O.S.S.U. School Nutrition Program
2011-2012 School Year
Karen J. Russo, SNP Director
Our school is committed to providing nutritious, well-balanced breakfast and lunch meals to all students. Students are offered many choices and most often find something they like! Menus are published monthly, distributed through classrooms, published weekly in the Herald and on the O.S.S.U. website.
Students wishing to eat breakfast should plan to arrive at 7:30 so as not to take away from class time. In addition to this program, all students are scheduled for a twenty-minute lunch period with their classmate.
For the 2011-2012 school year Breakfast is free for children that receive reduced lunches. Milk and juice are available for snack time and for students bringing bag lunches at a cost of $.30 per carton.
Free and reduced priced meals are available for students whose families meet the federal income guidelines. Applications for eligibility are available in the office and you may apply anytime. Many federal funds are distributed to schools based on the number of students eligible for free/reduced price meals, so we encourage parents to review the income guidelines and apply if they believe their children may be eligible.
The School Nutrition Program has a “No Charge” policy. Children are not allowed to charge breakfast or lunch. However, if a child forgets his/her lunch at home, a meal will be provided so that the child does not go hungry. A bill will be sent home for that meal.
An unpaid meal places a financial strain on our program and reduces our revenue that affects the ability to pay bills. Our revenue is generated by student and adult sales along with federal reimbursements based on the number of meals we serve only! It is the parent’s responsibility to make sure that their child’s account remains at a positive balance at all times.
Student accounts are established in our computer system for all students. PIN numbers are assigned. Parents are encouraged to send money in, in advance, and to signup for lunches a week ahead of time, using our “order forms.” If there is money left in a child’s lunch account at the end of the school year, it will be held until the following year unless parents request a refund, in writing, before the end of the year.
Occasionally, we will have students who skip lunch on a regular basis. These students will be referred to the school nurse and parents will be notified if it is deemed appropriate.