UPDATE ON FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS AND THE RETURN TO TRADITIONAL MEAL PRICE PROGRAM Parents and Guardians, Waterford Public Schools has been happy to provide breakfast and lunch meals at no cost to all students through our participation in the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Free School Meals for Children grant. The intent of these SMART (School Meals Assistance Revenue Transition) funds has been to assist households by providing free meals to all students for as long as funds were available. Under the SMART funds terms, Waterford Public Schools’ funding will expire on December 23, 2022. Universal free meals will no longer be available to students beginning January 2, 2023 unless households have been approved for the free or reduced meal price. Families eligible for free/reduced meals should have received a letter from the Waterford Public Schools’ Dining and Nutrition Services Office stating their eligibility. If families are unsure of their status, please contact the office at (860)444-5862. ➢ Free/Reduced Applications may be found by clicking on the following link: Free/Reduced Price School Meals Information Please be aware that the traditional free, reduced, and paid meal price program will resume on January 2, 2023. Students who do not qualify for free or reduced meals will be charged for breakfast and lunch beginning January 2nd. ➢ School Meal Prices are as follows: • K-5 Breakfast $2.25 Lunch $3.25 • CLMS Breakfast $2.50 Lunch $3.50 • WHS Breakfast $2.75 Lunch $3.75 We encourage families to place money into student meal accounts to be prepared for this change. Payments for meals, snacks or a la carte purchases may be made via the following options: • •
Online through www.mypaymentsplus.com, Checks made payable to: Waterford Food Service or students may pay cash.
If you have not submitted your application and are seeking meal price benefits, you may still submit the Application for Free/Reduced Price School Meals to avoid possible future unpaid meal charges. Please refer to the Waterford Public Schools’ Dining and Nutrition Services website at https://www.waterfordschools.org/parents_family/food_services for additional benefit information, policies, and meal prices/menus as well as Free/Reduced Price School Meals Information. Please contact the School Dining and Nutrition Services Director Dianne Houlihan via email: dhoulihan@waterfordschools.org or by calling 860-444-5862 with any questions. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.