Food and Nutrition Services (FNS)

E.L. Haynes is now a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school that provides free meals to all students and participates in the After School Snack Program.

Our food and nutrition services support student health and achievement by ensuring that all E.L. Haynes students receive nutritious meals that support academic success. We believe in providing appetizing school meals made from fresh, locally produced ingredients, and we strive to engage the entire DC community in implementing programs that encourage healthy decision-making and promote sustainable practices. 

E.L. Haynes participates in the following Child Nutrition Programs through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as administered by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE): National School Lunch Program, National School Breakfast Program, and the Summer Food Service Program

Complimentary Meals for All E.L. Haynes Students!

Our food service will operate under the National School Lunch Program and the Seamless Summer Option for the school year 2023-2024 as allowed by the USDA under emergency legislation in case of another covid-19 outbreak. All students at E.L. Haynes will receive complimentary breakfast and lunch, plus snacks where applicable for the entire 2023-2024 school year.

School Meal Menus – SY23-24

• September 2023: Elementary & middle schools: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack | High school: Breakfast, Lunch
• October 2023: Elementary & middle schools: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack | High school: Breakfast, Lunch
• November 2023: Elementary & middle schools: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack | High school: Breakfast,
• December 2023: Elementary & middle schools: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack | High School: Breakfast, Lunch
• January 2024: Elementary & middle schools: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack | High School: Breakfast, Lunch
• February 2024: Elementary & middle schools: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack | High School: Breakfast, Lunch
• March 2024: Elementary & middle schools: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack | High School: Breakfast, Lunch
• April 2024: Elementary & middle schools: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack | High School: Breakfast, Lunch

Healthy Food Choices

Quick Reference:

E.L. Haynes Public Charter School’s Local Wellness Policy outlines our approach to ensuring environments and opportunities for all students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors throughout the school day while minimizing commercial distractions. This policy applies to all students, staff and schools at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School (ELH).

• All students in Grades Pre K-12 will have opportunities, support, and encouragement to be physically active on a regular basis.
• Foods and beverages sold or served at school will meet the nutrition recommendations of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• E.L. Haynes will ensure that no student in school goes hungry during the school day.
• E.L. Haynes will engage students, parents, teachers, food service professionals, health professionals, and other interested community members in developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing, district-wide nutrition and physical activity policies.
• Qualified child nutrition professionals will provide students with access to a variety of affordable, nutritious, and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students; will accommodate the religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the student body in meal planning; and will provide clean, safe, and pleasant settings and adequate time for students to eat.
• To the maximum extent practicable, all schools will participate in available federal school meal programs (including the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program [including after-school snacks], and the Summer Food Service Program.
• Schools will provide nutrition education and physical education to foster lifelong habits of healthy eating and physical activity, and will establish linkages between health education and school meal programs, and with related community services.

Foods and beverages sold or served at school will meet the nutrition recommendations of:

1. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans
2. The Healthy Schools Act

We recognize that nutrition education; food served in schools, and physical activity each affect student wellness and that there is an important connection between a healthy diet and a student’s ability to succeed in school.

We model and actively practice, through policies and procedures, the promotion of family health, physical activity, and good nutrition.

Haynes further recognizes that the sharing and enjoyment of food and participation in physical activities are fundamental experience for all District residents and are primary ways to nurture and celebrate our cultural diversity. These fundamental human experiences are vital bridges for building friendships, forming inter-generational bonds, and strengthening communities.​

Outside Food

The high school does have a vending machine-accessible by students before school (7:45 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.), during three lunch periods (11:44 a.m. – 1:57 p.m.), and after school (4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.); a la carte and fundraisers shall only offer approved items, as cited by the USDA’s Healthier US School Challenge program at the Gold Award Level for competitive foods and beverages outlined below:

Food in other areas of the School Environment

No unhealthy food or beverage item may be used as incentives, prizes, or awards or advertised on school grounds and fast food and ‘branded’ food, items shall not be offered for sale as part of any school meal program as a la carte items. ELH shall not permit third parties to sell foods or beverages of any type to students on school property from 90 minutes before the school day begins until 90 minutes after the school day ends.

Celebrations

Schools should limit celebrations that involve food during the school day to no more than one party per class per month.

Purchasing Food for Student Events

If parents are bringing snacks for special events, please consider these healthy snack options.​

• Dipperdoodle Bar
• Blackberry Omega Bar
• Strawberry Omega bar
• Strawberry Zac bar
• String Cheese
• Yogurt (need notice)
• Dick & Jane Smart Cookies
• Skeeter Cinnamon Graham crackers
• Skeeter Honey Graham crackers
• Apple sauce
• Granola
• Raisins
• Sunbutter packets
• Honey Roasted Soynuts
• Lightly Salted Sunflower Seeds
• Goldfish Pretzel
• Goldfish Whole Grain Cheddar
• Ranch Rumble Chips
• Salsa Rumble chips
• Cinnamon Rumble Chips
• RevFoods Whole Grain Cracker
• Apples
• Cut Cantaloupe
• Cut Honey Dew
• Cut Watermelon
• Oranges
• Pears
• Baby Carrots
• Apple Juice
• Pineapple Juice
• Skim Milk
• Water

Competitive Foods

• Total fat: Calories from total fat must be at or below 35% per serving.  Excludes nuts, seeds, nut butters, and reduced-fat cheese.
• Trans fat: Less than 0.5 grams (trans fat free) per serving.
• Saturated fat: Calories from saturated fat must be below 10% per serving.  Excludes reduced-fat cheese.
• Sugar: Total sugar must be under or equal to 35% sugar by weight (includes naturally occurring and added sugars). Excludes fruits, vegetables, and milk.
• Sodium: ≤ 480 mg per non-entrée and ≤ 600 mg per entrée.
• Portion size/Calories: Not to exceed the serving size of the food served in the NSLP; for other items, the package or container is not to exceed 200 calories.

Competitive Beverages

• Milk: Only low-fat (1% or less) and fat-free (skim), flavored or unflavored fluid milk, and/or USDA approved alternative dairy beverages.
• 100% full-strength fruit & vegetable juices with no sweeteners (nutritive or non-nutritive).
• Water: Unflavored, no sweeteners (nutritive or non-nutritive), noncarbonated, caffeine-free.

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Public Notification

July 1, 2024

E.L. Haynes Public Charter School participates in the School Breakfast Program (SBP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and Afterschool Snack Program (ASSP). We are considered a School Food Authority (SFA) and partake in the Child Nutrition Program (CNP) by offering free meals and snacks to our students regardless of their eligibility status through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

This notification, in order to be compliant with federal and local regulations, is required by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to notify the community (public) about the availability of E.L. Haynes Public Charter School’s meal program.

USDA Non Discrimination 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 at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, 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:

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Also, the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, approved December 13, 1977 (DC law 2-38; DC official code §2-1402.11(2006), as amended) states the following:

It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice to do any of the following acts, wholly or partially for a discriminatory reason based upon the actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, or political affiliation of any individual. To file a complaint alleging discrimination on one of these bases, please contact the District of Columbia’s Office of Human Rights at (202) 727-4559 or ohr@dc.gov.