THE HCS CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM

Greetings!

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to everyone who participated in National School Lunch Week! Your enthusiasm, dedication, and support helped make the week a success. Our Child Nutrition Program staff work tirelessly each day to ensure that our students are provided with nutritious, delicious meals that help fuel their learning and keep them healthy. We are grateful for the important role each of you plays in making this possible.

As we move further into the fall season, colder weather is quickly approaching. With the transition from fall to winter comes dropping temperatures, so please take the time to prepare yourself and your children for the changing weather. Dressing appropriately and staying warm will help everyone remain comfortable as the temperatures begin to fall.

Additionally, as our children prepare for the excitement of Halloween and their annual quest for sweet treats, we encourage everyone to make safety a top priority. Whether trick-or-treating, attending Halloween events, or celebrating with family and friends, let's remain mindful of our surroundings and take the necessary precautions to ensure everyone has a fun, safe, and memorable Halloween!

Thank you for your continued dedication, hard work, and commitment to our students and school community. We appreciate all that you do!

- H. Ward

"Even in the darkest night, a single pumpkin’s glow can light the way — be that light for someone." - Unknown

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federally funded initiative administered by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. It provides financial reimbursement for nutritious meals and snacks served to eligible children and adults in non-residential care settings. To maintain program authorization through the Alabama Department of Education, Child Nutrition Program staff must complete mandatory annual training covering six core operational areas:

• Meal Patterns & Planning: Portion sizes, creditable foods, whole grain requirements, and special dietary accommodations.

• Meal Counting & Claiming: Point-of-service meal counts, daily attendance reconciliation, and reimbursement claim submissions.

• Eligibility & Documentation: Income eligibility applications, attendance logs, and record retention compliance.

• Civil Rights: Nondiscrimination policies, racial/ethnic data collection, and complaint procedures.

• Financial Management: Proper use of CACFP funds, allowable vs. unallowable costs, and expense tracking.

• Food Safety: Safe food handling, temperature logs, and sanitation standards.

Huntsville City Schools actively participates in the CACFP across 22 school sites. For specific site locations and additional details, visit the Huntsville City Schools Child Nutrition Program.

School health inspections combine safety checks, wellness policy reviews, and self-assessment tools to ensure a safe, healthy learning environment for students and staff.

What School Health Inspections Cover Health inspections for schools evaluate:

• Physical environment safety — Classrooms, playgrounds, cafeterias, hallways, restrooms, and emergency equipment

• Nutrition and food safety — Menu quality, sanitation, and proper food handling

• Physical activity and health programs — Physical education curriculum, wellness policies, and student health services

• Hazard prevention — Fire safety, slip/trip hazards, equipment safety, and injury prevention

• Hygiene and sanitation — Handwashing facilities, waste management, and overall cleanliness

Recent Inspection Highlights The following school kitchens achieved an outstanding score of 99 on their health inspections this month:

• Challenger Elementary/Middle School

• Weatherly Elementary School

• Williams Elementary/Middle School

• Columbia High School

A great ServSafe test score shows a thorough understanding of food safety principles, regulatory compliance, and proper sanitation practices necessary to prevent foodborne illness—as recently demonstrated following the ServSafe class on October 6, 2026, where CNP Supervisor Joanna Cervantes at Monte Sano Elementary scored a 95 and CNP worker at Grissom High, Jean Mason, scored a perfect 100.

Specifically, achieving a high score demonstrates:

• Mastery of Core Food Safety Principles: Clear knowledge of safe time-temperature controls, proper personal hygiene, cross-contamination prevention, cleaning and sanitizing procedures, and pest control.

• Commitment to Public Health & Safety: Dedication to maintaining high standards that protect customers and staff from foodborne diseases.

• Regulatory Readiness: Strong preparation for health inspections and compliance with local, state, and federal food safety laws.

• Leadership & Operational Competency: The ability to train, mentor, and supervise kitchen staff effectively, fostering a strong culture of food safety within an establishment.

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(Note: While a passing score for the ServSafe Manager exam is 70%, scores in the 90%+ range demonstrate exceptional mastery of the material.)

CNP staff across the district are invited to participate in our first annual Halloween Costume Contest on Friday, October 30, 2026.

Participants must follow the specific costume guidelines set forth by the Office of the Superintendent. Prizes will be awarded to the top three best-dressed individuals, and all CNP staff are encouraged to join the fun!

(Pictured right, 2025 First Place Winner - Ms. Sandra Pulliam, CNP Worker at Whitesburg Elem/Middle)

​​Kids love Halloween. The holiday sparks spooky thrills and creativity when children and teens can dress up and pretend​. For many, it's a time to celebrate with friends and enjoy trick-or-treating outdoors.

But Halloween can also bring some unique safety risks for children. Before your little monsters head out the door, take a few simple steps to help keep them safe. These Halloween safety tips can help your family avoid real-life frights and focus on the fun.​

​Costume safety for kids

It's fun for kids to dress up on Halloween. Help your child choose a costume that they'll want to wear again when playing with their friends. Here's how to get the right fit for Halloween.

• Check that your child's costume and shoes fit well. Costumes should be short enough to prevent tripping and avoid catching on objects.

• Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives to masks. Test makeup ahead of time on a small patch of your child's skin to ensure there are no unpleasant surprises or allergic reactions. Hats should not slide over eyes or block vision.

• Avoid sharp or long swords, canes or sticks as a costume accessory. Kids can be hurt by these accessories if they stumble or trip.

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Choose a colorful treat bag and add glow-in-the-dark elements, reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags.

• Look for "flame resistant" on the costume labels. Check for labels in wigs and accessories, too.

• Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye exam and a prescription from an eye care professional. While packaging for decorative lenses may claim "one size fits all," or "no need to see an eye specialist," decorative contact lenses are a medical device. If they don't properly fit, they can cause serious eye problems and permanent vision loss.

Tips for the trick-or-treat trail

Before trick-or-treating, go over the basics to keep kids safe.

Halloween street smarts

Did you know that child pedestrian injuries are more likely on Halloween than on any other night of the year?

• Always go with young children on their neighborhood rounds. If trick-or-treating doesn't start until after dark where you live, consider checking with your town or park district for Halloween activities offered earlier in the day. Earlier festivities help you stick to your child's regular bedtime.

• Encourage older children to trick-or-treat in a group. Review their plan and route. Agree on a specific time when they should return home and encourage everyone to use a flashlight after dark.

• Talk with kids about the risk of distracted walking. This includes text messaging, talking on or looking at their cell phone and listening to music.

• Cross the street as a group in a crosswalk, when available. Avoid mid-block crossings, where child pedestrian injuries are much more common. Make sure kids know not to cross the street between parked cars or out of driveways or alleys.

• Don't assume cars will stop just because pedestrians have the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters.

• Stay on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic. Only go to homes with a porch light on and, ideally, a well-lit pathway.

A message to parents of teen drivers

Before you let your child drive on Halloween, take precautions and set specific rules. Use our Parent-Teen Driving Agreement. Remind teen drivers to slow down in neighborhoods, especially near driveways, alleys and parked cars. Young trick-or-treaters may move quickly or be hard to see in the dark.

Stranger danger & tricky people

• Talk with kids about safe adults and how to recognize tricky situations. Remind them to stay with their group and ask a trusted adult for help if something does not feel right.
  

• Older children should travel in groups and create a "buddy system" to get each other home safely.

• Kids should never enter a home or car for a treat. Notify law enforcement authorities immediately about any suspicious or unlawful activity. See "Help Prevent Your Child from Going Missing" for tips.

• Let your child know when and how to call 9-1-1 (or your local emergency number) if they ever have an emergency, get lost or are prone to wander.
  

Prepare your home for trick-or-treaters

• Remove tripping hazards on your porch and in your yard, such as garden hoses, toys and bikes.

• Sweep wet leaves from sidewalks and steps to prevent slips and falls.

• Check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.

• Restrain pets so they do not jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.
  

Pumpkin decorating tips

• Allow small children to decorate (not carve) pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers. Leave the carving and cutting to the adults. Little ones can help by cleaning the inside pulp and seeds out.

• Consider using a battery-operated flameless candle, flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your jack-o'-lantern. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.

• Do not place candlelit pumpkins on a porch or any path where visitors may pass close by.

Healthy and safe Halloween treats

• Consider offering non-edible goodies to trick-or-treaters. Halloween is one of the trickiest days of the year for children with food allergies. Even candies without the allergen can cause anaphylaxis if they were made in a facility that uses the allergen in another food. Some ideas for non-edible treats include glow sticks, spider rings, vampire fangs, pencils, bubbles, bouncy balls, finger puppets, whistles, bookmarks, stickers and stencils.

• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats before eating them. Though tampering is rare, it can happen. Closely examine all treats and throw away spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items. Give your child a good meal before trick-or-treating to discourage sampling.
  

• If your child has a food allergy, make sure they carry their prescribed emergency medicines, such as an epinephrine auto-injector or nasal spray or an epi-pen, if prescribed. Review when and how to use it before trick-or-treating, and make sure any supervising adults know what to do in an emergency.
  

• Keep an eye on what your child has in their mouth at all times while trick-or-treating. Keep in mind that babies and toddlers should not have hard candies, caramel apples, popcorn, gum, small candies (jellybeans, etc.), gummy candy, pumpkin seeds or anything with whole nuts. Candy wrappers, stickers, small toys or temporary tattoos can be a choking hazard, too.

• Try to ration treats for the days and weeks after Halloween. Keep candy rules realistic, consistent and positive. Make a plan together so everyone knows what to expect. It's also a great lesson to share with your kids. Get tips for taming your child's sweet tooth here.

Reference: Halloween Fun & Safety Tips for Kids of All Ages - HealthyChildren.org

A la carte

Any food or beverage sold by school food service that is not part of a reimbursable meal. All a la carte items must meet Smart Snacks standards. A la carte items are also referred to as non-program foods.

Meet Mrs. Jean Mason!

Mrs. Jean Mason has been a valued member of Huntsville City Schools for 4½ years. Originally from Pennsylvania, she has also called Pittsburgh, Auburn, Chattanooga, and Nashville home.

Before joining Child Nutrition Programs (CNP), Mrs. Mason worked for a telecommunications company. She describes herself as hardworking, caring, and honest, and what she enjoys most about her job is interacting with the students.

Family is a big part of Mrs. Mason’s life. She and her husband, Larry, have been happily married for 44 years and have four children: Charlie, Shelley, Jennifer, and Matt. They are also proud grandparents of six grandchildren: Brooklee, Aubrey, Kaleigh, Emma, Charles, and AJ. Outside of work, Mrs. Mason enjoys spending quality time with her family, cross-stitching, and visiting her favorite place, Chattanooga. She is also a proud pet parent to two dogs, Bailey and Quinn.

When it comes to her favorites, Mrs. Mason loves anything chocolate, enjoys listening to country music, and cheers on Auburn football. If she were not working in CNP, she would enjoy volunteering at the library. One of her dreams is to travel to Hawaii, and within the next five years, she plans to retire and begin a new chapter of life. When asked about her words to live by, Mrs. Mason shared a simple but meaningful reminder: “Don’t worry until there is something to worry about.”

We are grateful to have Mrs. Jean Mason as part of the Huntsville City Schools CNP family and appreciate the care and dedication she brings to her work with our students!

"Calandra is always on the go!. She is such a sweet person and has a special charm about her that makes her stand out. Once you meet her and have a conversation with her, you will quickly understand why she has such a wonderful personality. She is always greeting everyone with a warm smile and a positive attitude. I have had the pleasure of working with Calandra for many years, and I can honestly say that she is a hardworking, dependable, and dedicated employee who consistently shows up and gives her best. I am truly blessed to have someone like Calandra on our team. She is a wonderful asset, and we are fortunate to have her!"

-Emily Battle, CNP Supervisor Lakewood Elementary

"Donna consistently demonstrates an outstanding commitment to excellence and takes great pride in the work she does each day. She does an exceptional job of maintaining consistency while successfully overseeing the preparation and service of more than 800 meals daily. Her dedication, organization, and ability to manage a high-volume operation are truly commendable. She takes ownership of her assigned responsibilities and duties, ensuring that tasks are completed efficiently and effectively, even when working with a short-staffed team. Regardless of the challenges she may face, she remains focused on the goal of providing quality meals and excellent service to her students. She gives 100% every day and demonstrates a genuine commitment to making sure her students are taken care of."

-Henry Ward, HCS Child Nutrition Program Director

Tracy James 10/3

Jennifer Jones 10/5

Tere De La Torre 10/5

Shanosha Moore 10/11

Allison Clemons 10/12

Renae Beasley 10/15

Mirtha Petty 10/18

Sandra Hester 10/19

Yvonne McKinney 10/20

Yaidelisse Torres 10/26

Belinda Anderson 19 years

Yvonne McKinney 19 years

Kitty Holt 11 years

Maria Boyzo 9 years

Grayson Gilbert 4 years

Janet Bloomingburg 3 years

Ashley Allen 3 years

Colton Amis 3 years

Website: https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/departments/child-nutrition-program

Instagram: www.instagram.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/huntsvillecitycnp
Twitter: @HUNTSVILLECITY1

Location: 2601 North Memorial Parkway, Huntsville, AL 35810
Phone: 256 428-6955