Food

Dear Parent/Guardian,

We are thrilled to be serving your child for the 2024-2025 school year! To kick off the new year,
we wanted to share a few things you and your child can look forward to when it comes to
mealtime and get an inside look at the new recipes, concepts, and programs we’ll be introducing
this year.

Free and Reduced-Price Meals
For the upcoming 2024-2025 school year, free breakfast for all students will be extended
regardless of any family financial status. Thanks to a waiver for statewide funded meal
programs, all students will have the opporutunity to enjoy breakfast at no cost throughout the
academic year.

Free or reduced-price meals are only available to students who qualify for these benefits, but all
students, regardless of family situations are encouraged to dine in the cafeteria together.
For the 2024-2025 school year, breakfast will be free for all students and lunch for elementary
schools will cost $3.00 and Middle & High School will cost $3.25. Adult meals will cost $5.00 with adult breakfast costing $3.00. 

Our goal is to continue to support all students and families by ensuring those who need free
meals at school continue to receive them, including those who have never previously relied on
school meals.

We encourage all families, regardless of income, to complete and submit a short,
confidential school meal application prior to the start of the school year to ensure that
there are no gaps in meal benefits for students who qualify for free or reduced-price
meals. Parents or guardians can submit this application online at schoolcafe.com or in person
at your child’s school office. It’s an easy and confidential way to ensure your child stays well-
nourished at school.

Please review our pre-paid accounts and charging guidelines in this section of the website.

Food Allergies and Special Dietary Needs
We recognize the critical importance of our approach to supporting students and families who
manage food allergy issues every day and work closely with the families of students who have
food allergies and medical conditions that require a modification to their menu. Our approach
involves coordination between parents and guardians, school nurses, school administrators,
and food service professionals in the school’s/district’s food allergy and medical conditions
protocol.

If you would like your child to receive meal accommodations for food allergies or a medical
condition impacting the diet, please ensure that you submit the required documentation to your
child's school and that you receive confirmation that documentation has been received and a
modification plan is in place. Please review Medical Plan of Care SNP document (in English) and Medical Plan of Care SNP document (in Spanish)

In order to modify the school meal, we must have a written Medical Statement on file signed by
a licensed medical provider (physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner). The
statement must identify the following:

• Information about the child’s impairment that is sufficient for understanding how itrestricts the child’s diet,
• An explanation of what must be done to accommodate the child’s disability, and
• If appropriate, the food(s) to be omitted, texture modifications, and recommended substitutions.

For any children who are currently receiving meal accommodations, please contact our food
service office to review the meal accommodation plan, which may require additions or
amendments based on the ongoing supply chain issues.

As part of our protocol, café managers review food labels for foods used to produce special
meals daily; however, we are facing unprecedented food supply issues and while we are doing
everything we can to minimize disruptions to our program, we do expect to experience
continued shortages and substitutions.

Therefore, we may encounter situations where product substitutions are made that contain different allergens or have a different nutritional profile than our usual menu items. As a result, we may need to provide a meal that is different than previously identified for students with special dietary needs to ensure that the meal served to them remains in adherence to their needs as outlined in their medical forms.

While we have posted signs in the cafeteria encouraging students with food allergies or other
dietary concerns to speak up, we encourage you to remind your child to be sure to check with
the cafeteria manager regarding product substitutions that may not be reflected in the posted
menu. We will make every attempt to update Nutrislice in real-time, but please do not solely
rely on nutrition or allergen information on Nutrislice to accommodate allergies or medical
conditions in the event of last-minute menu changes.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your student’s allergies or dietary needs,
please don’t hesitate to reach out to food service office. We, including school’s nurses are
committed to providing safe meals for all students.

Programs that Encourage Fun and Discovery

Chartwells continues to inspire healthy eating habits and spark a culinary curiosity to last a
lifetime through fun and engaging programs, including:

• Discovery Kitchen: Designed to make nutrition education fun and entertaining, Chartwells chefs and dietitians have worked together to create curriculums that get kids cooking, trying new foods, and learning about what they’re eating. Each month has a different theme and activities will be adapted for the current meal programs.
• Student Choice: Giving middle and high school students a voice in deciding what food concepts are featured and new menu items that will be available, Student Choice brings the latest food trends to school menus such as our Global Eats or Mac & Cheesyololy.

Menus & Nutrition Facts at Your Fingertips

Through Nutrislice, an innovative app, students, parents and faculty have access to school
menus, including nutrition information, allergens and photos. Nutrislice can be downloaded for
free from the App store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) and is available on desktop and mobile
devices. Menus are also available at kcsd.nutrislice.com.

Please review this entire section for more details about our program.

Celebrating Our School Lunch Heroes
As kids advance from grade to grade with new classes and different teachers, the dedicated
lunch ladies and men in the school cafeteria are often one of the few constants throughout the
academic journey. Whether they’re at the ready with a spoon, spatula, or welcoming smile,
these school lunch heroes go above and beyond to not only serve foods kids love to eat, but to
ensure that students leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than they came in.

We are always looking for talented individuals to join the dining services team with perks
including, family friendly schedules, no night or weekend work, hiring incentives, and more. For
more information, visit the compassgroupcareers.com website.

Through sharing our passion for great tasting food, instilling a desire for food discovery, and
most importantly, providing nourishing meals, we're excited to continue serving up happy and
healthy to your children in the year ahead.

We love hearing from parents, and your feedback is important to us. Please reach out to our
team with any questions or comments. We’re looking forward to a great school year!

Thank You,

Viet Hoang, Director of Dining Services
610.444.1373
Viet.hoang@compass-usa.com

Christian Lagunas, Administrative Assistant
610.444.7725

clagunas@kcsd.org

Carolyn Isakoff
Food Service Coordinator
610.444.6626
cisakoff@kcsd.org

Kate Willard
Production Manager
610.444.2055
Kate.willard2@compass-usa.com

Learn more about Chartwells K12 with the flyer below.

Hello from Chartwells K12! English

Hello from Chartwells K12! Spanish

KCSD in partnership with Chartwells K12 uses Nutrislice to publish school menus to an interactive website and free smartphone app. 

Go to kcsd.nutrislice.com OR navigate to Nutrislice from the link below.  If you prefer to use your smartphone, download the Nutrislice app from Google Play for Androids or the App Store for iPhones.

Nutrislice

• See information about menu items, including a photo and description
• Filter common food allergens like nuts, wheat, and dairy
• Access nutrition information like carb counts and calories with just a few clicks
• Print menus directly from the website
• Translate your menus into different languages

Want to try the app?

1. Download or open the app (available from Google Play for Androids or the App Store for iPhones)
2. Find your district
3. Select your preferred location and "favorite" it
4. View daily menus

Nutrislice Menu Flyer (English)

 

Nutrislice Menu Flyer (Spanish)

 

Build a Breakfast
Choose at least 3 food items including at least 1⁄2 cup of fruits or vegetables to build a breakfast. Choose 4 items for best nutrition!

1. Select at least 1⁄2 cup of fruits or vegetables (1⁄2 cup of fruit or vegetable is 1 item).
2. Pick a second serving of fruit, or some other foods like grains, protein, or milk.
3. Take a minimum of 3 food items.

See the Chartwell breakfast flyers for more details.

Build a Breakfast (English)

Build a Breakfast (Spanish

Create a Lunch

Choose at least 3 food groups with at least 1⁄2 cup of fruits or vegetables to create a lunch. Take all 5 food groups for best nutrition!

1. Select at least 1⁄2 cup of fruits or vegetables.
2. Pick at least two other food groups, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, or milk. 3.
3. Take a minimum of 3 food groups and a maximum of 5.

Create a Lunch (English)

Create a Lunch (Spanish)

 

• Elementary Schools: 10:50 am to 1:30 pm
• Kennett Middle School: 11:00 am to 12:50 pm
• Kennett High School: 11:02 am to 1:11 pm

We encourage every family, regardless of their income, to complete an online application at SchoolCafe or print an application for Free or Reduced Price Meals each year and when their employment status changes. Qualifying families will save money on meals and the District will receive more accurate state funding. 

Eligibility Income Letter (English)

Eligibility Income Letter (Spanish)

Free and Reduced Application (English)

Free and Reduced Application (Spanish)

Note, if your family has already received a notice of direct certification for free meals, you do not need to complete the application. However, it is helpful to contact us if any children in your household are not listed. 

Breakfast for all students is provided free of charge. 

Lunch costs $3 for elementary students, $3.25 for secondary students or $.40 for students receiving Reduced Price Meals. 

Instructions for Applying for Free and Reduced Meal Benefits at SchoolCafe.com

SchoolCafe

• Select Language
• Select your State
• Select school district “Kennett Consolidated School District”
• Register
• Select Parent Next
• Select school district “Kennett Consolidated School District”
• Enter Fist Name, Last Name, Email, Phone #,
• Create a username, Password, Confirm Password
• Select a security question
• Answer security question
• Accept terms and conditions
• Create account
• Select apply for free or reduced benefits
• Select language
• Certify Next
• Add Students (Need Student ID, Name, DOB, School, and grade)
• Update application
• Receive income (yes or no) if yes enter income Add this member
• Add all household members
• Next after adding all members)
• Review all information
• Prompt to optional information
• Prompt for SS#
• Sign and Submit
• Log out

To add funds for your child, please create an account and log into School Café today:

To Create An Account: 

1. Select "Create a New Account." 
2. Select "I'm a Parent" and "Next." 
3. Enter your name and contact information before selecting "Next." 
4. Enter a username, password, security question and answer before selecting "Next." 
5. Read and accept the terms & conditions before selecting "Create My Account." 

You can also add student(s) to your account, make a payment, set up automatic payments, and set up low balance alerts at SchoolCafe.  Visit the SchoolCafe website for FAQs and the most up-to-date help for all of these options or see the flyer below.

SchoolCafe Flyer (English)

SchoolCafe Flyer (Spanish)

Otherwise, payments are also accepted via cash or check made out to “KCSD Food Service” in a sealed envelope.

Healthy, Balanced, Safe Meals
We oversee* what goes on the plate so you don’t have to!

☑ Tastes great
☑ Limited sodium
☑ Lots of delicious fruits, veggies, and chilled low-fat milk

Additionally, school kitchens always meet or exceed state guidelines for safe food, including keeping hot food hot and cold food cold until it’s served. With plenty of warm, filling options there’s no need for your child to wait at the microwave to heat their packed lunch.

*by following USDA NSLP Guidelines

Power of Choice
With multiple daily options for entrees and sides, kids have the power to choose what they want to eat every day!

Take Back Your Time
Add up the time you spend planning meals, grocery shopping, prepping and packing lunches, and cleaning the lunch box. You can put more time back in your day by leaving meals to us.

Compare Costs
Compare the cost of soaring grocery store prices on standard lunch items and fresh produce to the cost of the school lunch. Add in any costs for baggies, cutlery, icepacks and lunchboxes. You may be surprised at which option provides the best value!

Less Waste
We all know kids can be picky. Buying lunch means they get to choose what they want to eat each day rather than throwing away any unwanted food packed in their lunch.

No-Stress Payment
Gone are the days when your child has to carry cash to purchase school lunch. Being able to load their account ahead of time gives you one less thing to think about each day.

Try Something New!
Packed lunches often consist of the same rotation of foods. School lunch gives your child the opportunity to try different foods every day.
Our team of chefs and dietitians are constantly developing new recipes that keep up with trends (and are kid-approved)!

Value of a School Lunch Flyer (English)

Value of a School Lunch Flyer (Spanish)

Please be aware that your food may contain common food allergens.  For any food allergy questions and concerns, please contact any of our support team:

Christian Lagunas:
clagunas@kcsd.org

610.444.7725

Kate Willard
kate.willard2@compass-usa.com
610.444.2055

Carolyn Isakoff

cisakoff@kcsd.org
610.444.6626
 

Chartwells works closely with children who have food allergies and medical conditions that require a modification to their menu. If you would like your child to receive meal accommodations for food allergies or a medical condition impacting their diet, please submit a written Medical Statement signed by a licensed medical provider to your child's school. We recommend that you receive confirmation the documentation has been received and a modification plan is in place. 

Medical Plan of Care Form (English)

Medical Plan of Care Form (Spanish)

The Medical Statement must include: 

• Information about the child’s food allergy or medical condition and how it restricts the child’s diet, 
• An explanation of what must be done to accommodate the child’s food allergy or medical condition; and
• If appropriate, the food(s) to be omitted, modified or substituted. 

Through the Nutrislice app, parents have full transparency, putting more power in their hands to protect their kids from allergic reactions. We also encourage students with food allergies or other dietary concerns to speak up! 

Chartwells is the first in the industry to have allergen management training courses certified by Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), which all directors and managers are required to complete. In addition, Chartwells maintains a database that highlights food allergens in ingredients and recipes to assist managers when modifying their menus. 

 

At KCSD, School Breakfast and Lunch feature the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) five main food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy. 

At Breakfast, students pick from at least three of these five food groups. At Lunch, students select a full serving size of all of them.