SCHOOL LUNCH

EAST PENN SCHOOL DISTRICT FOOD SERVICE GENERAL INFORMATION EMMAUS HIGH SCHOOL 2023-2024 


The district will be returning to free/paid/reduced status for all students next year. Applications must be completed for students to be considered free or reduced meals unless they are directly certified. DO NOT complete an application if you receive a Direct Certification letter.

Meal Procedures

 Students bring his/her food items to the cashier and access his/her meal account by entering his/her student ID number into the number pad, or the cashier will swipe the student’s ID card. Purchases are deducted from the money in the student’s meal account. For a student eligible for Free meals, the computer will recognize that the student does not owe any money for breakfast or lunch; it will simply appear that the meal purchase has been deducted from the student’s account. For a student eligible for Reduced priced meals, the computer will recognize that the student is to be charged the Reduced breakfast or lunch price and will deduct it from the balance of the money that has been deposited into the student’s meal account. A Free and Reduced priced student may purchase à la carte items if he or she has money in his/her meal account. 


Making a Meal

Breakfast – Breakfast is served from 7:00 to 7:25 a.m. daily. If there is a delayed start, breakfast will not be served. A student must take 3 of the 4 offered meal items, and one component must be a fruit in order to “make a meal” to qualify for the $1.65 Paid, $.30 Reduced, and Free meal. The four meal items include: grain, protein, fruit, and milk. Students may take 2 fruits. A student will be charged à la carte prices if he or she does not “make a meal.”

Lunch – A student must take 3 of the 5 offered meal components, and one component must be a fruit or vegetable in order to “make a meal” to qualify for the $3.00  Paid, $.40 Reduced and Free meal. The five meal components include: grain, protein, fruit, vegetable, and milk. A high school student may take 2 fruits and 2 vegetables with his/her lunch. A student will be charged à la carte prices if he or she chooses not to “make a meal.” Instead of the main entrée on the monthly menu, a student may substitute the ethnic or pizza bar, hot grab ‘n go sandwich, or boxed salads and wraps for the same $3.00 Paid and $.40 Reduced lunch price. A la carte drinks including water bottles are available for purchase but may not be substituted for milk for the breakfast or lunch meals. Cups at each cashier station are available for students to fill at a water fountain.

Meal Prices 

Breakfast is $1.65 for Paid students and $.30 for Reduced students. 

Lunch is $3.00 for Paid students and $.40 for Reduced students. 

Domino Pizza Lunch is $3.55 for paid students and $.40 for Reduced students. 

Boars Head Deli Lunch is $3.55 for Paid students and $.40 for Reduced students. 

À la carte items are available ranging in price from $.50 to $3.60. 


Funding your child’s meal account 

Parents can pay with a credit/debit card by going to www.schoolcafe.com/EastPennSD (Please note there is a $1.95 convenience fee associated with this option) or they may send in a check or cash with their child.  Cashiers will enter all prepayments into the child’s meal account. No receipts are given; the cancelled check will serve as the receipt. Checks should be made payable to EPSD Cafeteria Fund. Please include your child’s name and ID # on the check or with your payment. For multiple children (even if they attend different schools), you can include all children’s names and ID numbers on one check, noting the amount you would like deposited into each child’s account. Money in a student’s meal account can only be used for food purchases in the cafeteria and will follow your child every school year. For a student who graduates or withdraws, unless parents request the remaining balance be transferred to another student, parents will receive a refund check by mail if the balance is at least $2.50.

Refunds and Transfer Requests can be completed by submitting the online form entitled Cafeteria Refund/Transfer Funds Request on the Food Service website. Cafeteria balances of $2.50 or more will be mailed within 30 days of a student’s withdrawal from the district. 

SchoolCafe 

Benefits of SchoolCafe:  


Free and Reduced 

The majority of Free students are granted eligibility by Direct Certification. The PA Department of Education provides the district with a Direct Certification list based on the household income and government services families receive. If your child is eligible for Free meals this school year based on Direct Certification, you will receive a Notification of Approval for Free Meals Direct Certification letter in the mail. The first letters are mailed in mid-July. 

*If you wish to refuse this benefit, please contact the Food Service Office and Paid status will be applied. 

If you do not receive a Direct Certification letter prior to the start of the school year, you may apply for Free and Reduced priced meals based on your household income by completing the online Free and Reduced priced meal application at www.schoolcafe.com/EastPennSD or the SchoolCafe mobile app where there are multiple language options. Once your application is received and processed, you will receive a notification letter in the mail and/or email alerting you to your child’s eligibility determination. If your application determination is Reduced or denied and your household income decreases anytime during the year, you may submit another Free and Reduced priced meal application.

 If your child qualifies for Free or Reduced priced meals, the approval will apply to the current school year and the first 30 school days of the next school year (the grace period). A new application will need to be submitted unless you receive a Direct Certification letter. If you do not reapply before the last day of the grace period, your child’s status will revert to Paid on the 31st school day. Notices will be mailed prior to the end of the Grace Period to remind parents to reapply for Free and Reduced meals. 

Completing an application online at www.schoolcafe.com/EastPennSD or the SchoolCafe mobile app is the quickest and most secure way to apply for Free or Reduced priced meals. Free and Reduced paper applications are available to parents without computer access by calling the Food Service Office at 610-966-8309. Applications are available in many languages. Completed paper applications should be returned to the school’s main office or directly to the Food Service Office at 800 Pine St., Emmaus, PA 18049. Please call the Food Service Office with any questions at 610-966-8309. 

Collection of Unpaid Meal Charges/Debt

 School Lunch Debt Students will not be denied a regular reimbursable meal. Students who do not have money with them or in their meal accounts may charge the cost of their meal to their account and debt will accrue. Students are not allowed to purchase A la Carte items if they do not have sufficient funds to cover the amount of the item(s). The district reserves the right to deny a regular reimbursable meal to a student in extenuating circumstances. 

Debt Collection At the beginning of the school year, letters listing money owed will be mailed or emailed by the food service provider or Business Office to any parents/guardians whose children have accrued debt during previous years. Balance reminders will be sent home every two (2) weeks by the food service provider for students who have accrued debt. 

If the debt remains unpaid for two (2) months, the food service provider, building principal or designee will contact the parent/guardian to discuss payment options. 

If the debt remains unpaid for six (6) months, the Superintendent or designee will send a letter to the parent/guardian advising that the debt be referred to a collection agency or legal action be taken. 


Lunch menus will be updated over the summer and can be viewed at: 

Questions regarding meals?

Office Phone: 610-965-1680

·         Office Email:

·         Contact Paul Vlasics—pvlasics@eastpennsd.org


Questions regarding free/reduced applications?

Office Phone 610-966-8309

Contact JoAnn Dugan – jdugan@eastpennsd.org