Child Nutrition

Child Nutrition
   School meals will continue to be available to all students, including those attending school in-person and those learning remotely. 
   For information about how meal information will be communicated, visit the Communication/Family and Community Engagement section of our reopening plan.

Meals Onsite
   For students onsite, meals will be provided while maintaining appropriate social distancing between students while also considering increasing access points for providing meal service. Students do not need to wear face coverings when seated and eating as long as they are appropriately socially distanced.  

   The school will assess where meals will be served (classroom, cafeteria, other). The school will ensure social distancing between individuals while eating in the school cafeteria. If not feasible, meals may be served in alternate areas (e.g., classrooms) or in staggered meal periods to ensure social distancing. If meals will be eaten in the classroom, classes will go through the cafeteria line one at a time and return to the classroom.  Classes may need to eat in their classrooms or outside if weather permits due to social distancing restrictions.  Chairs will be available for outside eating and the lower parking will be blocked off during the school day for various activities including (but not limited to) Physical Education classes, lunch, recess, outside classroom learning. 

   When students eat in classrooms, all non-food service staff will be trained on any meal service-related activities they will be responsible for. Teachers will be trained on recognizing food allergies, including symptoms of allergic reactions to food.  Currently, Sacred Heart has a policy of no snacks that contain peanut butter/nuts in our classrooms.  Because we need to ensure the safety of all our students as classes may not be able to use the cafeteria, we will extend the no peanut butter/nuts in lunches for all our classrooms.  This will help ensure the safety of all our students who may have a food allergy. 

   Students must be 6 feet apart or be separated by a barrier while consuming meals. The school will provide physical distancing guides in food service areas such as tape on floors, signage, increase table spacing, remove desks, mark tables as closed, or provide a physical barrier between tables to ensure students are 6 feet apart when consuming meals.

 Lunch periods will be staggered with cleaning in between.  Proper cleaning and disinfection of tables, chairs, and other frequently touched hard surfaces will take place in between groups of students. Cashiers and servers will place meals on a counter or tray line for quick pick up and place pre-portioned condiments on each tray.  Our food service program will have a “grab and go” meal for both breakfast and lunch available for purchase.  UPK students will still receive free breakfast and lunch as part of their program. PreK Yellow and K-6 qualify for free lunch. (updated 9/17/20)

   The use of shared tables, salad bars and other self-service refrigerators and buffets for food and condiments is prohibited.
The sharing of food and beverages (e.g., buffet style meals, snacks) is prohibited. Adequate space will be reserved for students, faculty, and staff to observe social distancing while eating meals.  This includes birthday treats and pizza birthday lunches.
The school will coordinate school personnel in order to meet the feeding safety needs of students with disabilities.

• Students will wash their hands before and after each lunch period.  Students will also have access to hand sanitizer in the cafeteria and in their classrooms. 

Meals Offsite/Remote
   If a family needs a meal while distance learning, please call Sacred Heart at 518-274-3655.  
School Food Authorities (SFA)
Not applicable for Sacred Heart