UNIVERSAL MEALS
We are pleased to inform you that we continue to implement free meals for all under California’s Universal Meals law for this school year. Schools that participate are able to provide healthy breakfasts and lunches each day at no charge for all students enrolled.
Our meal vendor is School Nutrition Plus (SNP):
Here’s SNP’s Website : schoolnutritionplus.com
School Nutrition Plus is proud of our partnership with El Rio Community School and is excited to bring healthy, fresh food to the students. SNP was founded almost 15 years ago with the mission of serving scratch cooked food on a National School Meal program budget. The majority of our cooks are culinary school trained chefs and understand how to impart flavor while adhering to strict USDA nutrition guidelines. Some of our entrees include chow mein, fajitas, burritos, and a variety of salads, sandwiches and wraps. Our attention to customer service compliments our excellent food and we’ll work with El Rio to create a program that results in satisfaction from the entire school community. We also prioritize sustainability and offer bulk food service vs pre-packaged and have compostable trays and serving utensils to result in minimum waste. We look forward to the honor of serving your students.
Every month the menu will be released, and there is always a vegetarian as well as a non-vegetarian option, as well as milk and fruit.
Free and Reduced Meal Applications ARE required for the 2023-2024 School Year. It is incredibly important that families still submit an Income Form to ensure ongoing state and federal funding that support the learning of low income students. In Order to qualify for free/reduced pricing for Aftercare/Enrichment a current application must be on file. There is a very quick, simple way to submit your income information, through the form we send out on ParentSquare each fall.
What is the National School Lunch Program?
The National School Lunch Program is a federally funded program that assists schools and other agencies in providing nutritious lunches to children at reasonable prices.
What are the benefits of participating in the program?
For children, the National School Lunch Program provides a nutritious meal that contains one-third of the recommended dietary allowance of necessary nutrients. For parents, the program offers a convenient method of providing a nutritionally balanced lunch at the lowest possible price. For schools, the program enhances children’s learning abilities by contributing to their physical and mental well being.
What is Offer Vs Serve in school lunch?
Offer Versus Serve or OVS is a concept that applies to menu planning and the meal service. OVS allows students to decline some of the food offered in a reimbursable lunch or breakfast. The goals of OVS are to reduce food waste and to permit students to choose the foods they want to eat.
Who created the menu and cooks the meals?
Meals, foods and beverages served on campus meet state and federal requirements which are based on the USDA Dietary Guidelines. We provide students with access to a variety of foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students.
Our Food Partner is School Nutrition Plus (SNP) and El Rio follows all the storage and reheating guidelines provided by them. Meals are delivered daily, ready for consumption.
If you have any food/menu feedback, please reach out to cynthia.olvera@elrioschool.org and she’ll gladly pass along your comments.
How can I and my child see the menu?
Menus are posted on ParentSquare each month and shared with community members that way. Menus are also posted on the door to the MPR/Cafeteria.
Can I place an order? How can I make sure my child gets the meal he/she/they want?
Just sign up to opt in to breakfast/snack and/or lunch, and your child can choose from the offered options.
What if I don’t want my child to get a free lunch?
Please make sure you communicate with your child first and your teacher after that, as well as Cynthia Olvera (cynthia.olvera@elrioschool.org).
What if my child is enrolled in Independent Study, is he eligible to get lunch?
Yes, please come to the front office Mon-Fri from 11am-12pm and we’ll give you the option available for that day only.
Is there a Gluten Free or Milk alternative option?
Yes, only with a doctor’s note. School Nutrition Plus (SNP) provide the same meal as everyone is having but made with Gluten Free ingredients. This is not a Gluten Free certified meal and cross contamination may occur. Request a form from cynthia.olvera@elrioschool.org, and have it completed by your doctor.
Can my child refuse the milk?
Yes.
Please make sure you talk to your child, teacher and administration if there’s any food restriction such as allergies, intolerances and dietary restrictions. Please also send an email to the teacher, and to cynthia.olvera@elrioschool.org. . We try our very best to keep our students safe but it is a collective responsibility and communication is vital.
All stakeholders are able to participate in the development, review, update, and implementation of the Local School Wellness Policy. Please contact Katie Chau at katie.chau@elrioschool.org for more details.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online Click here, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
Address :
S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; orfax : (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
email : intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.