2024-2025 Free & Reduced Price Application

All students with a reduced eligibility status for the school year 2024-2025 are entitled to one free lunch per day and High Schools students are entitled to one free breakfast per day.
The roll over period for the prior school year ends on 10/1/2024.  Please reapply prior to 10/1/2024.

You can mail the application to Jacki Kulikowski, c/o Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Rd, Sandy Hook, CT  06482.  Questions can be directed to Jacki Kulikowski @ 203-270-6134 or by email.

2024-2025 Free & Reduced Application Form (PDF)

What is the cost of the student meal?

Elementary Lunch	$3.10
Reed Intermediate Lunch	$3.35
Middle School Lunch	$3.35
High School Lunch	$3.60
Breakfast (High School & Middle School)	$2.45

How does a student pay for his/her meal?

Parents are encouraged to put money on their child’s account by sending a check to school made out to “Newtown School Foodservice.”  Or going to mySchoolBucks.com  Students can also purchase meals with cash.

What happens if a student forgets his/her meal money?  

Newtwn Public Schools Charge Policy can be found be clicking here.                 

 How do you handle students with food allergies or other dietary problems?

Parents with children with either a food-related disability or one that is not labeled as a disability should provide written documentation to the school nurse.  Pertinent information will then be forwarded to the foodservice department.  This will contain a physician’s signed statement, including:  an explanation of the disability, food allergy and/or food intolerance; the food or foods to be avoided, and the food or choice of foods that must be substituted.

From this point, the parent and child should review the monthly menu and discuss possible meal selections.  Contact the Resident Dietitian to discuss if any of the selections would be prohibited.  Reasonable accommodations will be made so that your child receives a nutritious complete meal.

Is milk the only beverage allowed with the meal?

Offer vs. server allows the student to decline two food items that are available with the meal with the exception of either a fruit or vegetable.  Please note that a fruit or vegetable portion must be chosen with each complete meal.  Students are encouraged to take milk with their meal unless the student has an allergy or intolerance to dairy.  In this case, he/she may take a 4 ounce 100% juice as one of his/her fruit selections.

Foods designated by the USDA as foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV) cannot be sold or given away as free promotional items during the meal period in areas where the school meals are served and eaten.  FMNV  fall into the following general categories: soda, water ice and popsicles, chewing gum, hard candy, jellies and gums, marshmallows, fondant, licorice, spun candy, and candy coated popcorn.  Certain states have legislated specific nutritional guidelines, which are more restrictive.  Please see “Healthy Schools Bill” for Connecticut’s legislation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Are other foods sold during the school meal?

The USDA defines foods “sold in competition with the school meal program” as competitive foods.  These foods might be sold as ala Carte menu items and snack foods and beverages.  Examples of ala Carte and snack foods eligible for sale as competitive foods include, but are not limited to: sandwiches and other entrees, breakfast bars, cookies, desserts, chips and pretzels, fruit bars, bottled water, bottled juice and bottled milk.  The option to have these items available to students is decided upon by the Local Educational Agency (LEA.)  

Connecticut State Statute requires that “No extra food items anywhere on campus from ½ hour before and after any state or federally subsidized milk or food service program can be sold.  Extra foods means tea (including iced tea), coffee, soft drinks, and candy. Income from sales of any foods served on campus during this time must accrue to the food service account.”

Head O'Meadow HUSSC Award (in PDF)
Middle Gate HUSSC Award (in PDF)
Hawley HUSSC Award (in PDF)
Sandy Hook HUSSC Award

1.  Are there specific requirements for the nutritional content of school meals?

Approximately 95% of all public schools in the United States, including Newtown Public Schools, participate in the National School Lunch Program.  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Food and Nutrition Service administers the program at the federal level, and the Connecticut Department of Education oversees it at the state level.

The nutritional requirements for the reimbursable meals must meet federal nutrition standards for specific age and/or grade groups. 

LUNCH:

• 1/3 of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for calories, protein, calcium, iron, Vitamin A and Vitamin C.
• No more than 30% total calories from fat and 10% total calories from saturated fat (and trans fats).

BREAKFAST:

• ¼ of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for calories, protein, calcium, iron, Vitamin A and Vitamin C.
• No more than 30% total calories from fat and 10% total calories from saturated fat (and trans fats).

2.  How do you plan the school menus?

Schools participating in the federal programs must meet the nutritional requirements by choosing one of four systems for their menu planning:

Traditional Food-Based Menu Planning:

Under this approach, schools must comply with specific components and quantity requirements by offering five (5) food items from four (4) food components (meat/meat alternates, fruits and/or vegetables, breads/grains and milk).  Minimum portion sizes are established by ages and grade groups.

Enhanced Food-Based Menu Planning:

This approach is a slight variation of the Traditional Menu Planning approach.  The design is similar, but the component quantities for weekly servings of vegetables, fruits, grains and breads are increased.

Nutrient Standard Menu Planning:

Also referred to as “NuMenus”, this approach is a computer-based menu planning system that uses approved computer software to analyze the specific nutrient content of menu items automatically while menus are being planned.

Assisted Nutrient Standard Menu Planning Approach:

Also referred to as “Assisted NuMenus”, this approach is a variation of NuMenus.  An outside source plans and analyzes a menu based on local needs and preferences.

Newtown Public Schools follows the Traditional Food-Based Menu Planning Approach.

3.      Must a student eat the entire meal available?

Not necessarily.  By law, the option of Offer versus Serve (OVS) is required for senior high school grades (grade 9 – 12) for lunch, but optional for breakfast.  The purpose is to avoid excess food waste and allow for more meal flexibility and variety.  For an OVS meal to qualify for federal reimbursement, it must contain a minimum of certain menu item combinations.  Offer versus Serve is optional for lunch and breakfast at the lower grade levels.  The decision is made by the Local Educational Agency. 

If your child has a dietary condition and they would like to participate in the school lunch program, please:

1.  See the school nurse to ensure proper documentation is on file.

2.  Have your physician fill out the medical statement in this document:
http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/DEPS/Student/NutritionEd/AccommodatingSpecialDiets.pdf

MEDICAL STATEMENT FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/DEPS/Nutrition/MedicalDisabilitiesCN.pdf

MEDICAL STATEMENT FOR CHILDREN WITHOUT DISABILITES
http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/DEPS/Nutrition/MedicalNoDisabilitiesCN.pdf
 

Student Nutrition and Physical Activity (Student Wellness Policy)

The Board of Education of the Newtown Public Schools strives to promote healthy schools by supporting wellness, good nutrition and regular physical activity as a part of the total learning environment. The District strives to provide a healthy environment where children learn and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices. The District will facilitate learning through the support and promotion of good nutrition and physical activity in order to contribute to the basic health status of children. Improved health optimizes student performance potential and ensures that no child is left behind.  

A.      The District will support and promote proper dietary habits contributing to   students’ health status and academic performance.  Healthy eating is demonstrably linked to reduced risk for mortality and development of many chronic diseases as adults. To promote the health and well-being of all students, it is the policy of the Board of Education to:

1.  Ensure that all children have access to adequate and healthy food choices on scheduled school days at reasonable prices.   

2.  Encourage and promote a healthy lifestyle for students by supporting the implementation of nutritionally adequate, educationally sound and financially accountable school food and nutrition programs.                                                                                                         

3.  Coordinate school food service with this policy to reinforce messages about healthy eating and to insure that foods offered promote good nutrition and contribute to the development of lifelong, healthy eating habits.                                                                    

4.  Involve family members and the community in supporting and reinforcing nutrition education and the promotion of healthy eating and lifestyles.  

5.    Support and promote proper dietary habits contributing to students' health status and academic performance. Foods available on school grounds and at school-sponsored activities during the instructional day should meet or exceed the District Nutrition Standards. The District operates under the National School Lunch program regulations at all schools, National School Breakfast regulations at the High School, and the Special Milk program regulations for kindergartners.  The full meal program will follow the U.S. Government’s Nutrition Standards. Beverages available for sale during school hours will be restricted to comply with state law and will be defined in the regulations.  

6.  Emphasis should be placed on foods that are nutrient dense per calorie. Foods should be served with consideration toward variety, appeal, taste, safety and packaging to ensure high quality meals.

B.  Provide a comprehensive learning environment for developing and practicing lifelong wellness behaviors. The entire school environment, not just the classroom, shall be aligned with healthy school goals to positively influence a student's understanding, beliefs and habits as they relate to good nutrition and regular physical activity. A healthy school environment should not be dependent on revenue from high-fat, low nutrient foods to support school programs.

1.      The District shall provide physical activity and physical education opportunities, aligned with the Connecticut Physical Education Framework, that provide students with the knowledge and skills to lead a physically active lifestyle.                                                    

a.  Physical education classes and physical activity opportunities will be available for all students.                                                                                                                           

b.  Physical activity opportunities shall he offered before school, during school (recess) or after school.  Students in grades k through 5 shall have daily opportunities for physical exercise.                                                                                                                          

c.  School leaders of physical activity and physical education shall guide students through a process that will enable them to achieve and maintain a high level of personal fitness through the following:

·        Expose youngsters to a wide variety of physical activities

·        Teach physical skills to help maintain a lifetime of health and fitness

·        Individualize intensity of activities

·        Focus feedback on process of doing your best rather than on product

·        Be active role models

·        Introduce developmentally appropriate components of a health-related fitness assessment to the students at an early age in order to track progress

2.      Include in the District’s health education curriculum state and local curriculum standards that include both nutrition and physical education. Educators, administrators, parents, health practitioners and communities must all acknowledge the critical role student health plays in academic stamina and performance and adapt the school environment to ensure students' basic nourishment and activity needs are met.

3.      Provide school staff involved in nutrition education and in supporting a healthy school environment, with adequate pre-service and ongoing in-service training that focuses on strategies for behavioral change.

a.       Ensure that students in grades pre-K – 12 receive nutrition education that is interactive and teaches the skills students need to adopt healthy eating behaviors.

b.      Offer nutrition education in the District’s cafeterias as well as in the classroom, with coordination between the food service staff and teachers.

c.       Provide consistent nutrition messages to students throughout the school, classroom, cafeteria, home, community and media.

d.      Involve parents, students and the community in nutrition education standards.

C.  Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of this policy in promoting healthy eating and change the program as appropriate to increase its effectiveness.

1.      Child Wellness Advisory Committee

a.       District-wide wellness committee shall be established for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of the District’s wellness policy and its nutrition and physical activity components; evaluating policy progress, serving as a resource to school sites and for recommending revisions of the policy, through the Superintendent or his/her designee, as determined necessary.  The committee shall meet a minimum of two times yearly.

b.      The members of the Committee shall include, but need not be limited to, board members, school administrators, food service directors, food service staff, other staff, parents/guardians, students, physical and health education teachers, dieticians, health care professionals and interested community members.

c.       In developing such policies on nutrition and physical activity, the committee shall hold at least one public meeting and shall ensure that the policies address the issues contained in applicable state and federal statutes.

d.      At the District level, the Board designates the Assistant Superintendent with the operational responsibility for ensuring that each school meets the requirements of the district wellness policy. In addition, the Principal of each school, or his/her designee, shall be responsible for the implementation and evaluation of the effectiveness of this wellness policy. The policy shall be continually reviewed, at least biannually, to determine if it is meeting current needs and is workable in promoting healthy eating and physical activity.

e.       At the school level the implementation of the wellness policy will be evaluated as described below.

         i.      Board policy and the accompanying administrative regulation are implemented as written; 

ii.      Teachers deliver nutrition education through age-appropriate, culturally relevant, participatory activities that include social learning strategies and activities;

iii.      Teachers and school nutrition and food services personnel have undertaken joint project planning and action;

iv.      Teachers have received curriculum-specific training; and                                         

v.      Families and community organizations are involved, to the extent practicable, in nutrition education.

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes

10-16b Prescribed courses of study.

10-215 Lunches, breakfasts and the feeding programs for public school children and employees.

10-221 Boards of education to prescribe rules, policies and procedures.

10-215a Non-public school participation in feeding program.

10-215b Duties of state board of education re: feeding programs.

10-216 Payment of expenses.

10-215b-1 State board of education regulation. Competitive foods

PA 04-224 An Act Concerning Childhood Nutrition in Schools, Recess, and Lunch Breaks

National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program; Competitive Foods. (7 CFR Parts 210 and 220, Federal Register, Vol. 45, No. 20, Tuesday, January 29, 1980, pp. 6758-6772)

The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Public Law 108-265

Policy adopted: June 6, 2006

Youth Advisory Committees (Y.A.C.) 

 

Purpose:  

Our primary customers are the students we serve.  It is important that we have a good rapport and open communication with our customers and an excellent means of doing that is the establishment of Y.A.C. (Youth Advisory Committee).  The purpose of Y.A.C. is to:

·   Promote good nutrition habits among our students.

·   Simulate interest and support for the foodservice program by students, teachers and parents.

·   Provide student assistance with foodservice promotions.

·   Encourage careers in foodservice.

·   Serve as a communication bridge between students, foodservice and school administration.

·   Make the foodservice program the best it can be.

·   Act as a sounding board for questions, praises and constructive criticism.

Y.A.C. committees are also a requirement set forth in the USDA program regulations.

Our goal is to have one Y.A.C. at the High School, Middle School, and Reed Intermediate School.  A Y.A.C. meeting consists of the student committee, teacher advisor, resident dietitian, foodservice director, and cafeteria manager of that particular school.  In the past, the student council/government has served as the Y.A.C.  If you are a 5th-12th grade student in Newtown and are interested in being involved on the Y.A.C. committee, please contact us.