Tahlequah Public Schools Child Nutrition and Chartwells Food Service Management Company are proud to continue their successful partnership into the 2025–2026 school year, with a shared commitment to expanding access to nutritious meals and enhancing the overall student dining experience.
The district remains a participant in the Community Eligibility Program (CEP), allowing Tahlequah Public Schools to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students every school day. In addition, the Child Nutrition Program offers a free supper meal to students enrolled in afterschool programs, helping ensure children have access to healthy meals beyond the regular school day.
Child Nutrition staff and Chartwells are dedicated to continuous improvement and are always seeking new ways to better serve students through high-quality meal service across the district. We are also excited to welcome Janica McAlister, Chartwells’ new Assistant Director of Dining, to our team.
One initiative that continues to see great success is the use of breakfast carts at Tahlequah High School and Tahlequah Middle School. These carts are strategically placed to make breakfast more accessible for students who may not have time to travel across campus before class. One cart is located near the English Department and another in the library, with service available until 9:15 a.m. This approach has significantly increased breakfast participation, particularly at the high school, where an additional 100–150 students are now enjoying breakfast daily.
At the elementary level, Chartwells will reintroduce its Mood Boost nutrition education program. Mood Boost teaches students how healthy foods can positively influence mood and overall well-being. The program focuses on fruits and vegetables that support one of six moods: happy, alert, calm, strong, confident, and smart. Fun characters known as “Moodies” represent each mood, and collectible items such as trading cards and wristbands help reinforce the lessons. For example, a student might try an avocado strawberry smoothie at lunch and receive an “I Am Confident” wristband as a reminder to make healthy choices. The program includes new lunch menus, tasting events, interactive activities, and memorable characters to help students understand how balanced meals support success in and out of the classroom.
Student engagement remains a priority at all grade levels. On February 12, Tahlequah Middle School will host a Student Choice event, giving students the opportunity to “voice their choice” by taste-testing new recipes and voting for their favorites. During this event, BBQ rib sandwiches on a fresh-baked sub roll will compete against Cherry Blossom Chicken, a sweet, Asian-style glazed chicken. The winning item will be featured on the Create Line menu on February 26.
Tahlequah High School will host its own Student Choice event on February 25, where students will sample and vote on menu concepts to appear on the Create Line during the week of March 2. The featured concepts include Noodle Revolution, offering creative ramen bowl options, and Made to Melt, a gourmet grilled cheese concept celebrating all things cheesy and melty.
Our ultimate goal is to reach all children through school meals, ensuring they receive the strong nutritional foundation needed to support healthy minds and bodies. Since August, we have served 120,998 breakfasts, 219,389 lunches, 6,858 snacks, and 59,917 suppers—nearly 410,000 meals to our students so far this year. To sustain the CEP program, maintaining high student participation is essential, as continued participation plays a key role in ensuring the program’s future success.
Through innovative programs, student involvement, and a strong focus on accessibility, Tahlequah Public Schools Child Nutrition and Chartwells are working together to keep students fueled for learning and success every day. Thank you for your continued support—it is truly a pleasure to serve your children each day.
Heidi Krueger, Child Nutrition Assistant Director