The food service department has many issues to face each day. One of the most important is the growing problem with childhood obesity and the role we play in trying to teach the students how to make healthy food choices.  The food products we have served in the past and continue to serve always meet or exceed our governing agency the United States Department of Agriculture’s requirements based on the food guide pyramid for the age appropriate group.

With the overwhelming reports in the past few years of the increase of childhood diseases such as diabetes that are linked to childhood obesity we felt we needed to take our school lunches a step further. So after much discussion and planning at the beginning of the 2004-2005 school year we began offering additional healthy entrée’s to every student at every grade level.  Students have a choice of a large salad that includes meat and/or cheese and bread/grain servings; sandwiches with low fat meat on whole wheat bread, white or sub buns; tortilla wrapped sandwiches with low fat ingredients and other daily manager’s specials at lunch.  The student may choose any one of the entrée’s offered. All entrée’s meet or exceed the requirements set forth by USDA.

The cafeteria in each school also has three fruits and three vegetables to choose from each day and one fruit must be a fresh fruit. Students are encouraged to choose a minimum of one fruit and one vegetable for lunch along with their entrée, milk and bread item offered.

The Food Service Department would like to invite all parents to have lunch with their child and sample the nutritious and exciting choices available each day.

THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT
SCHOOL LUNCH/BREAKFAST GUIDELINES 2007-2008

The food service department has available free/reduced applications every day that school is in session. The applications may be filled out at anytime during the school year. The application will be processed within 10 working days and the parent notified of any benefits that the student qualifies for in the school lunch program.

No charges are allowed at VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL.

VIRGINIA MIDDLE SCHOOL students who are not on free or reduced lunch will be allowed to charge three days meals for a total of $7.50 (3 breakfasts and 3 lunches) only. Students at VMS will not be allowed to purchase any extras such as ice cream, etc. in the cafeteria if they have an outstanding charge balance.

Elementary students who are not on free or reduced lunch are allowed to charge for a total of $11.00 (5 lunches and 5 breakfasts) when they do not have enough in their account to purchase meals. When a student reaches the $11.00 cut off amount and still does not have money, he or she will be given the opportunity to call a parent or guardian to bring money and/or will be given a sandwich and milk at no charge. In order to be fair to all parents who pay we must have payment for outstanding charges within the next three days during which the student will continue to receive the sandwich/milk lunch. The Food Service manager will contact the parent by phone either at home or in the workplace. Food Service managers will send notices home concerning charges at least once weekly, usually on Friday.  No extras (except ice cream on specified days for your school) will be purchased by the student until all outstanding charges are paid.  For example a student has 50 cents and tries to purchase an item in addition to his or her lunch, this will not be allowed and the money will be applied to the lunch being purchased or the outstanding charges.

Food Service managers will be responsible for notifying students either themselves or through the cashier when the student’s account reaches $2.50 so the student may bring money for the account. Food Service Managers will be held accountable for informing students of charges or situations where money is applied to charges in a professional and courteous manner so as not to embarrass the student.

We strongly encourage placing money in your child’s account once a week, once a month or even for the whole year instead of sending the daily amount each day. When paying into a child’s account the easiest way to accomplish that is by check made out to the Food Service Department of your child’s school. Cash is frequently lost or spent on other items when intended for lunch or breakfast. If you know your child’s lunch PIN number you may place it on the check as well.

Please contact the Food Service Office at 276-821-5614 or 5643 if you have any questions or need assistance.

 Food Service Contact Information

***In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or retaliation.  If you require this information in alternative format (Braille, large print, audiotape) contact the USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice or TDD).  To file a complaint alleging discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992.

TDD users can contact USDA through local relay or the Federal relay at (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (relay voice users).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.