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North Andover Dept. of Nutrition

 

PERMANENT FREE MEALS FOR ALL STUDENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS 2023-2024

08/24/23

Governor Healey signed permanent free meals for all indefinitely.  Massachusetts is the 8th state in the country to include this initiative in their state's budget.
 
 
 
 
 
Breakfast After the Bell
 
Breakfast after the bell is offered at all elementary schools and ABECC.  Breakfast after the bell is free of charge to all students and should be preordered through our online ordering program, LINQ.  Breakfast is delivered to the students in their classrooms between 9:00 to 9:30.  Breakfast after the bell is a great way to ensure that our students are ready to start their school day with a nutritious breakfast.  A typical breakfast after the bell meal consists of a whole grain product such as a muffin, bagel or breakfast pastry.  Included with every breakfast meal is a fresh piece of seasonal fruit and choice of milk.

 

Preordering Meals

All PreK, kindergarten and elementary students will continue to utilize our online ordering system, LINQ.  Please make every effort to preorder your students meals.  Families can start preordering meals once the menus are posted.  Preordering meals helps us with meal production and also reduces the wait time your student will have in their lunch line.  As a reminder, only parent LINQ accounts can order ice cream.  If you rely on your student's teacher to place orders on your behalf, teacher accounts do not have the authority to order ice cream for your student.  Families who have never created a LINQ account should log into family.onlineordering.linq.com.  Families who already have accounts and need to add students should log into family.onlineordering.linq.com.  You will need your students ID number to complete the registration process.  Student ID's can be found in PowerSchool.  If you need assistance with your students ID# please contact either Wil Herrera, [email protected] or Erika Murphy, [email protected].  

LINQ CONNECT FAQ Doc and Instructions

Parent release notes for creating NEW LINQ online ordering accounts click here.

 

NAHS & NAMS students will not preorder meals this school year

Instead, they will chose the serving line they'd like lunch from when they arrive in the café.  Each serving line has signage as to what foods are available from each line.

 

Meal Applications

08/24/23 

The 2023-2024 meal benefit application is now available.  We encourage families to apply online.  Should you not be able to apply online, a paper copy can be downloaded from the NAPS website on the meal application page.  Although all meals are free for the 2023-2024 school year, a meal application must be filled out to determine if you qualify for free or reduced priced bussing/transportation, Community Program and Athletics.


Free & Reduced Meal Application- please apply online!

Titan_School_Solutions Online Meal Applications White Background.jpg

 

PIN Numbers

All students (except ABECC) will need to input their 4 digit pin numbers with the kitchen cashier.  Families will receive an email prior to the start of the school year listing your students 4 digit pin numbers.  Not to worry should your student not know their pin numbers we can easily look it up for them until they get to know it.  Returning students will use the same pin number throughout their time in NAPS. New students will receive an autogenerated pin number once you've created a LINQ Connect account and you've linked your student to your account.

 

2nd Meals

Only first meals are free.  Should a student want double lunch or ala carte foods (ice cream on Friday at all elementary schools except Kittredge) money must be available at the time of purchase in the students debit account.

 

Snack Program (NAHS & NAMS)

Ala carte snacks are available for purchase daily at both NAHS and NAMS during lunch.  All ala carte snacks are "Smart Snack Approved".  Smart Snacks in Schools refers to the national nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold outside of the federal reimbursable school meal programs during the school day. These items are called “competitive foods” because they can compete with participation in school meal programs.

As of the 2014–2015 school year, all competitive foods and beverages sold during the school day must meet or exceed Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards, which include limits on fat, sugar, sodium, and calorie content. These standards are the minimum requirement for schools, but states and local education agencies can continue to implement stronger nutrition standards for all competitive foods in schools.  Below is the link to the Massachusetts and USDA standards for competitive foods.  Massachusetts is known to have the strictest guidelines in the country regarding competitive foods.

MASSACHUSETTS & USDA COMPETITIVE FOODS STANDARDS

 

Snack Program (ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS)

Ice cream day is every Friday at all elementary schools EXCEPT Kittredge School (ice cream day is also not available at ABECC).  Unfortunately, since Kittredge students don't eat in the cafeteria we are unable to offer ice cream day.  Elementary students are allowed to purchase one ice cream on Friday and only if their parent has ordered the ice cream on their behalf through our online meal ordering program, LINQ.  As a reminder, if you rely on your child's teacher to order meals on his/her behalf, teacher accounts do not have the authority to order ice cream for the student, only parent LINQ accounts have this ability.  The cost of ice cream is $2.00.  Students must have funds available in their debit accounts to purchase ice cream.  CASH IS NOT ACCEPTED AT ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. All ice cream offered is Smart Snack Compliant. There will be no other snacks sold throughout the week at the elementary level, only ice cream on Fridays.

 

Dietary Accommodations

Students who require dietary accommodations must complete the dietary accommodation form.  Forms must be returned to your school nurse where she will then share with the kitchen the dietary accommodation needed.  As an example, we now offer a gluten free option and a dairy free option daily at all schools.  A dietary accommodation form must be on file for us to provide these meals.

 

 

 

Menus, ingredients and nutritional information are all available on our website.

www.northandoverpublicschools.com, departments, food services, menus.

 

 

 

Best,

Erika Murphy, Director of Nutrition