debt policies can be found at hseschools.org under the Board section.

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Our Food Services department offers a variety of schedules and positions to accommodate your needs. Click the link in the photo to be taken directly to an employment application.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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