Child Nutrition
Kendra Reed
Director of Child Nutrition
kendra.reed@tangischools.org
985-748-2480
- Breakfast & Lunch Menus
- Cafeterias
- My School Bucks
- P-EBT
- Policies
- Programs & Events
- Special Diets
- Wellness Corner
- Virtual Students Grab & Go Meals
- Contact Directory
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
May 2022 Menu
School Meals
Students are offered five menu items daily for lunch. Of the five items offered each student must select three items. Due to USDA regulations, all students in Pre-K-12 must select a 1/2 cup of fruit or vegetable for lunch in addition to or as one of the three items. USDA has implemented these changes to encourage students to eat more fruits and vegetables. The USDA has lowered their requirements for total calories, sodium and saturated fat for all menus.
Elementary menus offer multiple breakfast choices daily and one lunch choice daily. High Schools menus also offer multiple breakfast choices daily and a choice of main entree, entree salad or sandwich for lunch. Some of our students will get to taste test new products this school year that could be featured on our menus for next school year. Our menus consist of nutritionally balanced choices that include a variety of fruit, vegetables, low-fat milk, whole grains and meat or meat alternate.
USDA Child Nutrition Nationwide Waiver 2021-2022
The Tangipahoa Parish School System is pleased to announce the continuation of the USDA Child Nutrition Nationwide Waiver for the 2021-2022 school year. This program will allow all students to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch every school day free of charge. Students will still be required to pay for second meals and/or extra sales items, as they are not included in the program. No fees are required to participate in this program. Meals will be provided to virtual students. Please check the district website for additional updates. Parents/guardians will no longer be required to complete an application for meal benefits for their child or children. The only requirement to participate in this program is for the child/children to be enrolled in one of the Tangipahoa Parish public schools listed below.
As always, we are looking forward to providing nutritious and delicious meals for all students this school year. We are confident that this program will have a positive impact on our students and parents! If you have any questions, please contact Kendra Reed, Director of Child Nutrition, via telephone (985-748-2480) or email (Kendra.reed@tangischools.org).
USDA Child Nutrition Nationwide Waiver for the 2021-2022 School Year
Cafeterias
School | Address | Manager/Contact | Phone # |
Amite High/Amite Elementary Magnet Cafeteria Satellite | 403 S. Laurel St./Amite | Crystal Trahan | 474-8257 |
Champ Cooper Elementary | 42530 Hwy. 445/Ponchatoula | Cathy Bush | 474-8927 |
Chesbrough Elementary | 68495 Hwy. 1054/Kentwood | Janice Martin | 474-8333 |
Hammond Eastside Elementary Magnet | 45050 River Rd./Hammond | Lillie Pines | 474-8669 |
Hammond High Magnet/ TASP Cafeteria/ North Shore Technical Cafeteria Satellite | 45168 River Rd./Hammond | June Quave | 474-8625 |
Hammond Westside Elementary Montessori/ Woodland Park Magnet Cafeteria Satellite |
2600 PFC Matthew E. Wildes St. |
Erica Clark | 474-8706 |
Greenville Park Leadership Academy/ Southeastern Louisiana University Laboratory Cafeteria Satellite |
111 J. W. Davis/Hammond |
Lisa Bennett |
474-8648 |
Independence Leadership Academy/Magnet/High Magnet Satellite | 221 Tiger Ave./Independence | Stacie Arabie | 474-8483 |
O.W. Dillon/Kentwood Cafeteria Satellite |
1459 I-55 Service Road/Kentwood |
Paulette Moore | 474-8427 |
Loranger Elem/Loranger Middle/ Loranger High Cafeteria Satellite | 54120 Allman St./Loranger | Michelle Sharp | 474-8516 |
Midway Elementary | 48405 Hwy. 51/Natalbany | Jessica Parish | 474-8547 |
Lucille Nesom Memorial/Natalbany Middle Cafeteria Satellite | 14417 Hwy. 442/Tickfaw | Vonda Fisher | 474-8529 |
Ponchatoula High/ D. C. Reeves Cafeteria Satellite |
19452 Hwy. 22 East/Ponchatoula |
Mary O'Keefe | 474-8829 |
Ponchatoula Jr High./ Perrin Early Learning Center/Tucker Elementary Cafeteria Satellite | 315 E. Oak St./Ponchatoula | Holly Pellerin | 474-8840 |
Spring Creek Elementary | 72961 Hwy. 1061/Kentwood | Jamie Lester | 474-8352 |
Sumner High/Middle Cafeteria Satellite | 15841 Hwy. 440/Kentwood | Pam Morgan | 474-8377 |
Martha Vinyard Elementary | 40105 Dunson Rd./Ponchatoula | Annie Monistere | 474-8897 |
Westside Middle/Roseland Montessori Cafeteria Satellite | 401 W. Oak St./Amite | Frances Thornton | 474-8283 |
My School Bucks
This online payment system is a convenient and secure way to pay for extra food items your child may want to purchase in addition to their nutritious meals. This service allows parents to deposit funds directly into their child or children’s school lunch account via on-line transactions. In addition to convenience, this system provides several other benefits to parents:
Information needed to set up account:
- Student Name
- Date of Birth
- Address
- School Name
If you need immediate assistance with general questions or setting up your account, Myschoolbucks has a parent support line. A company representative will be available at (855) 832-5226 on Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm (Eastern Time).
Benefits of using MySchoolBucks:
- View student account balance and history
- Email reminders and low balance notifications
- Eliminates check handling
- Pay one fee per transaction ($2.75)
- Daily account posting
- Secure credit card payment transactions
- Student account security and data protection
- MySchoolBucks app is now available on most smart phones
P-EBT
P-EBT Information
P-EBT UPDATE
After January 31, parents will no longer be able to request changes to their child’s 2020-21 Pandemic EBT case through the P-EBT Parent Portal. To view benefits that have already been issued to your child, visit the P-EBT Parent Portal. https://buff.ly/3o0NH8s
The Department of Child and Family Services has a Parent Portal for you to view and receive information about your child's P-EBT benefits. You will need to create a CAFE account and link your student's P-EBT case to your CAFE account. We encourage all of you to do this to verify the information that was sent on your behalf. If you find an error, then reach out to your student's school to verify what we have in the Student Information System (SIS) is correct. (Please be aware that if an error is found, it will take approximately 6 weeks to process and get you a new card.)
VISIT THE P-EBT PARENT PORTal to Get STarted
If you scroll down, they have video instructions to help you.
Pandemic - EBT Frequently Asked Questions
Please visit pebt-la.org for more information.
What is P-EBT?
The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) Program was created in Spring 2020 to provide funds for families to buy food while schools were closed due to COVID-19.
- Eligible students in HYBRID learning situations can expect to receive $48.23 for each eligible month. “Hybrid” means a combination of computer-based and in-person learning.
- Eligible students in FULLY VIRTUAL learning situations can expect to receive $120.71 for each eligible month. “Fully virtual” means taking classes by computer.
When can I expect to receive P-EBT benefits?
P-EBT benefits have been issued for August 2020 to May 2021 for students whose schools reported them as eligible. Have you checked the P-EBT Parent Portal? The Portal contains information about your child’s P-EBT case, including the months for which benefits were issued.
Why haven’t I received a P-EBT deposit for certain months and/or for summer?
Have you checked the P-EBT Parent Portal? The Portal contains information about your child’s P-EBT case, including the months for which benefits were issued.
The Summer P-EBT program only recently received federal approval. We’re submitting information to DCFS for students who were in-person in May, and you can expect benefits to be issued onto existing P-EBT cards between late August and October.
My child attended school in person in the 2020-21 school year, so we didn’t receive a P-EBT card yet. Will we receive Summer P-EBT?
As schools submit information about students who were enrolled in May AND received free meals, DCFS will issue benefits to those students and order cards to be mailed to those students in their names. They are expected be received by October.
I haven’t received my child’s P-EBT card yet. Why?
Have you checked the P-EBT Parent Portal? The Portal contains information about your child’s P-EBT case, including the months for which benefits were issued.
I’ve checked the Portal and the information that was submitted is not correct. My child didn’t receive benefits for all the months he or she was eligible for.
Your child's school can review attendance records in our Student Information System (SIS) to determine if a correction is warranted. If so, we’ll submit the information to the P-EBT system. This type of update is processed each week and processing could take a few weeks to complete, depending on when the change is submitted and whether there are any other issues. Updates appear in the Parent Portal on Wednesdays.
You’ll find more information about corrections on the P-EBT website at http://www.dcfs.louisiana.gov/page/pebt-louisiana-faqs#corrections
I’ve checked the Parent Portal and my child has been listed as hybrid for months they were virtual.
Your child's school can review your child’s attendance records in the Student Information System (SIS) to determine if a correction is warranted. If so, we’ll submit the information to the P-EBT system. DCFS will begin processing these types of updates in mid-August and they’ll begin to appear in the Parent Portal then. Once the update is made, the extra benefits will be made available on cards shortly thereafter.
I’ve checked the Portal and I don’t have an issuance for summer. Why?
To be eligible for summer benefits, students had to be in school in May and on free or reduced-price lunch. Summer benefits have already been issued to students that were hybrid or virtual in May, because it was known those students attended school in May. We’re submitting information to DCFS for students who were in-person in May, and you can expect benefits to be issued onto existing P-EBT cards between late August and October.
I need to update the address that my child’s P-EBT card was sent to.
Have you contacted your child's school to update your address in our Student Information System (SIS)? Once we’ve verified the change of address and submitted the change, it will take a few weeks for the update to appear in the Parent Portal. A replacement card may take up to 30 days to arrive by mail after it appears in the Portal.
I haven’t received my P-EBT card yet.
Check the Parent Portal to see if benefits have been issued and if your address is correct. You can expect to receive a card within 30 days of the issuance date.
If you are having another issue with your card, the DCFS LAHelp-U Customer Contact Center should be able to assist. Try calling 1-888-524-3578 or emailing LAHelpU.DCFS@la.gov. You can call LAHelpU from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., M-F, except on holidays. To activate your PEBT Card with the automated system, select your language, then 4 and then 1. If you're having problems activating your card or creating a CAFÉ account to log into the PEBT Parent Portal, you can select 4 and then 2 to have a Customer Service Representative assist you.
Tip: Call volumes are lightest between 7:30-8:30 am & 5-6 pm. (Monday and Tuesday are the busiest days.)
Policies
Programs & Events
Special Diets
Special Dietary Needs
Meal service to students with special dietary needs is provided to all school sites. Federal and state regulations require a completed, current Diet Prescription Form for any type of change/substitution to menus. The current school year's Special Diet Prescription Form for Meals at School is available below.
The Special Diet Prescription Form will need to be completed by your child’s physician or medical authority. We will not process a special diet request for your child until we receive the 2017-2018 form. Please fax, mail or deliver the form to the Tangipahoa Parish Child Nutrition Department, 59656 Puleston Road, Amite LA 70422, Phone (985)748-2480, Fax (985)748-2487.
**PLEASE NOTE** If a student cannot have fluid milk due to a medical diagnosis, the Physician must prescribe the milk substitute on the Diet Prescription Form stating the item(s) the student is allowed to have. The following milk substitutions are available: 4 oz juice and bottled water. Please allow 5 business days to process these forms. Students must bring breakfast/lunch to school for the first week after the form is submitted. This is to ensure your child's diet has been reviewed and accommodations have been made. Please contact your school cafeteria manager for any questions regarding your child's diet.
Please contact the Child Nutrition Office if you have any questions.
Special Accomodations with School Meal Programs - Form
Wellness Corner
Wellness Corner
Choose Your Plate!
Filling up your plate with the correct amounts of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and dairy will make your plate a healthy one. Remember these tips when selecting what to put on your plate:
- Make smart choices. 1/2 of your plate should contain fruits and vegetables. 1/4 of your plate should be whole grains and 1/4 should be lean meats.
- Don't forget the dairy. Milk and yogurt have calcium, Vitamin D, folate and other nutrients to help keep your bones and mind strong. Select low or non-fat dairy products to reduce the fat in your diet.
- Choose lean proteins. White meat chicken, turkey, fish, seafood, and beans are all great lean protein choices. Proteins that have been baked, boiled or broiled are great choices for your plate. Eating proteins that are fried, breaded or covered in creamy sauces will add calories and fat to your diet.
For additional information, visit ChooseMyPlate.gov.
Check Your BMI
Body mass index (BMI) is a tool for measuring how your weight compares to a healthy weight. There are separate BMI calculators for adults and children.
For adults: It is important to eat a nutritious diet and aim for a healthy weight (a BMI of 18.5-24.9). Check your BMI at the National Institute of Health.
For children: You can check your child's BMI using this online calculator from KidsHealth, but it is also important that your pediatrician perform regular BMI measurements.
Helpful Websites
Welcome to Tangipahoa Parish Child Nutrition Department's Wellness Corner! Here you will find information on how to keep you and your child's plate healthy, updates on changes to your child's breakfast and lunch plates, monthly newsletters and the student's feedback on how the department is doing.
Pennington Biomedical Center Smart Snack List
Louisiana Guide to Smart Snacks
How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label - eliminate confusion
Food Allergies - reducing the risk
Virtual Students Grab & Go Meals
Contact Directory
Contact Us
TANGIPAHOA PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM
Child Nutrition Program
59656 PULESTON ROAD | AMITE, LA 70422
985 - 748 - 2480
Kendra Reed
Director of Child Nutrition
kendra.reed@tangischools.org
985-748-2480
Rebekah Mcallister
Wellness Coordinator/Dietitian
rebekah.mcallister@tangischools.org
985-748-2531
Jodi Bordelon
Operations & Technical Coordinator
(Hammond, Ponchatoula, Tickfaw)
jodi.bordelon@tangischools.org
985-748-2482
Tabitha Giles
North Area Coordinator
(Independence, Loranger, Amite, Roseland, Kentwood, Sumner, Chesbrough, and Spring Creek)
tabitha.giles@tangischools.org
985-748-2483
Dominique Rogers
Office Assistant
dominique.rogers@tangischools.org
985-748-2480
Katie Easley
Office Assistant
katie.easley@tangischools.org
985-748-2488
Robin Joiner
Account Specialist
robin.joiner@tangischools.org
985-748-2483
The goal of TPSS Child Nutrition Department is to provide nutritious, delicious, and affordable meals to our students.