CCSS Child Nutrition

Today we celebrate the retirement of Ms. Barbara Davis after 19 years of dedicated service with the Central Community School System Child Nutrition Program.

For nearly two decades, Ms. Davis has faithfully served the children in our community with kindness, care, and commitment. Her hard work and dedication helped ensure that countless students were fed each day with love and compassion.

We are truly grateful for the many years she devoted to supporting our schools and families. Her impact will be felt for years to come, and she will be greatly missed by students, staff, and the entire community.

Please join us in thanking Ms. Barbara Davis for her outstanding service and wishing her a happy, healthy, and well-deserved retirement! ❤️🎉

We tried something new today at the high school—fresh Fruit & Yogurt Parfaits—and they were a huge hit! 🎉 The students loved the combination of creamy yogurt, fresh fruit, and a little crunch to start their day.

We’re always looking for ways to offer nutritious, balanced options that students actually enjoy, and this one checks all the boxes. Parfaits are not only delicious, but they’re also packed with protein, vitamins, and energy to help fuel a successful school day.

Because of the positive feedback, we’re excited to share that Fruit & Yogurt Parfaits will be added to our breakfast menu for the upcoming school year! 🥣🍓

We look forward to continuing to bring new, healthy choices to our students and making breakfast something they can look forward to each morning.

This week we served our students Pastalaya, a warm and comforting dish that brought a sense of tradition and togetherness to our meal. Many of the students were excited to try something that may have been new to them, while others were happy to enjoy a familiar favorite. Meals like this give us an opportunity not only to nourish our students, but also to introduce them to different cultures and flavors. It was great to see so many smiling faces and full plates as everyone gathered to eat and connect.

Today is School Lunch Hero Day! 🍎🥪

We’re proud to recognize our heroes—our hardworking Child Nutrition Team! From preparing delicious meals and adhering to nutrition standards to always serving with a smile, Louisiana’s nutrition professionals truly have a lot on their plate.

Thank you for your dedication, care, and the important role you play in supporting our students every single day.

We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our faculty, staff, and students for the thoughtful notes of appreciation—they mean so much!

Today, we proudly honor the Central Community Schools Child Nutrition Team and all of their incredible hard work. 💙

🌱✨ Last night’s School Board Meeting was a special one as we recognized our incredible Student Garden Leaders and our valued community partners!

This school year, we were proud to receive a grant through Louisiana Farm to School and launch a pilot program in collaboration with Bellingrath, CIS, and our school cafeterias. One of the most exciting parts of this initiative has been the strong partnership between our school nutrition teams and classroom teachers. Bringing learning to life from the garden straight to the table!

Our students are growing a wide variety of crops and experiencing firsthand how the food they learn about in the classroom connects to what they see and taste in the cafeteria. 🌿🍅 This true “garden-to-table” experience is making a lasting impact—helping students understand where their food comes from, build lifelong gardening skills, and make healthier choices.

We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate in this program and for the generous grant funding provided by Central Bloomers, which supported all of our school sites.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to our amazing community partners who made this possible:
💚 LSU Ag
💚 Seeds to Success Team
💚 Central Bloomers
💚 Tractor Supply (local)
💚 Lagniappe Flower Farm

We also want to recognize our dedicated school leaders and staff:
🌟 Ms. Dawn Traupman, Principal – Bellingrath
🌟 Ms. Erin Bonaventure, Principal – Central Intermediate
🌟 Rebecca Rittell, Teacher – CIS
🌟 Lori D***s, Teacher – Bellingrath
🌟 David D***s, Facilities Coordinator
🌟 Cathy Fousse, Cafeteria Manager – CIS/CMS

And a very special shoutout to our Student Garden Leaders:
🌼 Abram Bunting
🌼 Belle Ann Baker
🌼 Shelby Campbell
🌼 Nellie Rangel
🌼 Elise Vedros
🌼 Layla Goins

We are so proud of the impact this program is making—these are lessons our students will carry far beyond the classroom! 🌱💚

🍓 Louisiana Harvest of the Month: Strawberries 🍓

March and April shine a spotlight on one of Louisiana’s sweetest treasures—strawberries, our official state fruit! Grown locally in the Ponchatoula region, these fresh, flavorful berries are at their peak this time of year.

Strawberries are typically planted in October and November, then harvested from March through May—just in time for us to enjoy them fresh and delicious. Not only do they taste great, but they’re also packed with nutrition! Strawberries are an excellent source of Vitamin C and a good source of manganese, making them a healthy choice for everyone.

Our students have been enjoying fresh strawberries right in their school cafeterias—check out these photos of the delicious berries they were able to try! 🍓

Let’s celebrate local produce and the farmers who make it possible!

🌸🐰 Our students enjoyed a delicious Easter lunch! 🐣🍽️

We wish all of our families a wonderful and relaxing Spring Break. We hope you take this time to enjoy some delicious meals together and make special memories. 💛

From our kitchen to yours — Happy Spring! 🌷✨

🌸🐰 Today at Tanglewood Elementary, our students enjoyed a special Easter lunch filled with delicious favorites!

🍽️ Menu Highlights:
• Sliced ham
• Broccoli & rice casserole
• Red and green grapes
• Glazed carrots
• Homemade roll
• Yellow cake topped with fresh strawberries 🍓

We’re welcoming spring with full hearts and happy plates! 🌷💛