Food Services

The South Country Central School District is pleased to be implementing the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2023-2024 school year. All students enrolled in the district, regardless of income level, are eligible to receive a healthy school breakfast and lunch at no charge each day. No further action is required of families. Students will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application!

The free and reduced meal applications no longer need to be filled out. While all students are eligible for a free breakfast and lunch, additional a la carte items may be purchased with cash.

The CEP is a new alternative to the traditional meal application process associated with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs. The CEP alleviates the burden on families by eliminating household applications, while helping schools reduce costs associated with collecting and processing those applications.

For more information about the CEP, please click here.

Dear Families,

The beginning of the school year is approaching and we would like to extend a warm welcome to let you know that Whitsons School Nutrition has exciting plans for the school meal program. Our goal is to serve nutritious, well-balanced meals that appeal to students and the school community. We are pleased to provide a comprehensive school dining program at South Country Central School District that meets the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program requirements and engages students in developing a positive attitude on healthy eating.

At Whitsons we have gone back to a time when good food was simple. As part of our Simply Rooted® Food Philosophy we are focused on using ingredients that are locally sourced, all-natural, organic or non-GMO, and minimally processed, whenever possible. We’ve gone back to our roots and we would like the entire  South Country Central School District school community to join us on this journey.

Here is some information that will be helpful to begin the new school year:

SCHOOL MEALS

Our interactive menus may be found online at www.fdmealplanner.com.  Interactive menus provide you with nutritional and allergen information you need to plan your child(ren)s’ school meals.

SIMPLY SAFE DINING

Dine with us stress free! In accordance with the Center for Disease Control and Department of Health, Whitsons School Nutrition has very strict food safety practices and procedures in place for when handling food and sanitizing cafeterias, kitchens and serving areas. Students’ safety is our number one priority, so let us take the mealtime worry out of your back-to-school experience!

SIMPLY ROOTED® CAFES

Our interactive healthy eating program motivates and inspires students to consider the many benefits healthy eating and exercise have on their growing bodies and minds. With Simply Rooted®, we are embarking on a movement to help students develop positive self-esteem and healthy eating habits by making a connection between attitudes and living healthy. It’s all about making the connection between food and healthy eating habits.

 At elementary schools, our award-winning Nutrition Safari® program will introduce younger students to lovable animal characters to teach them about selecting healthy choices from each different food group for a well-balanced diet. The program’s mission is to encourage students to develop lifelong healthy eating practices.

At secondary schools, monthly Flaves and special event Pop-up Shops will feature trendy menus items and activities to engage older students. Whitsons has also invested in professional signage and merchandising that creates a food court-style environment. It’s like going out to lunch without ever leaving the building. Our goal is to entice students to make nutritious and delicious meal choices.

OTHER INFORMATION:

We ‘re excited about our partnership with South Country Central School District hope to provide a great program while becoming part of the South Country community.

Your opinion matters to us.  If you have any suggestions for the school nutrition program, please contact Whitsons’ General Manager, Debbie Tomasello at Tomasellod@whitsons.com. We are here to serve you and your child(ren)’s needs and look forward to being a part of your community for many years to come.

Sincerely,
Debbie Tomasello

Food Service Director

Do you need help buying groceries? SNAP may be able to help. SNAP provides monthly benefits to buy food at grocery stores and farmers markets. SNAP can help kids get the nutrition they need. To see if your family may be eligible, visit http://bit.ly/snaphelpli and answer just a few questions. In less than 5 minutes, you will learn if you may be eligible and how to apply for SNAP. Hunger Solutions New York can also help you complete and submit your application. It is free and confidential.

¿Necesitas ayuda para comprar comestibles? SNAP puede ayudar. SNAP brinda beneficios mensuales para comprar alimentos en supermercados y mercados de agricultores. SNAP puede ayudar a los niños a obtener la nutrición que necesitan. Para ver si su familia puede ser elegible, visite http://bit.ly/snaphelpli y responda algunas preguntas. En menos de 5 minutos, sabrá si puede ser elegible y cómo solicitar SNAP. Hunger Solutions New York también puede ayudarlo a completar y enviar su solicitud. Es gratis y confidencial. 

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: Click Here, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

3. email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.