As the summer comes to an end and the school year begins, hard-working
cafeteria professionals at the Russellville School District are ready to go above and beyond to
serve healthy meals to students each day. These school lunch heroes ensure that students
leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than when they came in by serving food kids love to
eat, offering interactive nutrition education that encourages fun and discovery, and creating a
place where students can connect and recharge.
The start of a new school year presents the perfect opportunity for students to enjoy their
favorite meals and try new foods. This year, the value of school lunch is top of mind as families
continue to experience inflation and growing food costs at home. In addition to giving kids the
chance to try new foods and cut back on food waste, school lunch provides students with
healthy, balanced, and safe meals at an affordable price, while saving families time and stress.
Food Kids Love to Eat
Chartwells’ dedicated team of culinary professionals and nutrition experts have been hard at
work crafting a menu that not only meets strict nutritional guidelines, but also appeals to the
diverse tastes and preferences of students at Russellville School District. The cafeteria team
takes pride in offering healthy food that kids love to eat that will fuel their bodies and minds
throughout the day. Students can look forward to meals during the first few weeks of school that
include:
o Bang Bang Chicken
o Memphis BBQ Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
o Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
Meal Cost & Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications
For the 2024-25 school year, breakfast is free for all students and lunch will cost $3.25. Free or
Reduced-Price Meals are available again this year to students who qualify for these benefits. All
families, regardless of income, are encouraged to complete and submit a short, confidential
school meal application prior to the start of the school year to ensure there are no gaps in meal
benefits for students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Parents or guardians can
submit a confidential application online at https://linqconnect.com/public/meal-application/new or in person at the school office. It’s an easy and confidential way to ensure children stay well-
nourished at school. Contact the RSD Child Nutrition Office at 479-498-8836 for more
information.
Programs that Encourage Fun and Discovery
Chartwells continues to inspire healthy eating habits and spark a culinary curiosity to last a
lifetime through fun and engaging programs, including:
Global Eats: Highlighting the unique ingredients and authentic flavors from cuisines
around the world, Global Eats brings a world of flavors to the cafeteria. Our newest
signature program takes students on a food exploration that celebrates cultural
heritages, traveling through China, India, Italy, Mexico, Korea, and the Caribbean.
Discovery Kitchen: Designed to make nutrition education fun and entertaining,
Chartwells chefs and dietitians have worked together to create curriculums that get kids
cooking, trying new foods, and learning about what they’re eating. Each month has a
different theme and activities will be adapted for the current meal programs. For
example, October is “Seed to Table” and December is “Spice it Up”.
Mood Boost: This innovative program helps elementary and middle school students
connect what they eat with how they feel. It features recipes and characters that focus
on six moods: Smart, Happy, Confident, Alert, Strong, and Calm.
Student Choice: Giving high school students a voice in deciding what food concepts
are featured and new menu items that will be available, Student Choice brings the latest
food trends to school menus.
Inviting Environment and Happy Cafeterias
Students need a place to eat where they can connect with others, recharge, and enjoy a sense
of happiness and a meal with their classmates. The cafeterias in the Russellville School District
are getting a new look this year with Chartwells’ Modern or Pop art design concepts.
Menus and Nutrition Facts at Your Fingertips
Chartwells K12 continues to bring technology to the forefront of the dining experience to help
students and their parents prioritize healthy food choices and understand ingredients so they
can help protect children from allergic reactions. Through Nutrislice, an innovative app,
students, parents, and faculty have access to school menus, including nutrition information,
allergens, and photos. Nutrislice can be downloaded for free from the App Store (iOS) or
Google Play (Android) and is available on desktop and mobile devices. Menus are also
available at https://russellvilleschools.nutrislice.com/menus-eula.
Celebrating School Lunch Heroes
As kids advance from grade to grade with new classes and different teachers, the dedicated
lunch ladies and men in the school cafeteria are often one of the few constants throughout the
academic journey. Throughout the school year, these heroes of the cafeteria are dedicated to
making mealtime a bright spot in a student’s day, ensuring kids throughout the Russellville
community are served nourishing meals.
We are always looking for talented individuals to join the dining services team with perks
including, family-friendly schedules, no night or weekend work, hiring incentives, and more. For
more information, visit the Chartwells website.
Through sharing their passion for great-tasting food, instilling a sense of food discovery, and
most importantly, providing nourishing meals, Chartwells is excited to continue serving up happy
and healthy to Russellville School District in the year ahead.