Aug. 11, 2021

Dear Parent/Guardian,

 

We are pleased to inform you that the Pine Bush Central School District will be participating in the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) in the 2021-2022 school year.  This program is available as part of  the waivers issued by the USDA on April 20, 2021.  All enrolled students of the Pine Bush Central School District are eligible to receive one complete nutritional breakfast and lunch each school day free of charge.  

Student Pricing September 2021 – June 2022 

• Complete Breakfast $ 0.00
• Complete Lunch   $ 0.00
• Packed lunch power pack $ 0.00 
• Milk (Ala Carte) $ 0.50
• Water Bottle 16oz (Ala Carte) $ 1.00

 

While one breakfast and lunch meal will be provided free of charge each day per student, please note that additional breakfasts,and lunches, lunch a la carte, snack items and drinks are not part of the free meal program.  These items, if offered, can be purchased utilizing your student’s prepaid account and cannot be charged due to lack of account funds.  Prepayments are preferred by check, but cash is accepted.   No credit can be given for lost cash.  Online prepayments are charged $2.79 per transaction by www.myschoolbucks.com. Balance transfers and /or refund requests can be made using this form.

 

Our packed lunch power pack is new this year. If parents are choosing to send in a home packed lunch with their child, they can add a packed lunch power pack free of charge.  This pack includes fruit, vegetable, milk and sides that meet the NYSED Child Nutrition Meal pattern guidelines and creates a super nutritious lunch free of charge!  (Students must take all items offered or it is required to be charged a la carte pricing.) The School Nutrition Department’s mission is to provide for the nutritional needs of all children and this option helps further promote their health and well-being.

 

We are eagerly preparing for a new school year together and the School Nutrition Department has worked hard to design a meal program to meet your child’s individual needs. Your children will have plenty on their mind with classes and activities, so you don’t have to worry about them finding something great to eat or having money to pay for meals.  

 

The School Nutrition Department continues to bring technology to the forefront of your children’s dining experience to help students prioritize healthy food choices and understand ingredients. Through Nutrislice, students, parents and faculty have access to school menus, including nutrition information, allergens and photos available on desktop and mobile devices.  

 

Our commitment to your children starts with our menus that are planned using culinary knowledge and innovative menu strategies. Helping students achieve academic success is what drives our passion. We work with local farmers to offer a wide variety of fresh, local, seasonal fruits and vegetables.  As we further the effort of scratch cooking, using standardized recipes and fresh ingredients, we continue to look for ways to expand the menu, choices and food presentation for our students. 

 

While there are no income qualifications this year, we are asking each family to complete the family application to SUPPORT SCHOOL FUNDING so schools can receive additional funding for our student programs. You may complete the Support School Funding form at  www.myschoolapps.com.

 

The purpose of this funding is to provide all children the opportunity to receive a fair, equitable and high-quality education. The annual meal application form (Support School Funding Form) is one direct measure for Title 1 funding.  

 

Although meals are free, it is requested that all Pine Bush families whose children are not directly certified and have not completed the 21/22 application, take a few minutes and complete one, even if you are not receiving meals.  If the application is approved families can also realize a potential reduction of expenses related to Advanced Placement classes, Standardized test fees, before and school aftercare costs and future P-EBT payments.

 

When your children participate in school meals, you are also providing financial support to our School Nutrition Services Department which allows us to continue feeding students, purchasing food and supporting staff wages. On behalf of the PBHS Nutrition staff we want to THANK YOU and welcome you back to school! 

 

For more information, please visit our department page at www.pinebushschools.org.  Should you have any questions, please feel free to call Lyn or Judi at the School Nutrition Department at (845) 744-2031 ext 2809.  

Sincerely,

Lyn Prestia    

 

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:   https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint, 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: 

 

• Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture 
  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW 
  Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 
• Fax: (202) 690-7442; or 
• Email: program.intake@usda.gov.         

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.