Food and Nutrition Services

Dear Parents/Guardians,

While the start of the school year looks a little different for everyone, I wanted to share with you some good news that schools nationwide received last week. The USDA extended a waiver that allows schools to serve FREE breakfast and lunch to ALL students, through 12/31/20. We are thrilled with this news as it means that we will be able to provide all Salem Academy Charter School students with nutritious and nourishing food for free that will support them, both in school and at home.

What this means for your family and for Salem Academy –

• Your children, ages 0-21, will receive a healthy breakfast and lunch every day (even weekends), at no cost, in a safe and welcoming environment. This applies to students who are attending classes in school or virtual classes at home, or a hybrid combination of these models.
• You may pick up meals for your children who are remote learners at designated schools or other meal sites that are distributing meals.
• It allows Salem Academy to provide the most nourishing and appetizing meals possible for your children. When your children eat school meals, it helps the school system by providing federal funds to the district. The more meals we serve, the more funding we receive, allowing us to focus on meal quality, variety and innovative practices (new recipes, frozen take home meals, etc.). If your children have never before participated in school meals, consider trying the program this year!
•  It helps you save time and money. By allowing us to prepare meals for your children you don’t have to plan and shop for your children’s breakfast and lunch each school day.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has requested that the USDA extend free meals for all students for the entire school year. However, as of now, the USDA has only allowed this through December 31.  Therefore, families should still submit a household application to determine eligibility for free and reduced price school meals. This will also allow students to qualify for any additional benefits and ensure a seamless transition when schools move back to a paid program (if the waiver is not extended for January to June 2021).  Please fill out the online application at lunchapp.com.

In addition, we also encourage families to apply for SNAP benefits. SNAP provides monthly cash benefits (on an EBT card) to purchase groceries for eligible families. To apply for SNAP, visit www.startwithsnap.org  or call the Project Bread FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333. If you are unsure whether your family is eligible, the FoodSource Hotline can assist you with eligibility questions. Families approved for SNAP are directly eligible to receive free meals at school and do not need to fill out an application for free and reduced price meals.

Our plan is as follows.

PLEASE PRE-ORDER USING THIS GOOGLE FORM

REMOTE LEARNERS/Community Members

For remote learners, food will be available to grab-n-go from the back door/ramp at the end of Lynch Street (where the children are usually dismissed). 

• Mondays – 10-11am (food given for Monday and Tuesday)
• Wednesdays – 10-11am (food given for Wednesday and Thursday)
• Fridays- 10-11am (food given for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)

IN-PERSON LEARNERS

For students in the building, Breakfast, Lunch and a Snack will be provided as a grab-n-go at dismissal with Breakfast to be consumed the following day before arrival to school. On Thursday, students will be given food for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If you have additional children at home and would like your student to get food for them as well, please email [email protected]. 

SALEM PANTRY

The Salem Pantry will be joining us at our Grab-N-Go distribution sites on MONDAYS! 

Please reach out with any questions you might have. Your children are the reason we do our jobs and we are here to make sure that they are fueled with good food!

Best,

Erica Klag

Food Service Director

Salem Academy Charter School

45 Congress Street

Salem, MA 01970

[email protected]

978-744-2105

Salem Academy Charter School participates in the National School Lunch Program, which offers Free and Reduced Price Lunches to qualifying families throughout the year. Simply complete an online application at LunchApp.com or print and return the application (Versión en español aquí) to the school.  Be sure to fill out all necessary information – incomplete applications will not be considered. Salem Academy recognizes that circumstances can change throughout the year. If this is your situation, please don’t hesitate to apply again at any point.

 school_appfillable_sp.pdf

Meals are provided by Sidekim Foods, which specializes in school lunches. They are a nut-free facility that serves delicious, high quality, familiar, and tasty food. The menu’s and serving sizes strictly follow the nutritional standards set forth by the USDA which includes reducing sodium and whole grains. Fruit and vegetables are served with every meal.

Vegetarian Options are available daily upon request.

Meal Costs

Breakfast is FREE for all students.

Lunch is available for $3.50 full price, or $0.40 for a reduced price.

Snack is served at 4 pm. It is FREE for all students. If your child requires a snack/s throughout the day, please send them to school with them

Milk is included in the price of lunch.  We offer Skim (0%), Low-Fat (1%), and 0% chocolate or strawberry milk. Any student who wishes to purchase milk separately will be charged $0.50.

Allergen Info

We do not serve nuts (peanut or tree) but they may be present in the cafeteria as we are not a nut-free school. The menu’s above outline any allergens present in each dish. Please notify the School Nurse or the Director of Food Services of any food allergies or intolerances, or special dietary requests so that we may make any necessary accommodations.

Payments 

Please remember to keep your child’s lunch account in positive standing. Salem Academy accepts cash or checks, in addition to the online payment tool. To make easy online payments you may create an account using e-Funds.  You will need your child’s lunch ID number (you may need to contact Erica Klag for assistance. Directions for how to set up an account can be found here.  Bills will be sent out on a monthly basis for student accounts with a negative balance greater than $10.

Please contact Erica Klag, Director of Food and Nutrition Services, with any questions:
(978) 744-2105

[email protected]

Documents

School Wellness Policy

Charge Policy

Confidentiality Statement

Free & Reduced Price Meal Policy

English Application for Free/Reduced Price Meals

Spanish Application for Free/Reduced Priced Meals

Instructions for filling out the application (English)

Instructions for filling out the application (Spanish)

Non-Discrimination Statement

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Non-Discrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly.

“In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter 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;

(2)       fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3)       email: [email protected]usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.”

Salem Academy Non-Discrimination Statement

Salem Academy Charter School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, creed, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, pregnant or parenting status, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, homelessness, socioeconomic status, academic status, mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability, age, ancestry, athletic performance, special need, proficiency in English language or foreign language, or any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admissions, or treatment of students in its programs and activities, or in employment and application for employment.  Salem Academy’s policy includes prohibitions of harassment of students and employees, i.e., racial harassment, sexual harassment, and retaliation for filing complaints of discrimination.