What’s Cooking in School Cafeterias? Real Food with Real Ingredients

Campbell Union School District is cooking up tasty meals and green initiatives.

Long gone are the days of grey school lunches with mystery meats. Students in Campbell Union School District are now enjoying meals such as chicken risotto and farm-fresh produce.

While the favorite meals amongst students remains chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers, and pizza, the Child Nutrition Services (CNS) Department has committed to making these popular meals as clean as possible by using organic ingredients, scratch cooking, and sourcing products with the fewest, most natural ingredients.

Did you know that CNS does not serve breakfast food with a total sugar content above 13 grams? State law says that added sugars cannot exceed 10%. Campbell is not adding any additional sugars to its breakfast items.

Did you know that the cereals served by CNS are 51% whole grain and have 25% less sugar than the  cereals you purchase at the supermarket?

Changes Happening at the State Level

On Monday September 15, 2025, a list of new educational bills headed to the governor’s desk. Among them is Assembly Bill 1264 which would adopt regulations for ultra-processed foods (UPFs) - any food or beverage high in saturated fats, sodium, or specific added sugars or sweeteners. If signed, this bill would require schools to begin phasing out harmful UPFs by January 1, 2028. This law will require no action from Campbell USD as its focus on cleaner eating has been happening for years now. 

Knowing that ultra-processed food has harmful effects such as a higher risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, Campbell USD has a commitment to eliminating ultra-processed food for healthier outcomes and has been ahead of several state laws that have such regulations.

Partnerships for Cleaner Eating

The Child Nutrition Services Department works with both Food for Thought and the Department of Agriculture to source produce from farms within the San Jose/central valley area which allows the produce to move from farm to table in three days or less. Additionally, Food for Thought works in partnership to provide an on-campus farmers’ markets for the students. This opportunity allows for an educational component where students learn about nutritional value and stretching a dollar as they have school bucks to spend on produce. 

The student farmers’ market September schedule:

• Marshall Lane, Sept. 24 beginning at 8:30 a.m.
• Village, Sept. 24 beginning at 11:00 a.m.
• Forest Hill, Sept. 25 beginning at 8:30 a.m.
• Rosemary, Sept. 25 beginning at 11:30 a.m.
• Lynhaven, Sept. 26 beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Please watch your school’s calendar for additional student farmers’ market locations, dates, and times.

Going Green

In addition to cleaner eating, CNS also made changes to reducing plastic waste. This initiative includes transitioning away from spork packages that were included in all meals regardless of what was being served to compostable utensils that students take only the utensil needed. To further reduce the District’s plastic consumption, CNS is moving from serving condiments in individual packets to a pump station. These are specialized condiment pumps due to the lower sugar content ketchup and other condiments we serve.

To deepen the go green initiative, Sherman Oaks is piloting a plated meal service which allows for fresher, more appealing meals while reducing the use of plastic and food waste. Based on the learnings from the Sherman Oaks experience, CNS plans to roll out the program at each of the middle schools in the coming years and then the elementary schools.

Lynx Bulletin September 5, 2025

Lynx Bulletin Act Responsibly, Behave Respectfully, & Care for All September 5, 2025 Dear Lynx Families, Welcome back, Lynhaven families! Our bulletin is full of updates, opportunities, and resources to help your student have a successful school…

Lynx Bulletin Act Responsibly, Behave Respectfully, & Care for All September 5, 2025 Dear Lynx Families, Welcome back, Lynhaven families! Our bulletin is full of updates, opportunities, and resources to help your student have a successful school year. Take a look at what’s coming up and how you can get involved! Upcoming Dates: Friday, October 3rd Fall Picture Day Mon., Oct. 6th- Fri., Oct 10th Conference Week, early dismissal (see bell schedule for details) Monday, October 13th Professional Development Day–No School  Subscribe Lynhaven Calendar School Announcements: 📸 Fall Picture Day is Almost Here! It's time to practice those smiles in the mirror. Fall Picture Day will be Friday, October 3rd. 🍎 Free Meals for Every Student – But Please Still Apply! All students in California can now receive free breakfast and lunch at school every day. No child will ever be turned away. ✅ Why Apply? Even though meals are free, completing the School Meals Application brings extra benefits for your family and our school community. Our school receives over $1,000 in funding for every student who qualifies. This funding supports after school programs, technology, counseling, and more. Families who qualify may also receive: Discounted or free internet service P-EBT food benefits Reduced cost for summer camps and other programs How to Apply: The fastest way: Apply online – it’s secure, private, and processed within 24 hours. Prefer paper? Get a form from your school office, the district office, or the Child Nutrition Department. 📍 Return forms to your child’s school or mail/drop off to: Child Nutrition Department 240 Harrison Avenue Campbell, CA 95008 📞 Questions? Call (408) 341-7210 or email food [at] campbellusd.org Apply Online After School Enrichment Programs Through hands-on learning, students engage with fun materials and build new skills. We partner with external experts to provide enriching experiences right on campus after school. Students collaborate, problem-solve, and innovate in courses such as Lego Robotics, Soccer, Chess, and Minecraft (offerings may vary by school). 👉 Click here to see Lynhaven’s offerings 👉 To register, families must first create an account before signing up for courses. Questions? CUSD Expanded Learning 📞 (408) 364-4200 📍 155 N 3rd St, Campbell, CA 95008 Register Here Volunteer Opportunities! How to Become a Volunteer! To keep our students safe, volunteers must complete the district’s clearance process. There are two options: **RECOMMENDED ** Option 1 – Volunteer Packet with LIVESCAN (Fingerprinting Required) For volunteers who may be alone with students (such as field trips where staff are not present, yard duty, or working with small groups without direct staff supervision). Option 2 – Volunteer Packet without LIVESCAN (No Fingerprinting Required) For volunteers who will be under staff supervision at all times (such as helping with small groups in the classroom, reading to students, or assisting during activities with a teacher present). Option 1 Volunteer Application Option 2 Volunteer Application Yard Duty - Recess or Lunch Email: Mrs. Advincula dadvincula [at] campbellusd.org We are looking for caring and responsible volunteers to help keep our students safe and supported during recess and lunch. Yard Duty volunteers supervise play areas, help with transitions, and encourage positive interactions between students. Volunteers should be comfortable giving directions, monitoring student safety, and communicating clearly with staff and students. This doesn’t have to be a full-time commitment—if you’d like to be involved but can only help on occasional or sporadic days, that’s perfectly fine. Every bit of support makes a difference. It truly takes a village, and we’d love for you to be part of ours! Recess: 10:00am-10:30am Lunch: 11:30am-1:00pm Asset Building Champions (ABC Program) Email: Mrs. Noelia Smith nsmith [at] campbellusd.org Join our ABC volunteer team and make a difference! ABC volunteers read specially selected books to classes, lead discussions, and guide a simple activity. By doing so, you’ll become a caring and trusted adult for students at our school. Project Cornerstone provides all lesson plans, discussion guides, and activities. You’ll also receive training and support from our ABC Lead Volunteers. The time commitment is about three hours per month, which includes: 1 hour monthly training and preparation 45–60 minutes reading and leading the class activity All volunteers must be cleared through school/district requirements before working with students. This is a wonderful way to build connections, inspire students, and make a lasting impact. Los Dichos Email: Mrs. Noelia Smith nsmith [at] campbellusd.org YMCA Project Cornerstone: Una Introducción a Los Dichos/An Introduction to the Los Dichos program Los Dichos (short for Los Dichos de la Casa or “sayings from home”) is a Project Cornerstone program that brings families into the classroom to share bilingual stories, cultural sayings, and hands-on activities. Volunteers help students build life skills like respect, friendship, and decision-making while also celebrating cultural pride. No teaching experience is needed—just a willingness to read, lead a short discussion, and connect with students. The time commitment is about 3 hours per month, and all training and materials are provided. This is a wonderful way for parents and caregivers—Spanish- or English-speaking—to engage with students and make a lasting impact. Resources: Routines Rock! Daily routines help kids feel secure, confident, and ready for school. Simple habits like getting enough sleep, preparing the night before, and having a clear morning routine can make school days calmer and more successful. Check out the attached Routines Rock guide for quick tips to support your family’s routine! English: Routines ROCK! Spanish: ¡Las rutinas son geniales! Attendance Information: Families have 20 school days to report an absence (408) 341-7041 lynhaven_attendance [at] campbellusd.org CUSD Attendance Policy Helpful Links: Classroom Volunteer Field Trip Volunteer Formulario de Voluntario Bell Schedule After School Care Lunch Menu