Graham County Schools Child Nutrition Program

“Lettuce” Learn about school meals!

Our goal is to serve all students in Graham County Schools a nutritious meal each day we are in attendance.

P-K –Students come to the cafeteria and receive a complete meal. The meal is place on the tray by the staff and delivered to the table for each child. Snacks are provided by the teacher in the classroom.

Kindergarten – All Kindergarten students are given a free breakfast each morning and if purchased receive a complete meal at lunch. A snack can be purchased @ .60 cents daily.  Please discuss this with your child in advance if you want them to purchase a snack.

 1^st Grade-All students are welcome to come in for breakfast starting at 7:40am. A choice is given at breakfast (Offer vs. Serve).  A child can decline one of the items offered. First grade students can choose between the two entrees offered on the lunch menu.  Students are served all items by the staff except for milk.  The student is required to pick up the milk choice and proceed through the serving line, telling the staff what entrée they prefer. A student must have the correct items for a reimbursable meal (free or reduced) otherwise we charge an individual price for each item chosen.  If the staff sees that a child does not have the correct number of items they will ask them to pick up another item such as their milk.   A snack can be purchased for .60 cents each day.  Please discuss this with your child in advance if you want them to purchase a snack.

2^nd Grade – 6^th Grade – All students are welcome to come to the school cafeteria at breakfast; the cafeteria opens at 7:40am and closes when the bell rings.  Students have the option to choose a complete meal (Offer vs. Serve) and must get the required items for the reimbursable meal (free or reduced) otherwise we charge individual prices, which is a higher price.  A la carte pricing should encourage students to take the complete meal. Also, healthy, low calorie snack items can be purchased at the elementary school cafeteria.  Please discuss this with your child in advance. 

 If you send a snack for your child each day and do not want the child to purchase a snack at school, please advise the cafeteria manager.

Elementary students will identify themselves by giving their name as they pass the cashier this year; we have a new system in the cafeteria and will not be using the number system.

Middle and High School – The cafeteria opens at 7:40am each day for breakfast.  A complete breakfast is only $1.00 for paying students.  Also, breakfast is offered at break for middle and high school students. Lunch is available to all students at the same price as last year $2.25, if you choose to and qualify for reduced benefits lunch is only .40 cents for a reduced meal or you could be eligible for free benefits based on family size and income. Fill out the application and return to the cafeteria as soon as possible, student s’ last year status is good for the first 30 days, then all students who have not qualified for free or reduced benefits go to paying status. You will receive a letter of approval and if you have not received this letter by October 5, you should call to check on the status of your child’s application.  The meals will start adding up after October 5 dead line.  You may fill out a form at any time during the school year if your household status changes.

If your child has a negative balance in the school cafeteria this year, the student will not be allowed to buy extra items until this debt is cleared.  The only thing a child can purchase is the breakfast or a lunch. All students will identify themselves as they go through the line by giving their name this school year.  We have a new system at the point of sale and we will not be using the number system.  If at any time during the school year you receive a message on the phone from child nutrition about a negative balance, please respond before the balance gets too large.  All uncollected debt will follow the student to graduation day and all debt must be cleared through the school before graduating.

Parents if you have questions about your child’s account in the cafeteria you may contact us at any time.  Students have the option of paying on a daily basis or placing money in the account to be used at students’ discretion.  Students or parents can make deposits into the account.  If you send a check all money will be applied to the students account, no refund will be given or no checks can be cashed in the school cafeteria.  If paying by check, in the appropriate place write the child’s name and make payable to GCS Child Nutrition or Robbinsville School Cafeteria.

We hope this will help parents to know exactly what goes on at each grade level in the school cafeteria. Parents remember you can contact us at the school cafeterias or the child nutrition office and we will be happy to assist.