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Department Overview
New Milford Public Schools participates in both the National School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs!
Research studies show that increased participation in the School Breakfast Program is associated with better academic test scores, daily attendance and class participation. It also has been linked to reductions in student absences and tardiness. Because of this program balanced breakfasts are available at all schools every day for students.
In addition to breakfast, the National School Lunch Program provides healthy food choices including whole grains and fresh produce to all students every day at our schools.
Food Services Department Info
Useful Links
November Lunch Menus
- Our dedicated 36 food service employees provide approximately 3600 meals per day throughout the district.
- Menus: All menus are State and USDA approved.
- Health Inspection Reports: The five school kitchens in the district consistently receive excellent inspection reports.
- Serve Safe Certified: All kitchen managers and many food service employees are ServSafe Certified.
- School Nutrition Association: All kitchen managers, assistant managers and many other employees are certified by the School Nutrition Association.
- Farm to School: We currently work with local farmers as well as the Department of Defense Fresh Produce Program to obtain local produce.
- CT Grown Week: We participate yearly in CT Grown Week featuring locally grown and manufactured products.
- Whole Grain Challenge: In 2012 Food and Nutrition Services won honorable mention in a nationwide Whole Grain Challenge for our initiatives in introducing students to whole grains.
- Breakfast Challenge: In 2013 Food and Nutrition Services won a Breakfast Challenge sponsored by the State of Connecticut Department of Administrative Services for our breakfast initiatives in grades K – 6.
- Healthier USSchool Challenge (HUSSC): Bronze Award Winner. This award recognizes schools that have created healthier school environments through the quality of food while providing both nutrition and physical education to promote healthy lifestyles.
- Director of the Year: New Milford’s Food Service Director, Sandra Sullivan, was named School Nutrition Association of Connecticut’s Director of the Year for 2019-20..
FREE BREAKFAST & FREE LUNCH FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR!
We are pleased to inform you that New Milford Public Schools will be implementing a program called the Community Eligible Provision (CEP), which is available through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
Our participation in CEP means that all enrolled students in New Milford Public Schools will receive one free breakfast and one free lunch at no cost each day of the 2024-25 school year!
Call the Food & Nutrition office for assistance or with any questions. 860-354-3712
CEP Notification Letters for Families (2024-25)
- CEP Press Release 2024-25 School Year.pdf
- CEP Notification Letter English.pdf
- CEP Notification Letter Spanish.pdf
Childhood food insecurity remains at unacceptable levels across the country and children are most acutely at risk in the summer when they do not have access to school meals.
Children ages 18 and younger may visit Open Summer Meals sites anywhere in the state to receive a meal. The following link will help you locate the nearest participating free meal site.
http://www.ctsummermeals.org/location-finder
The following nutrition websites will provide you with reliable and current nutrition information for all ages. Please click on the links below.
New Milford’s Food and Nutrition Services Department provides parents with a convenient, easy and secure online prepayment service to deposit money into your child’s school meal account at any time. This service is called MySchoolBucks. It provides parents with the ability to view your child’s account balance, print a copy of their eating history report and set up a low balance email alert. You may access this system by clicking here: https://www.myschoolbucks.com.
Instructions are provided at this website to guide you through the easy account set up process. There is a parent hotline if needed 1-855-832-5226.
If you choose not to take advantage of the online prepayment service you may continue to make advance payments via cash or check, which should be made payable to the School Lunch Activity Fund. Please write your child’s full name and pin number on the check. You can view your student’s transactions and balance even if you don’t use the online prepayment system. All you need to do is set up an account. There is no fee involved.
If your child qualifies for free or reduced meal prices, this information is noted in the system and the meal will be processed just as it is for all other students without any special indication to the student. If you are concerned about a food allergy that your child has, please notify the cafeteria with this information. If indicated, a warning will appear on the cashier’s screen for a review of the items on the student’s tray.
All students will be required to enter their six-digit pin # when purchasing breakfast or lunch. Please contact our office if you need assistance with your student’s pin number. Note that parents must enter two zeros in front of their student’s pin number when setting up or using their account in the online prepayment system.
See the example below:
00123456 for PARENT use with myschoolbucks.com account
123456 for STUDENT use in cafeteria
Parents: we suggest that you help younger children learn their PIN number by having them punch it in on a calculator or the number pad of the computer. Both look similar to our keypad.
Also we suggest that you consider putting some money into your child’s account even if your child will be bringing lunch from home so that when a lunch is forgotten they can easily obtain one at school without worry.
Money left in an account at the end of the year will carry to the next grade level and school.
Dear Parents:
Did you know that eating breakfast can improve school performance?
Research studies show that increased participation in the School Breakfast Program is associated with better academic test scores, daily attendance and class participation. It also has been linked to reductions in student absences and tardiness.
New Milford participates in the National School Breakfast Program. Nutritionally balanced breakfasts are available at all schools every day for students. For the 2024-25 school year, breakfast will be free to all students at all schools.
Sincerely,
Sandra Sullivan, RD, CDN
What is School Lunch About?
The goal of New Milford’s School Lunch Program is to provide healthy meals that are nutritious, well balanced, and appetizing.
The US Depa
rtment of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program requires that meals meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and one-third of
the Recommended Dietary Allowances for school-aged children. We offer a variety of foods with many options. We offer locally grown and seasonal produce whenever possible.
Key nutrients included in lunch: less than 30% of calories from fat, less than 10% of calories from saturated fat, protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
Equal Rights Policy Spanish
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement for Child Nutrition Programs
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: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, 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:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OFFICE OF
THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
FAX: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
EMAIL: [email protected]
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.