Barnes Elementary

Next up, and I hope you’re sitting down, because I can’t wait to introduce you to the newest member of our Kindergarten, tiara-wearing team of professionals. Here is soon to be Mrs. Evelyn (Perkins) Orr! She’s fun. She’s savvy. She’s got mad skills. She’s amazing. Her classroom will be magical for kids, and you’re going to love her…just wishing you were in kinder again! She’s ALL IN! She was an early in the year hire, just like Miss Virgl, so we could snag her right up also before anyone else did! Please join me in welcoming this beautiful human to Barnes instructional staff! 🌸👇👇

One of the biggest misconceptions about school meals is that they are the same as what you would find at a restaurant or fast-food chain. While kids may see pizza, nuggets, mac and cheese, or potato wedges, our recipes must meet strict USDA nutrition standards that focus on whole grains, lower sodium, healthier preparation methods, and age-appropriate portions. We serve foods students enjoy because participation matters, but we prepare them in a way that supports learning, growth, and long-term health.

One question we often receive during summer feeding is why students must take all meal components when they may leave items behind during the school year. The answer is simple: summer meals operate under a different federal program with different rules, requiring us to serve a complete meal that includes all required components. While the rules may change, our mission remains the same, making sure every child has access to nutritious meals when school is not in session.

As we continue our series explaining Child Nutrition, we wanted to address one of the most common questions we receive: “Why aren’t school meals healthier?”

The reality is that every meal we serve must meet strict federal nutrition standards while also staying affordable, safe, and appealing to students. Our goal is not to create gourmet meals or serve foods that only a handful of students will eat. Our goal is to serve nutritious meals that thousands of students will choose to eat each day, because even the healthiest meal provides no benefit if it ends up in the trash.

Every menu item represents a balance between nutrition, student preferences, food safety, accessibility, speed of service, and the federal reimbursement that funds the program. At the end of the day, our mission remains simple: make sure students have access to meals that help them learn, grow, and succeed. ❤️