Cafeteria
-
National School Hot Lunch Program and Charging Policy
- Students may purchase a hot lunch or bring their own lunch from home. No lunches can be brought in the school to be shared with other students. No visitation will take place in the cafeteria during lunch service and no classroom parties will take the place of lunch because it is in competition with the National School Lunch Program.
Every student has their own individual lunch account. When applying money to their account, please send payments to the main office with each student’s name, class, and the amount you wish to put in their account.
Students eligible for free/reduced meals also have individual lunch accounts. Money can be applied to their accounts for ala carte items, juice and extra milk. Only hot lunch/salad bar qualifies for the free/reduced pricing.
When your student’s lunch account falls below $0 a negative balance notification will be emailed on Wednesdays. If your student’s account continues in the negative an email reminder will be sent or a phone call from the office will be made. The principal will be made aware of any severe negative balances. *Application for a change in meal eligibility is always available through Mrs. Tourney.
If a student’s account is negative they will be allowed to charge their lunch until payment is made. No student is denied a hot lunch/salad bar. No ala carte, juice or extra milk can be charged.
To eliminate end of the year negative lunch accounts, we change the charging policy on May 1. Students with negative balances can continue to charge their lunch, but will receive an alternate lunch, consisting of a sandwich, vegetable, fruit, and milk.
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH
Families may apply for Free or Reduced lunch any time throughout the year. If you need to apply, click Here or Espanol.
MyPaymentPlus
As we move forward, our goal is to implement paperless communication. Whether you pay online or send your payment to the main office (no cost to you), all families are expected to set up their student’s lunch accounts with MyPaymentsPlus for lunch account viewing. There is no cost to enroll. For enrollment, you will need your student’s lunch ID number which is available in the school office from Shelley Tourney. The software provider assesses a fee of 4.75% for the online payment option, but lunch account viewing is free. Manage your student's account by going to MyPaymentsPlus.com and regeristering for a FREE account!
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
For State and local Agencies and their subrecipients use the FNS Nondiscrimination Statement.
In accordance with Federal Civil Rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Civil Rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior credible activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Additional Information
Smart Snacks in School
The USDA recently published practical, science-based nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages sold to children at school during the school day. The standards, required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, will allow schools to offer healthier snack foods to children, while limiting junk food.
The health of today’s school environment continues to improve. Students across the country are now offered healthier school lunches with more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The Smart Snacks in School standards will build on those healthy advancements and ensure that kids are only offered tasty and nutritious foods during the school day.
Smart Snacks in School also support efforts by school food service staff, school administrators, teachers, parents and the school community, all working hard to instill healthy habits in students.
Nutrition Standards for Foods
● Any food SOLD during school hours must meet several criteria:
• Be a “whole grain-rich” grain product; or
• Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, or a protein food; or
• Be a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup of fruit and/or vegetable
● Foods must also meet several nutrient requirements:
- Calorie limits:
° Snack items: ≤ 200 calories
° Entrée items: ≤ 350 calories
- Sodium limits:
° Snack items: ≤ 200 mg
° Entrée items: ≤ 480 mg
- Fat limits:
° Total fat: ≤35% of calories
° Saturated fat: < 10% of calories
° Trans-fat: zero grams
- Sugar limit:
° ≤ 35% of weight from total sugars in foods
Nutrition Standards for Beverages
● All schools may sell:
• Plain water (with or without carbonation)
• Unflavored low-fat milk
• Unflavored or flavored fat free milk and milk alternatives permitted by NSLP/SBP
• 100% fruit or vegetable juice and
• 100% fruit or vegetable juice diluted with water (with or without carbonation), and no added sweeteners.
● Elementary schools may sell up to 8-ounce portions, while middle schools and high schools may sell up to 12-ounce portions of milk and juice. There is no portion size limit for plain water.
Fundraisers
• The sale of food items that meet the Smart Snacks nutrition requirements at fundraisers are not limited in any way under the standards.
• The Smart Snacks standards do not apply to foods and beverages sold at events held 30 minutes after the school day ends, off campus, or on weekends, such as school plays or sporting events. The USDA has defined the school day as starting at midnight the day before until 30 minutes after school is over.
- Fundraising activities that take place outside of school, such as cookie dough or frozen pizza sales, are exempt from the nutrition standards. Distribution of order forms and foods not intended for consumption at school are not affected by this policy.
Exemptions
• The standards provide two special exemptions for infrequent fundraisers that do not meet the nutrition standards. One exemption lasts one day. The principal will determine what fundraising events will qualify for this exemption.
Fundraisers can happen such as bake sales, and items can be held for the end of the day. Students can take their items home.
** If the snack or beverage is given to the student, brought from home, sold to adults only, or sold with the intent to consume after school (like frozen cookie dough), then the Smart Snacks standards do not apply. Furthermore, teachers cannot use fake money or tickets in exchange for food or beverages that do not meet smart snack standards. However, if the teacher wanted to reward the class and didn’t require the students to pay money for this reward or celebration, then the standards do not apply.
In accordance with our school wellness policy, we strongly encourage teachers to remind parents at the beginning of the school year that healthy snacks and treats such as fruits, vegetables, single serving apple sauce, trail mix, pretzels or reduced fat crackers, Goldfish snacks, granola bars, graham crackers, fig bars, fat free or low fat pudding cups, and low fat yogurts and cheeses are preferred to high calorie and high sugar sweets. Furthermore, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton School wellness policy strongly encourages teachers to use non-food items for rewards when appropriate.
**Class parties cannot replace lunch; however, if a parent provides a class with a pizza/food item/party, it must take place outside of lunch hours.