Child Nutrition
Introduction
A successful nutrition program is a key component to a successful educational environment. Children cannot focus on learning when they are hungry. School meals boost learning, and studies show that students perform best academically when they are well nourished. The District continues to provide school lunch in compliance with Child Nutrition Program requirements and in accordance with all applicable health and safety guidelines. We continue to make accommodations for students with known food allergies regardless of where the school lunch is served.
Elementary Lunch Procedures
The Nassau County Department of Health has advised us that we are permitted to reduce physical distancing in our cafeterias. Each building will retain a few desks in their cafeterias for those students who are more comfortable sitting physically distanced. Initially, to maintain reduced density as a mitigation measure, we will continue the rotation of students into the cafeteria at each elementary school. We will monitor the effect of this configuration for two weeks to see if there is an impact on the number of positive cases. If we continue to see low positivity rates, students in all three buildings will return to the cafeterias and resume normal food service operations.
School lunch is pre-ordered and delivered to the classroom or cafeteria by employees wearing single use gloves and a disposable apron.
To support communities during the pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the NY State Education Department have announced the continuation of a program for the provision of FREE MEALS to ALL children through the end of June, 2022. All school lunches at Munsey Park and Shelter Rock that qualify as a complete meal will be FREE for ALL children, regardless of income status or qualification for free and reduced meals.
As noted in Board of Education policy, parents/guardians are responsible to identify and notify the teachers and staff of any known food allergies. The school nurse will develop and initiate an individualized emergency care plan (ECP) for each student at risk for anaphylaxis that is based on Board of Education policy.
Staff will direct students to exercise good hand hygiene before and after eating.
Sharing of food and beverages is discouraged.
Secondary Breakfast/Lunch Procedures
The Nassau County Department of Health has advised us that we are permitted to reduce physical distancing in our cafeterias. Each building will retain a few desks in their cafeterias for those students who are more comfortable sitting physically distanced. Initially, to maintain reduced density as a mitigation measure, we will maintain two cafeteria locations at the secondary school. We will monitor the effect of this configuration for two weeks to see if there is an impact on the number of positive cases. If we continue to see low positivity rates, students in all three buildings will return to the cafeterias and resume normal food service operations.
Breakfast is available in the cafeteria.
11th and 12th graders continue to exercise off campus privileges during their lunch period, if they choose to do so.
To support communities during the pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the NY State Education Department have announced the continuation of a program for the provision of FREE MEALS to ALL children through the end of June, 2022. School breakfast and lunch at the Secondary School that qualify as a complete meal will be FREE for ALL children, regardless of income status or qualification for free and reduced meals.
As noted in Board of Education policy, parents/guardians are responsible to identify and notify the teachers and staff of any known food allergies. The school nurse will develop and initiate an individualized emergency care plan (ECP) for each student at risk for anaphylaxis that is based on Board of Education policy.
Students must exercise good hand hygiene before and after eating.
The District disinfects all countertops, serving lines after each serving sessions.