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CARES ACT Free Meals for All Program
The Great Neck Public Schools is pleased to participate in the CARES ACT Free Meals for All program, effective October 1, 2020. This federally-funded program, made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, allows our district to provide free meals to all GNPS students at no charge.
The CARES ACT Free Meals for All program has an expiration date of December 31, 2020, or until the program funds run out, whichever comes first. No special enrollment is necessary.
Families that meet income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced meals must file paper applications with the school district. This will ensure that eligible students continue to receive free or reduced-price meals after the CARE ACT Free Meals for All program expires. Applications and information are available on the district website at www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/food.
Parents/guardians are still required to make sure their child’s lunch account does not carry a negative balance. Funds may be added to a student’s account online at www.myschoolbucks.com.
Meals for Remote Students
Bagged meals for students learning from home—whether fully-remote or on a hybrid schedule—will continue to be available from each school’s respective pick-up zone. Students attending South Middle, South High, Lakeville, and Parkville schools may pick up their meals at the kitchen loading dock at South High School; students attending all other buildings may pick up their meals at the kitchen rear loading dock at North Middle School.
All remote meals are available for pick up between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Meals in Secondary Schools
Secondary students attending school will continue to receive meals in the cafeteria and proceed to the cashier to “pay” for their meals. In accordance with district safety measures, cashiers do not accept any cash at registers.
Middle school and high school cafeterias also sell a la carte items, which are not included in the CARES ACT program. Students must have a positive account balance to complete a la carte or kosher up-charge purchases.
Meals in Elementary Schools
Elementary classroom teachers record each student’s meal choice for that day, and orders are relayed to the school cafeteria. The kitchen will automatically change a meal according to a student’s dietary restrictions. Parents/guardians should address such requests and concerns with their child’s teacher and/or building nurse; please do not contact the kitchen managers directly with nutritional requests.
All elementary meals are sold “as-is”—there is currently no option to add snacks, second lunches, or changes to the offering. Please note that a student must have a positive account balance in order to complete kosher up-charge purchases; if funds are not available, the student will be served an alternate kosher meal.
It is incumbent on all parents/guardians to review the school lunch menu to check for allergens and acceptable food items. School menus can be reviewed at www.gnpsfoodandnutritionservices.org. Students may also bring their own meals to school.
For additional information, please contact the GNPS Food and Nutrition Services at food.phipps@greatneck.k12.ny.us or (516) 441-4090.