Pine Bush Central School

Family Resources > Food Service

The Breakfast and Lunch Program

All students are eligible for nutritious and delicious meals that are convenient and a bargain! Pine Bush Schools offers breakfast and lunch to all students if there is a two-hour delay, breakfast will not be served.

Did you know that students who are well-nourished are shown to have increased problem-solving abilities, memory, verbal fluency and creativity? Still, the challenge is to make nutritious foods that kids will actually eat! Variety and choice are key these days. And at just $1.75 for elementary students and $2.00 for middle and high school students, Pine Bush’s school lunches are clearly one of the best values around! We serve nearly 3600 lunches per day, with more than 60 percent of our students selecting a complete lunch meal. Healthy eating helps you make the grade!

Free and reduced-price meals are available to children who meet Federal guidelines. Only one application is needed per family. Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year. Completed applications should be returned to the Food Service Department or the main office. You may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, income goes down, or if you start getting Food Stamps, TANF or other benefits. If you lose your job or are temporarily disabled, your children may be able to get free or reduced-price meals.

What are the prices for school meals?

Breakfast is only $1.00 for all students in grades K-12. Lunch for Elementary students, lunch costs $1.75. Middle and High School students may purchase lunch for $2.00. Reduced price meals are .25 per meal.

Can students pre-pay for meals?

Pre-payment plans are available in all schools. To save time, we encourage you to pre-pay for your student's meals by placing money on the student's account. Students may use their pre-paid money to purchase breakfast or lunch only. No ala carte items can be paid from the pre-paid account.

How do you pay for meals?

Parents may pay by cash or check made payable to Pine Bush Cafeteria Fund. You may write one check for multiple students attending the SAME school - attach a note explaining how you would like the check distributed and the students names.

What if we can't afford school meals?

Students may be eligible for free or reduced price lunches if their families meet federal guidelines. The application only takes a minute to fill out and can be done at any time during the school year. Fill out the application and return it to Food Services, the School Nurse or the Main Office.

2010-11 Free & Reduced Meal Application Available for Download

Click here to view the application in English

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Click here to view the application in Spanish

Reduced Income Chart
Click here to view Reduced Income Chart

How can I find out what's for lunch each day?

The breakfast and lunch menus are posted online! To view your child's school menu, go to that school's homepage and click on the school lunch menus. Menus are sent home monthly with elementary and middle school students.

Why does an adult get charged $3 for lunch?

Our district participates in the USDA's Child Nutrition Programs. Through these programs, we receive state and federal funding. The subsidies that we receive may only be used towards the cost of meals provided to the students. Based on this, the cost of an adult meal must include all expenses incurred, including: food, supplies, equipment, staff, etc. The Food Service Department is financially independent of the district's budget.

Is eating a good breakfast really important?

A hungry child cannot learn. Our breakfast program offers all children a critical jump start at the beginning of their school day. Children who aren't hungry feel better, learn better, and behave better. The State of Minnesota Breakfast Study (1997) found that students who ate breakfast had a general increase in math grades and reading scores, increased student attention, reduced nurse visits, and improved student behaviors.

Why should I be concerned with my child's eating habits?

Children's nutrition is no small issue. There is no better time than the early years to make an impact on the lifelong eating and exercise habits that can contribute to health maintenance and disease prevention. Medical authorities and nutrition researchers have documented that meeting nutritional requirements throughout childhood is essential to full intellectual development. Recent research provides compelling evidence that nutrition impacts a child's behavior, school performance, and overall cognitive development (Tufts University Statement, 1998).

How do you make school meals more appealing to kids?

The Food Services Program keeps a close eye on meal counts and student feedback to determine what the students want to eat. Students also now have more variety to choose from.