Food Service
NEW POLICY UPDATES Effective November 2nd - Please read
Our Mission
To provide quality, healthful school meals and nutritious snack choices while encouraging good nutrition practices as an integral part of the education of our students.
General Information
The Department of Food Services encourages a healthy lifestyle by providing meals and snacks that contribute to learning about wise food choices. Menus offer a variety of choices from all areas of the Food Guide Pyramid and meet all Federal Guidelines.
South Windsor Schools participate in the federally funded National School Meals Program and the Healthy Food Certification. Therefore meals are offered at reduced or no cost to students whose families qualify financially and have completed all required forms. Contact our office for application.
Meals may be purchased by students and staff and visitors to the school in one of the following ways:
Writing a check?
Checks for a minimum $25.00 should be made out in blue or black ink to: South Windsor School Food Services OR SWSFS. Please put the name of your child/ren (first and last name) for whom the amount is intended in the Note section of check.
Breakfast Information
Breakfast is available in all schools. Students are allowed to come in up to 30 minutes prior to school starting time and join us in the cafeteria for a variety of choices including both hot and cold cereals and breakfast sandwiches, fruit, juice and milk. Please feel free to join your child for breakfast one morning! Students who qualify for free or reduced price lunches, also qualify for breakfast. Students who use their POS account for lunch, may also use it for breakfast! Parents may want to review the limits currently on their child’s account and make changes if necessary. For your convenience, healthy snacks are also sold at this time for students who need a snack for classroom snack time.
Free and Reduced Applications
You may be eligible for free or reduced price meals! Applications are sent as part of the summer mailing and can be completed and returned to the food service office prior to the opening of the school year or at any time during the year if circumstances warrant it. Simply obtain a Free and Reduced Price Meal Lunch Application from your child’s school. Each family need only complete one application, even if there are students at several schools within the district. Students going to the magnet school will get separate information from Two Rivers Middle School. Attached to the application is Addendum B which concerns HUSKY Insurance offered by the Department of Social Services, State of CT. Although we do not handle the application processing, we are providing the information for you. Free and reduced information.
Wellness Policy and School Meal Nutrition Guidelines
During the 2005-06 school year the district Board of Education adopted a Wellness Policy that encompasses both food and exercise in it's scope. The guidelines for food served and sold to students during the school day are provided in the Wellness Policy. In addition, the State of CT legislature passed a new law that restricts beverages provided in schools to milk and 100% juices in portions up to 12 oz and water in any portion. Further this legislation provides for guidelines for foods sold a la carte and in locations other than the meal program area of the school.
High School Parents
The offerings for students at the high school are greatly expanded which means that your student will have more freedom in making his/her meal choices. We suggest that you talk with your student(s) about spending limits and to allow the POS account to be open for both meals and snack to alow your student the flexibility to purchase both meals and items a la carte. The new regulations have changed our menu for the new year and changed the a la carte offerrings to meet the new Department of Education Guidleines for Healthy Foods and Beverages.
Middle School Parents
Our cafeteria offers breakfast prior to the start of the school day. If your student is one of the many who come to school having skipped breakfast, this may be an opportunity for them to get something to eat before classes. If you wish your child to participate in breakfast and use their Point of Sale account, please check any limits you have on the student's account to be sure it includes the price of breakfast as well as lunch. The regulations and our new Wellness Policy have changed our snacks and a la carte offerrings to reflect the guidelines set by the Department of Education.
We go on Field Trips Too!
With so many students using the Point of Sale (POS) system, we want to be sure all parents know that we do prepare bag lunches for any student going on a field trip. We simply ask that parents notify the teacher at least 2 days ahead so that we can have the bag ready before your child leaves on the day of the field trip. These bag lunches can be purchased with cash or account.
Elementary Form Middle School Form
Food Services Links: School Nutrition Association (SNA)
School Nutrition Association of Connecticut
United States Department of Agriculture – Child Nutrition (USDA)
FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
USDA Food and Nutrition Information Center, National Agricultural LIbrary
Dietary Guidelines
5 A Day
Produce for Better Health Foundation
Wheat Foods Council
Institute of Medicine School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children
