Food Service
Lunch Menus
Suffern Central School District has announced an amendment to its policy for serving meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the 2024-25 school year, which would allow for all children at all school sites to be served meals at no charge.
- Students are entitled to 1 free breakfast and 1 free lunch per day*
- *Free does not mean unlimited; whether it's food, milk, juice or condiments.
- Per state guidelines, to qualify as a free meal, students must choose a full meal which consists of three out of five required components: milk, fruit, vegetables, grain and protein.
- One must be a fruit or vegetable.
- If the required components are not taken, the meal is not free.
- Students will still need to input their four or five-digit code when receiving their meals.
- Second meals, specialty, and a la carte items are not included in this program but are still available for purchase.
- Students must have money in their account and not owe a balance to buy additional food. NO EXCEPTIONS.
- Parents who use the MySchoolBucks program to pay for additional meals and food items should take this time to review their accounts and adjust accordingly.
The cost of meals for the 2024-25 School Year is as follows:
- Breakfast: $1.35 for elementary school / $1.60 for middle/high school
- Lunch: $2.70 for elementary school / $3.00 for middle/high school
Adding Funds
We strongly recommend that you add funds to your student's account before the start of the school year. You can visit MySchoolBucks.com to add funds, check balances, set limits and review your child's purchases. The MySchoolBucks app enables to parents to manage their accounts via iOS and Android mobile devices and links to those apps can be found on the MySchoolBucks website. Credit card prepayments can be made with MasterCard, Visa or Discover; a $1.95 fee will be charged for each credit card transaction.
Parents who prefer to pay by check will continue to submit payments directly to their child’s school cafeteria or to the Food Services office in Hillburn. The check amount will automatically be put into the child’s MySchoolBucks account. Non-participating students may continue to pay for their school meals as they have in the past.
As a reminder, we do not allow a la carte items to be charged to a negative balance. Those items include snacks, beverages, extra items, incomplete meals, and/or double meals.
For inquiries on lunch balances and funds contact: Angela Ruiz at 845-357-7783 x11234
Income Survey Form
We strongly encourage every family to fill out the Income Survey Form because it may also qualify you for discounted rates on programs, test registrations, college applications and more. Families should complete the application prior to the start of the school year, but no later than September 30, 2023.
More details:
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Only one application is needed per household.
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Any households receiving benefits from SNAP, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations or TANF can get free meals regardless of income. Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible and should fill out an application.
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Your children may be approved as free or reduced price eligible if your household income is within the reduced-price limits on the Federal Eligibility Income Chart (on back).
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Each year a new application must be filled out by each household.
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You DO NOT have to be a US citizen to qualify for free/reduced meals.
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Members of your household include all people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, relatives, friends) who share income and expenses.
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The benefits you are approved for at the time of application are effective for the entire school year and up to 30 operating days into the new school year. No need to report changes during the year.
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You can fill out an application at any point in the year, especially if your situation changes and you may now be eligible for the free/reduced meal program.
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The District will alert your household if you’ve been approved or denied.
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Application - English
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Application - Spanish
Lunch Menus
Click on the link above to access the school lunch menus. This site is created and maintained by Janet Ginocchio, the Aramark Food Service Director. On the Lunch Lines site, visitors can navigate to lunch and breakfast menus for elementary, middle school and high school, in addition to nutritional guidelines. If your child needs meal modifications (allergen, 504, etc) please contact your school nurse or email our Food Service Director, Janet Ginocchio, for guidance: jginocchio1@sufferncentral.org
Policies
Policy 8505
CHARGING SCHOOL MEALS AND PROHIBITION AGAINST SHAMING
The Board of Education recognizes that on occasion, students may not have enough funds for a meal. To ensure that students do not go hungry, the Board will allow students who do not have enough funds to “charge” the cost of meals to be paid back at a later date subject to the terms in this policy.
To comply with State guidelines and maintain a system for accounting for charged meals, regarding both full and reduced-price meals, the district shall:
1. Allow only regular reimbursable meals to be charged, excluding extras, a la carte items, side dishes, additional meals, and snacks; and
2. Use a computer-generated point of sale system, which identifies and records the sale of all meals, as well as meals charged and subsequent payments.
Charged meals must be counted and claimed for reimbursement on the day that the student charged (received) the meal, not the day the charge is paid back. When charges are paid, these monies are not to be considered “a la carte” transactions, as a section on the daily cash report or deposit summary reads “charges paid.”
Students shall not be denied a reimbursable meal, even if they have accrued a negative balance from other cafeteria purchases, unless the parent/guardian has provided written permission to the school to withhold a meal. No student with unpaid charges will be prohibited from purchasing food if they have money that day.
If school food authorities (SFAs) suspect that a student may be abusing this policy, written notice will be provided to the parent/guardian.
Students who cannot pay for a meal or who have unpaid meal debt shall not be publicly identified or stigmatized (including wristbands or hand stamps), required to do chores or work to pay for meals, or have meals thrown away after they have been served. District staff shall not discuss a student’s unpaid meal debt in front of other students. The district shall not take any action directed at a student to collect unpaid school meal fees. However, the district may discretely notify students of their account balances, and why certain items (e.g., à la carte, etc.) could not be provided with charged meals.
Student Account Balance Notification
The district’s payment system allows for automatic replenishment when a balance reaches a certain amount set by the parent/guardian. The district shall encourage parents/guardians to utilize this option.
Parents/guardians shall be discretely notified of student account balances regularly. When a student’s account balance falls to $10.00 and whenever a meal is charged, the district will discretely notify the parent/guardian of the balance, and the process to refill the account. This notification will continue regularly until the account is replenished. Parents/guardians must repay all unpaid charges remaining at the end of the year or before their child leaves the district, whichever occurs first.
The district shall discretely notify parents/guardians of students with negative balances of at least five meals, determine if the student is directly certified to be eligible for free meals, and attempt to reach the parent/guardian to assist them in the application process for free and/or reduced price meals, and determine if there are other issues within the household causing the insufficient funds and offer appropriate assistance. If a parent/guardian regularly fails to provide meal money and does not qualify for free or reduced price meals, the district may take other actions as appropriate, including notifying the local department of social services if neglect is suspected.
The school district shall notify all parents/guardians in writing on an annual basis at the start of the school year and to families transferring during the year, outlining the requirements of this policy. The policy shall also be published in appropriate school and district publications. All staff involved in implementing and enforcing this policy shall also be notified of these requirements and their responsibilities. The district’s enrollment process shall include the application process for free and reduced price meals. If the district becomes aware that a student is so eligible, it shall file an application for the student. Staff responsible for assisting foster, homeless and migrant students shall coordinate with the food services staff to ensure such students receive free school meals.
Unpaid Meal Charges and Debt Collection
Unpaid meal charges are a financial burden to the district and taxpayers and can negatively affect the school program. Unpaid meal charges shall be considered “delinquent” as per the district’s accounting practices. The district shall attempt to recover unpaid meal charges before the end of the school year, but may continue efforts into the next school year. The district shall notify parents/guardians of unpaid meal charges at regular intervals, and may engage in collection activities by district staff, which do not involve debt collectors as defined in federal law (15 USC §1692A), and may not charge fees or interest. The district shall offer repayment plans, and my take other actions that do not result in harm or shame to the child, until unpaid charges are paid.
Remaining Account Balances
Remaining funds will be carried over to the next school year. When students leave the district or graduate, the district will attempt to contact the parent/guardian to return remaining funds. Parents/guardians may request that funds be transferred to other students (e.g., siblings, unpaid accounts). All transfer requests must be in writing. Unclaimed funds remaining after three months shall be absorbed by the school meal account.
Staff
Staff members are allowed to purchase food from the District’s food services. Adult meal prices will be established in accordance with Child Nutrition Program regulations. All purchases must be on a cash basis. Staff members will not be allowed to charge meals to be repaid later.
Building Principals, working with the head of food services, shall ensure that all district and food service staff with responsibilities under this policy will be trained on the provisions of this policy and the requirements of Education Law section 908.
Cross-ref: 8520, Free and Reduced Meals
Ref: 42 USC §1779 (Child Nutrition Act of 1966)
42 USC §§1758(f)(1); 1766(a) (National School Lunch Act)
2 CFR §200.426 (accounting for debt in federal programs)
7 CFR §§210.9 210.12; 210.19; 220.13; 245.5 (accounting in federal school meal programs)
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (Public Law 111-296), §143
USDA Report to Congress, Review of Local Policies on Meal Charges and Provision of Alternate Meals, June 2016, www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cn/unpaidmealcharges-report.pdf
Unpaid Meal Charges: Local Meal Charge Policies, USDA FNS Memo SP 46-2016 (07/08/16), www.fns.usda.gov/unpaid-meal-charges-local-meal-charge-policies
Unpaid Meal Charges: Guidance and Q&A, USDA FNS Memo SP 57-2016 (09/16/16), https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/cn/SP57-2016os.pdf
Unpaid Meal Charges: Guidance and Q&A, USDA FNS Memo SP 23-2017 (03/23/17), https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/cn/SP23-2017os.pdf
Unpaid Meal Charges: Clarification on Collection of Delinquent Meal Payments, USDA FNS Memo SP 47-2016 (07/08/16), www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cn/SP47-2016os.pdf
Overcoming the Unpaid Meal Challenge - Proven Strategies from Our Nation’s Schools, USDA FNS Guidance Document (May 2017),
https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/cn/SP29-2017a1.pdf
Student Meal Charge Policy, NYSED Guidance Memo, (5/30/17), http://www.cn.nysed.gov/content/student-meal-charge-policy
Adoption date: March 15, 2016
Revision date: September 19, 2017
Revision date: July 10, 2018
Policy 5405
STUDENT WELLNESS
Preamble
Suffern Central School District is committed to the optimal development of every student. The District believes that for students to have the opportunity to achieve personal, academic, developmental, and social success, we need to create positive, safe, and health-promoting learning environments at every level, in every setting, throughout the school year.
Research shows that the two components, good nutrition and physical activity before, during, and after the school day, are strongly correlated with positive student outcomes. The Board of Education adopts the following goals and authorizes the following actions to provide District students with a school environment that promotes student health and wellness.
I. School Health Advisory Committee
Committee Role and Membership
The District will convene a representative School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) that meets at least three times per year for the facilitation of school health and wellness policies and programs, including development, implementation, and periodic review and update of this District-level wellness policy (Student Wellness Policy).
The SHAC membership will represent all school levels and include, to the extent possible, but not be limited to: at least one Physical Education and/or Health Education teacher, one nurse, one food service representative, one mental health and social services representative, one Board of Education member, one administrator from each building level, one parent and one student. To the extent possible, the SHAC will include representatives from each school building.
Leadership
The Superintendent’s designated Director of Health and Wellness will convene the SHAC, facilitate the process of updating the Student Wellness Policy (SWP), and insure each school’s compliance with the policy and present biennial reports to the Board of Education. The SHAC will encourage each school building to designate a school wellness coordinator who will complete assessments, oversee implementation and ensure compliance with the policy in their respective building.
II. Nutrition
School Meals
The Board recognizes that a nutritious, well-balanced, reasonably-portioned diet is essential for student wellness. To help students possess the knowledge and skills necessary to make nutritious food choices, the District shall ensure that all foods and beverages available in school promote good nutrition, balance, and reasonably portioned sizes. The District shall ensure that all foods and beverages available for sale to students on the school campus during the school day meet or exceed the USDA Nutrition Standards for School Meals under the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. To accomplish this, the Board directs that the District serve healthy and appealing foods and beverages at District schools that meet all Federal/State laws and regulations.
All schools within the District are committed to offering school meals that:
1. Are accessible to all students.
2. Can be consumed in pleasant, clean and attractive settings.
3. Promote healthy food and beverage choices using, when possible, Smarter Lunchroom techniques.
4. Are listed on menus that are posted on the District and/or school websites.
5. Accommodate students with health-related dietary needs.
6. Are served at a reasonable and appropriate time of day that will allow at least 20 minutes to eat lunch. If possible, lunch will follow the recess period.
7. Include fruits, vegetables, salads, whole grains, and low fat items at least to the extent required by federal regulations.
Celebrations and Rewards
All foods offered on the school campus will meet or exceed Federal/State laws and regulations including through:
1. Celebrations and parties. Food and beverages shall not be permitted.
2. Classroom snacks brought by parents for their own child only. The District will provide to parents a list of foods and beverages that meet Smart Snacks nutritional standards.
3. Rewards and incentives. The District will provide teachers and other school staff a list of alternative ways to reward children. Foods and beverages will not be used as a reward or withheld as punishment for any reason.
Water
The District will make drinking water available where school meals are served during mealtimes. In addition, students will be allowed to bring and carry water bottles filled with only water with them throughout the day.
Competitive Foods and Beverages
The District is committed to ensuring that all foods and beverages available to students on the school campus during the school day support healthy eating. The foods and beverages sold and served outside of the school meal programs (i.e., “competitive” foods and beverages) will meet all Federal/State laws and regulations.
These standards will apply in all locations and through all services where foods and beverages are sold, which may include, but are not limited to, a la carte options in cafeterias, vending machines, school stores, and snack or food carts.
Marketing
The District shall only market/advertise foods and beverages that meet the Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards.
Fundraising
Foods and beverages that meet or exceed Federal/State laws and regulations may be sold through fundraisers on the school campus with prior administrative permission. The District will make available to parents and teachers a list of healthy fundraising ideas. Schools will encourage non-food fundraisers, especially those promoting physical activity (such as walk-a-thons, jump rope for heart, fun runs, etc.).
III. Nutrition Promotion and Education
The Board believes that nutrition promotion and education is a key component in introducing and reinforcing healthy behaviors in students. Nutrition promotion and education that teaches the knowledge, skills, and values needed to adopt healthy eating behaviors shall be integrated into the Health curriculum. Nutrition promotion and education information are encouraged to be offered throughout the school campus including, but not limited to, school dining areas and classrooms.
The Board’s goals for nutrition promotion and education include encouraging the:
1. Inclusion of nutrition education in classroom instruction in subjects such as math, science, language arts, social sciences and elective subjects.
2. Inclusion of enjoyable, developmentally appropriate participatory activities, such as contests, promotions and taste testing.
3. Promotion of fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, low fat dairy products, safe and healthy food preparation methods, and health enhancing nutrition practices.
4. Emphasis of caloric balance between food intake and energy expenditure.
IV. Physical Activity
A substantial percentage of students’ physical activity can be provided through a comprehensive, school-based physical activity program that includes these components: Physical Education, recess, classroom-based physical activity, and out-of-school time activities. Schools will ensure that these varied opportunities are in addition to, and not as a substitute for, physical education. Punishment by withholding recess is to be used only when the building administrator/teacher determines that no other form of punishment is appropriate. To the extent practicable, the District will ensure that its grounds and facilities are safe and that equipment is available to students to be active. See Policy 1500 regarding use of school facilities.
Physical Education
The District will provide students with physical education, using an age-appropriate, sequential physical education curriculum consistent with national and state standards for physical education. The physical education curriculum will promote the benefits of a physically active lifestyle and will help students develop skills to engage in lifelong healthy habits, as well as incorporate essential health education concepts.
All students will be provided equal opportunity to participate in physical education classes. The District will make appropriate accommodations to allow for equitable participation for all students and will adapt physical education classes and equipment as necessary.
The District’s Physical Education program shall adhere to the curricular requirements of the Commissioner of Education and the New York State Learning Standards.
1. Students shall engage in physical education for at least the minimum number of hours or days per week under New York State requirements.
2. Physical Education classes shall incorporate the appropriate NYS Learning Standards.
3. Promote, teach and provide opportunities to practice activities that students enjoy and can pursue throughout their lives (e.g., yoga, fitness walking).
4. The performance of physical activity shall not be used as a form of discipline or punishment.
Recess (Elementary)
All elementary schools will follow guidelines for school recess as prescribed by the Regulations of the Commissioner of New York State Education.
If recess is offered before lunch, schools will have appropriate hand-washing facilities and/or hand-sanitizing mechanisms located just inside/outside the cafeteria to ensure proper hygiene prior to eating and students are required to use these mechanisms before eating. Hand-washing time, as well as time to put away coats/hats/gloves, will be built in to the recess transition period/timeframe before students enter the cafeteria.
Physical Activity in the Classroom (Elementary and Secondary)
The District recognizes that students are more attentive and ready to learn if provided with periodic breaks when they can be physically active or stretch. Teachers are encouraged to incorporate, when possible, appropriate physical movement that reinforces the curriculum and/or short brain breaks.
Active Academics: Teachers are encouraged to incorporate movement and kinesthetic learning approaches into “core” subject instruction when possible (e.g., science, math, language arts, social studies, and others) to limit sedentary behavior during the school day.
The District Wellness Coordinator will ensure that staff members are provided with resources, tools, and technology to promote implementation of physical activity breaks and active academics.
Extracurricular Activities
The District shall promote opportunities for students to participate in physical activities before and/or after the school day through clubs, athletics and activities.
V. Other Activities that Promote Student Wellness
The District Wellness Coordinator will encourage the establishment of as well as aid in the implementation of wellness activities across the entire school setting. The District may implement other initiatives that help create a school environment that conveys consistent wellness messages and is conducive to healthy eating and physical activity. Such initiatives may include articles in the District newsletter, parent outreach, employee health and wellness activities, limiting the use of food as a reward, reviewing food marketing and advertising in school (ensuring adherence to Policy 1511) and hosting or promoting community-wide events such as health forums and/or fairs.
The SHAC will serve as an available resource for school personnel who pursue federal, state or association grants and funding opportunities in the area of health and wellness.
Community Partnerships
The District Wellness Coordinator is encouraged to foster relationships with community partners (i.e. hospitals, universities/colleges, local businesses, etc.) in support of this wellness policy’s implementation. Existing and new community partnerships and sponsorships will be evaluated to ensure that they are consistent with the Student Wellness Policy and its goals.
Community Health Promotion and Engagement
The District is encouraged to promote the benefits of and approaches for healthy eating and physical activity throughout the school year to parents/caregivers, families and the general community. Families will be informed and invited to participate in school-sponsored activities and will receive information about health promotion efforts.
As described in the “Community Involvement, Outreach, and Communications” subsection, the District will use electronic mechanisms (such as email or displaying notices on the district’s website), as well as non-electronic mechanisms, (such as newsletters and presentations to parents), to ensure that all families are actively notified of opportunities to participate in school-sponsored activities and receive information about health promotion efforts.
Staff Wellness and Health Promotion
The SHAC is encouraged to have a Staff Wellness subcommittee that focuses on staff wellness issues, identifies and disseminates wellness resources, and performs other functions that support staff wellness in coordination with human resources staff.
The District Wellness Coordinator will encourage the establishment of as well as aid in the implementation of wellness activities across the entire school setting. The District may implement other initiatives that help create a school environment that conveys consistent wellness messages and is conducive to healthy eating and physical activity. Such initiatives may include articles in the District newsletter, parent outreach, employee health and wellness activities, limiting the use of food as a reward, reviewing food marketing and advertising in school (ensuring adherence to Policy 1511) and hosting or promoting community-wide events such as health forums and/or fairs.
The SHAC will serve as an available resource for school personnel who pursue federal, state or association grants and funding opportunities in the area of health and wellness.
Community Partnerships
The District Wellness Coordinator is encouraged to foster relationships with community partners (i.e. hospitals, universities/colleges, local businesses, etc.) in support of this wellness policy’s implementation. Existing and new community partnerships and sponsorships will be evaluated to ensure that they are consistent with the Student Wellness Policy and its goals.
Community Health Promotion and Engagement
The District is encouraged to promote the benefits of and approaches for healthy eating and physical activity throughout the school year to parents/caregivers, families and the general community. Families will be informed and invited to participate in school-sponsored activities and will receive information about health promotion efforts.
As described in the “Community Involvement, Outreach, and Communications” subsection, the District will use electronic mechanisms (such as email or displaying notices on the district’s website), as well as non-electronic mechanisms, (such as newsletters and presentations to parents), to ensure that all families are actively notified of opportunities to participate in school-sponsored activities and receive information about health promotion efforts.
Staff Wellness and Health Promotion
The SHAC is encouraged to have a Staff Wellness subcommittee that focuses on staff wellness issues, identifies and disseminates wellness resources, and performs other functions that support staff wellness in coordination with human resources staff.
VI. Wellness Policy Monitoring, Accountability, and Community Engagement
Evaluating and Updating the Policy
The SWP will be assessed and periodically updated by the School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) every three years to ensure:
1. Compliance with any new regulations.
2. Responsiveness to school community input.
3. District wellness activities and practices, as evidenced by periodic evaluation, are adherent to the Policy.
4. Changes are made if new health science, information and/or technology emerges.
5. Each school will utilize an evaluative tool on a biennial basis and report results to the student wellness coordinator.
Community Involvement, Outreach and Communications
The Student Wellness Coordinator will periodically notify the community of updates through means such as newsletters, the district website and/or email. The District will ensure that communications are accomplished through means similar to the methods the District and individual schools communicate other important school information with parents.
Ref: P.L. 111-296 (The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010)
P.L. 111-296 (The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010)
P.L. 108-265 (Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004)
42 USC §§1758(f)(1); 1766(a) (Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act)
42 USC §1779 (Child Nutrition Act)
7 CFR §210.10; 210.11; 210.11a (National School Lunch Program participation
requirements – standards for lunches, snacks, and competitive foods)
7 CFR §220.8 (School Breakfast Program participation requirements – nutrition
standards)
8 NYCRR Part 135 (Health and Physical Education curricular requirements); §114.1 (School Breakfast Program Requirements)
Appeal of Phillips, 37 EDR 204 (1997) (dec. no. 13,843)
Appeal of Williams, 32 EDR 621 (1993) (dec. no. 12,934) Smarter Lunchrooms
Movement: www.smarterlunchrooms.org
Adoption date: June 6, 2000
Revision date: November 15, 2016
Revision date: September 19, 2017
Revision date: June 24, 2019