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Nutrition Services

Springs Empower Academy Meal Program

 

At Springs Empower Academy, we are committed to our students’ health and wellness. Research shows that healthy students are better able to pay attention in class and better positioned to succeed in school and in life.

The goals of our food program are to:

  • Support the academic success and achievement of our students
  • Provide nutritious meals which allow students to maintain focus   
  • Provide healthy and fresh food offerings along with education on making healthy choices
  • Expose our students to new culinary experiences while still offering “kid favorites”

Click here to view the Wellness Policy

All stakeholders are able to participate in the development, review, update, and implementation of the Local School Wellness Policy. Please contact the school office for more details.

Student Meals

All Springs Empower Academy students are offered healthy, nutritious meals including breakfast and lunch through the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs. 

Encourage your student to start each day with a healthy school breakfast!

  • Breakfast costs $2.35;
  • Lunch costs $4.25. 

Your student may qualify for a Free or Reduced priced meal.  Reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch.

We encourage all families to Apply Online Here. If a hardcopy application is needed, please download and print using the link here or by visiting the front office.

 

MealTime App Now Available

Our MealTime app/website is set up and ready to process free and reduced meal applications and handle payments for breakfast and lunch accounts. Please see Parent Flyers below for detailed information about logging in, getting set up, and filling out your applications. You’ll need your child’s “Other ID” from Skyward to link to MealTime. If you have any issues finding this ID, please let us know.

 

At the start of each month, lunch menus will be available at the main office or posted in the cafeteria.

November 2024 Menu - Breakfast
November 2024 Menu - Lunch

We are pleased to be partnering with Panache’ Catering who will be supplying meals for our school. 

Meals are planned with student preferences in mind and follow the regulations of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program. 

Healthy School Meals contain:

  • Lean protein
  • Whole grains
  • Fresh Fruits or 100% Fruit Juice
  • A variety of vegetables
  • A choice of milk,

Meals are calorie controlled, low in sodium, contain less than 10% saturated fat and 0g of trans fat.

NOTE: A student may also choose to bring in his/her own meals; however, all foods must adhere to the Wellness Policy.  Students are not permitted to bring in foods that are unhealthy or high in sugar including candy, soda, energy drinks, donuts, cupcakes, chips, salty snacks, candy bars, etc. Additionally, students are not permitted to bring food that requires any preparation, such as heating or cold storage.

Summer Meals

When school is not in session, the Summer Meals Program (SFSP) provides free meals to kids and teens in low-income areas. Click the button below to quickly and easily find summer meal sites near you.

Meals for Kids Site Finder

Allergies and Meal Modification

If your student has any food allergies or needs a meal modification, families are required to notify the school nurse and provide documentation from a licensed medical professional, such as a Physician, Dietician or other medical professional that is authorized to write prescriptions.  Click here to download and print the required Meal Modification Form for Meals at School.  Return completed forms to the school. 

Meal Modification forms must be renewed annually.

See the chart below to determine if your meal request can be accommodated.

Smart Snack Requirements throughout the Day

At Springs Empower Academy, we are committed to health and wellness, not just at meal times, but throughout the day. Children need healthy snacks for energy, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, to help them grow, learn, and be active.

ALL treats sent from home for celebrations (e.g., birthdays), snack times, etc. or provided by school staff for class rewards, incentives, etc. MUST meet the USDA Smart Snack requirements or feature non-food items. USDA Smart Snacks do not include cupcakes, ice cream, fast food, outside pizza, Flaming Hot Cheetos, etc. 

Click here for a list of Smart Snack and non-food ideas (Insert link to Healthy Celebrations list). As a guideline, allowable snacks meet the following nutritional requirements per serving:

  • 150 calories or less
  • 35% of total calories from fat or less
  • 10% of total calories from saturated fat or less
  • 30g of sugars or less
  • 230 mg of sodium or less per serving

Please note that the school has a no gum policy.  Students are not permitted to bring or chew gum at any time while they are on the premises.

Non-Discrimination Statement:

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: USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form 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:

  1. Mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

    1400 Independence Avenue,
SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. Fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. Email:
    program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.