Good Eaters. High Achievers. Strong Leaders.

Welcome to the Nutrition Services Webpage!

Below are links to information pertaining to the Nutrition Services department. 

For more information or questions, contact:
Jess Pena
japena@rwps.org
651-385-4583
 

Our schools provide healthy meals each day. Our breakfast and lunch selections are nutritious and also make a tremendous difference in how our students perform in the classroom: Feed your body, feed your brain.

We enjoyed serving our students breakfast and lunch at no cost for two years, but USDA regulations for the 2022-2023 school year required that full-pay meals resumed this year.

There is financial relief for qualifying families. Please note that students who receive Medicaid or Medicare benefits are automatically enrolled. The application is available at paypams.com/OnlineApp.

In addition to help with meals, children may qualify for additional benefits such as reduced activity fees, help with education expenses and some discounts. Students bringing lunch from home may purchase milk daily at the price of $.50 per serving.

Elementary students just need to alert their teacher, so that the kitchen can plan. Students are required to have a positive balance in their account to purchase a la carte items.

All schools use a computerized school lunch accounting system called Paypams. This allows families to deposit money into a personal lunch account for their child. Each student is issued a four or five-digit identification number that she/he will enter into a keypad when coming through the lunch line. The cost of the meal will automatically be deducted from the balance in each student's personal

account. Students can deposit money into their accounts by bringing money to the school they attend. Checks should be written to ISD #256. Checks should also contain the student’s full name on the memo line. The check can be written for multiple students. If doing this, please note this on the check. Families may also pay online at paypams.com.

 

2022 - 2023 Meal Prices
 
Breakfast Prices  
Kindergarten FREE
Grades 1 - 12 $1.70
Breakfast includes: Main Entrée, Choice of Fruit or Juice, 1/2 Pint Milk
 
Lunch Prices  
Grades Pre K - 4 $2.80
Grades 5 - 7 $2.90
Grades 8 - 12 $3.05
Lunch Includes: Main Entrée, Choice of Fruit or Juice and ½ Pint Milk (Full reimbursable meal)
 
Families may request a refund by clicking on the "Request a Refund Form" link below and submitting the form. Refunds are processed weekly and take 2-3 weeks to process. Refunds are not paid out in cash, but via check through the mail. 

REQUEST A REFUND FORM

Children may qualify for free and reduced-priced meals. For more information or to apply for free or reduced-price school meals, click on the links below.

APPLY TODAY ONLINE!!
Families may now apply for meal benefits online through ApplyNOW

Information to Print
Application for Educational Benefits - 2022-2023
Solicitud de Beneficios Educativos - Año escolar 2022-2023
Meal Charge Policy - English OR Espanol







 

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter 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

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

USDA : A Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools

This form is intended to assist the school district with monitoring the fundraisers happening within the school(s) and ensuring compliance with the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) Smart Snack standards. Organizations wishing to host a food or beverage fundraiser would submit this completed form to the governing body that approves fundraisers within the school district.
Food or Beverage Fundraiser Request Form
If your child has special dietary restrictions (such as the need for a gluten-free diet), please contact your child’s school nurse so that an Individualized Health Plan (IHP) can be developed and implemented. If your child requires a special diet, based on his or her disability, please fill out the “Special Diet Statement” (see link below).

This form will need to be signed by a Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. If a child has been determined by a physician to have a disability and the disability prevents the child from participating in the meal service, modifications or substitutions can be made as prescribed by the physician at no additional charge to the student.

Lactose-Free Milk is available at each of the school sites. For the 2020/21 school year, Lactaid is what has been selected. A request for Lactaid milk does not need the below Special Diet Form to be completed. Instead, a written note from the child's guardian/parent will suffice. If wanting another milk substitute option other than Lactaid, please complete the Special Diet Form

Special Diet Form

PayPAMS

Parents have the ability to view their students lunch account. Click on links below.

NEW!! - No processing fees for adding money to your child's account on-line!
PayPAMS Website

Meal Charge Policy - English & Español

Below are listed common questions which students new to computerized lunch systems often ask.

How do free and reduced price meals work?
Students eligible for free and reduced price meals will follow the same procedure as everyone else. Student's eligible for free or reduced meals will not be charged for their meals. By using this system, not even the cashier needs to know a student's eligibility status.

How do I enter my identification number?
A keypad is located at the cashier's stand. Enter the numbers and then press the green ENTER key on the keypad. A steady green light will appear to signal you to go ahead.

What if I pressed a wrong key?
The green light on the keypad will blink and you cannot go ahead. Press the red CLEAR button to start over.

How do you know it is my account?
After you press the green ENTER key, your name will appear on the cash register screen.

How will I know how much money is in my account?
You may ask the cashier for the balance in your prepaid account at any time. The cashier will tell you what your balance is. The cashier will also notify you when your account is getting low either by a verbal reminder or written notification. The district may also mail home reminders. 

Can I use my account to purchase a la carte items?
Yes, you can use your account for school lunch, and all a la carte items. Students MUST have a positive balance in order to purchase  a la carte items. THERE WILL NOT BE ANY CASH ACCEPTED IN THE CAFETERIA in order to keep the lines moving quickly.

How do I deposit money into my account?
Checks or cash can be dropped off at the designated station in the principal's office at the Elementary Schools and Twin Bluff Middle School in the morning before school starts. Your deposit will show up in your account the following day. Please allow 2-3 business days to see payment in your child's account, when accessing PayPAMS.com. At the High School, checks and cash can be deposited in the Courtyard Café before school starts. Please make sure your name and identification number is written at the bottom of the check.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter 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

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email:

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

USDA : A Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools

This form is intended to assist the school district with monitoring the fundraisers happening within the school(s) and ensuring compliance with the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) Smart Snack standards. Organizations wishing to host a food or beverage fundraiser would submit this completed form to the governing body that approves fundraisers within the school district.
Food or Beverage Fundraiser Request Form