PAYMENTS

Parent/Guardians are responsible for providing meals or money for their student(s). If purchasing a meal from us, students are expected to pay for meals at the time of service. Charging is not usually permitted by the district, but on those occasions that a student does not have money, the student will be offered a hot lunch or an alternate meal. Repayment for charged meals is expected the following day. Please consider prepaying on your student(s) account(s) to prevent the need for borrowing or charging. Also consider prepaying even if your child normally brings lunch from home so that when a lunch is forgotten they can easily obtain one at school without worry. We do not allow students to borrow or charge snack or a la carte purchases.

There are three ways to pay for school meals and a la carte purchases.

1. Cash: We accept cash in any amount at the register.

2. Check: Please make checks payable to “Simsbury Public School Cafeterias”. Please note the student(s) name(s) in the note section of the check and the amount to be deposited in each account if the check is for more than one student at that school. Sorry but we cannot deposit funds from one check in multiple schools.

3. Online through School Cafe Family Hub - See above 

There is a $25.00 fee for returned checks. Repayment of returned checks and the fee is expected without delay.  

ACCOUNTS

Every student is assigned a Personal Identification Number, or PIN, when they start school in Simsbury. This provides each student with their own personal account to use when receiving meals and a la carte snacks in the cafeteria. All students are required to enter in their PIN when making purchases in the cafeteria. This PIN will remain with the student from grade to grade, school to school. The Point-Of-Sale system allows us to provide faster meal service, identify students with allergies and food restrictions, prevents lost or forgotten money and allows parents to put controls on their child’s purchases. It will also track what your student is purchasing. Any money left at the end of the school year will carry forward to the next grade level and school.

If your child qualifies for free or reduced meals, this information is noted in the Point-Of-Sale system and the meal will be processed just as they are for all other students without any special indication to the student.

The Nutrition Services Department of Simsbury Public Schools follows all meal requirements for school breakfast and lunch as established by the final rule, Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. This rule was issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in conformance with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 which includes:

• Ensure students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day
• Offer whole grain-rich foods
• Offer only fat-free or low-fat milk
• Limit calories based on the age being served to ensure portion size
• Increase the focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fats, added sugars and sodium and zero trans fats

What's for Breakfast?

Realizing that many families do not have time to fit a balanced breakfast into their busy morning schedules or that some children just aren’t ready to eat first thing in the morning, breakfast is now offered in all of our schools. We want to make sure that your child has access to a nutritious breakfast so that they can start their learning day off right. Studies show that children who eat breakfast are more attentive in class, score higher on tests and are healthier than those children who do not eat breakfast. Our breakfast consists of at least one whole grain-rich item, at least one cup of fruits (fresh and canned), 100% fruit juices or vegetables and low fat white or fat free flavored milk. Students must select at least three breakfast items including at least one half cup of fruit, juice or vegetables and full servings of the other food components.

What's for Lunch?

The United States Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program requires that meals meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances for school-aged children. Key nutrients included in lunch require less than 30% of calories from fat, less than 10% of calories from saturated fat, protein, calcium, iron, vitamins A and C. All of our meals are baked, roasted or steamed; we do not have fryers in any of our kitchens. Our nutritious, well balanced lunches include an entrée, vegetable choices, fruit choices, whole grain-rich grains, and low-fat white or fat-free flavored milk. Students may take three, four or five of these items but they must choose at least one half cup of fruits or vegetables and full servings of the other food components.

A wide variety of fresh and canned fruits and fresh, cut vegetables are offered daily including locally grown and seasonal produce whenever possible. We hope that by providing a rainbow of colorful fruits and vegetables every day students will find something to enjoy, and also may try something new. If a student chooses not to take a fruit or a vegetable serving with their meal they will be charged a la carte prices for the components that they do take.

Nutrition information is available for all food items. Please contact the Director of Nutrition Services to set up an appointment to review nutrition labels.

A la Carte Milk - Fat-Free or Low-Fat

8 oz. carton $0.75

*Any milk that is not part of the free meal will  be charged .75

Additional Entree

• Elementary $1.50
• Middle School $2.00–$2.50
• High School $2.00–$2.50

A la Carte Sides

Fruits & Veggies $0.75

A la Carte Snacks

$0.50 - $3.00

A variety of a la carte items (cookies, chips, crackers, ice cream, 100% fruit juices, water, fruits, vegetables, yogurt, etc.) are provided for purchase at all of our schools. Since its inception in 2006, Simsbury has participated in the State of Connecticut’s Healthy Food Certification program. Snacks and beverages provided for sale follow the Connecticut State Department of Education’s (CSDE) Nutrition Standards for all items sold to students separately from reimbursable school meals. Please note that the Connecticut Nutrition Standards meet or exceed the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) final rule on competitive foods, National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in School that went into effect nationwide in conformance with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 on July 1, 2014.

Application forms for Free or Reduced priced meals are available from your student(s) school office, from our Nutrition Services office at the Board of Education or online. A new application must be completed at the beginning of each school year.

Free & Reduced Meals Information Packet 2024-2025

Free & Reduced Meals Application 2024-2025

Sharing Information with Other Programs Consent Form 2024-2025

Information on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Access Health CT - Husky Health and Dental Insurance

NOTE: We are not responsible for lost applications. Once we receive a completed application at the Nutrition Services office we have ten business days to process the application. Normally we process all complete applications within twenty four hours of receipt. The Parent/Guardian is responsible for paying for all meals a student receives prior to being approved for free or reduced meal benefits.

Applications for free and reduced price meals approved during prior school years have a grace period of 30 school days before expiring the following school year. Although we encourage you to apply for benefits early, we can assure you that students who qualified during the school year will be extended the same meal benefit until we receive a new application the following school year or until the thirtieth school day, sometime in October.

If your situation changes at any time during the school year, we always accept and process applications for free or reduced meal benefits.

Sharing of Free and Reduced Eligibility Information

We realize that the information that you share with us in order to obtain free or reduced meals is very important and confidential. We do not share any of this information with anyone. However, if you qualify for free or reduced meal benefits you may also be eligible for free or reduced fee waivers for certain programs in our district. We must have your permission in writing in order to share your free or reduced meal eligibility status only with other groups. To save you time and effort, please complete the “Sharing Information with Other Programs” form included with the meal application.

Simsbury Social Services

There are additional resources available from Simsbury Social Services for those who have qualified for free and reduced meals which includes food pantry availability.

https://www.simsbury-ct.gov>social-service

Our Nutrition Services office is located at the Board of Education at 933 Hopmeadow Street. We are available Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and are happy to assist you with all of your questions about school meals.

Bonnie Anderson, Director of Nutrition Services
860-323-8152
banderson@simsburyschools.net

Sandy Hayes, Bookkeeper/Secretary
860-323-8147
Shayes@simsburyschools.net

REFUNDS OR ACCOUNT TRANSFERS

For refunds or account transfers, please send a written note or an email to us at the Board of Education. Make sure to tell us your student(s) name(s) and school(s) with your request. Please consider donating your refund to Simsbury families in need. Please see more information about our "Simsbury Caring and Sharing" program on this site.

For questions specific to your child’s account purchases, balances or payments please contact the school directly:

Childhood food insecurity remains at unacceptable levels across the country, and children are most acutely at risk in the summer when they do not have access to school meals.

Any children age eighteen and younger may visit Open Summer Meal sites anywhere in the state to receive a free meal. The following link will help you locate the nearest participating free summer meal site:

We are currently accepting applications for part time Nutrition Services Staff for the upcoming school year.
Positions are 2-4 hours per school day - $16.20 per hour. Get the kids off to school and be home before they get home in the afternoon! Apply On-line today!

As part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 the USDA has developed professional standards for all school nutrition employees. Our staff includes many members that have completed and passed the ServSafe® food safety training program. We currently hold a staff training workshop at the beginning of each school year for all Nutrition Services staff. This meeting includes a refresher class in safe food handling given by Farmington Valley Health District staff members as well as training given by our Health Services Department. We also have monthly Manager’s Meetings to further train, develop and inform our staff about the ever-changing requirements in school nutrition.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement for Child Nutrition Programs

mail:   U.S. Department of Agriculture
                 Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
                 1400 Independence Avenue, SW
                 Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

fax:      (202) 690-7442; or (833) 256-1665

email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

________________________________________________________

Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE)

The State of Connecticut Department of Education is committed to a policy of equal opportunity/affirmative action for all qualified persons. The Department of Education does not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability (including, but not limited to, intellectual disability, past or present history of mental disorder, physical disability or learning disability), genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by Connecticut state and/or federal nondiscrimination laws. The Department of Education does not unlawfully discriminate in employment and licensing against qualified persons with a prior criminal conviction. 

6114.2 Student Nutrition and Physical Activity (Student Wellness Policy)

6114.3 Advisory Council on Wellness

School Wellness Policy Report (June 2022)

Going on a field trip...? Bring us with you!

Bag lunches are available for purchase for any student going on a field trip. Please fill out the Bag Lunch Order Form available from your school or online (see below) and return it to your child’s teacher at least one week prior to the field trip. Bag lunches can be purchased with cash or with funds from the students account or are free or reduced for those qualifying students.

Bag Lunch Order Form

SIMSBURY CARING & SHARING is a new program that is being introduced in which school families, teachers, support staff, administrators and members of the community can donate money to help provide school breakfast and/or lunch meals to students in our Simsbury schools that don’t qualify to receive meal benefits from other programs.

Our Nutrition Services Department, working in conjunction with school administration, social workers and psychologists, guidance counselors and Nutrition Services staff are all here to help. Working together we will identify students in need and offer our support by making anonymous contributions to the meal accounts of those students and families who could benefit from a little help and nourishment.

Whether you want to donate the funds left in student accounts who are no longer attending Simsbury schools or you would like to make a contribution to help Simsbury families in need, the SIMSBURY CARING & SHARING fund is available to accept your donation and put it to good use. Checks, made payable to “Simsbury Public Schools Cafeterias”, may be sent to the Nutrition Services Department, Simsbury Public Schools, 933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 06070. Please write “CARING & SHARING” in the memo section of the check.

If you feel your family could use some assistance and would benefit from this program, please call the Nutrition Services Director at 860-323-8152 or reach out to the Social Worker in your school(s). All inquiries and assistance will remain confidential.

Please contact the Nutrition Services Director at 860-323-8152 if you have any questions.