FOOD & NUTRITION SERVICES
Dining Services
Dining Services are provided to all schools within the Town of Wethersfield, including five public elementary schools, Silas Deane Middle School, Wethersfield High School, CREC Discovery Academy, and CREC SoundBridge.
The Department of Finance and Operations is responsible for contract negotiation and oversight of contract execution and facilities management by the vendor who provides food service management; compliance with state and federal reimbursement and nutritional guidelines; triennial cafeteria fund audits; and processing, certification, random audit and appeals for free and reduced-price lunch applications.
Wethersfield Public Schools, CREC Discovery Academy, CREC Soundbridge and Corpus Christi have opted to participate in the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) of the National School Lunch Program. This means that all students enrolled in any of the schools in Wethersfield will receive breakfast and lunch free of charge through June 2024. Please be aware that A La Carte items (chips, cookies, water, etc.) will still incur a cost.
Click here to read some Frequently Asked Questions
FREE AND REDUCED MEALS: While the District will be providing free breakfast and lunch to all students, it remains critical that eligible families submit a free and reduced application to determine student eligibility for related programs (Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT); discounted technology and WiFi programs; Athletic participation fees; etc.) Please see links below for more information and the ability to apply online.
Application for Free and Reduced-price School Meals
Applying for free or reduced-price meals:
For families who qualify, free or reduced-priced lunches are provided. Free or reduced-price meals may be applied for at any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now, but experience a change such as a decrease in household income, an increase in household size, become unemployed or get SNAP (formerly food stamps), fill out an application at that time.
Online Application (English | Español)
Additional Application Info (English | Español)
Translated School Meal Applications
Applications can be completed online or by paper by printing the form below:
English Form
Spanish Form
Lunch Pricing
All complete meals include a choice of fruit and milk
Elementary Schools
Student Price: $2.60
Adult Price: $5.00
A la Carte Items:
Baked Chips: $1.00
Ice Cream: $1.25
Small Water: $1.00
Large Water: $1.35
Milk: $.60
Middle School & High School
Student Complete Meal Price: $2.70/$3.60
Adult Meal is $5, Adult Sandwich $6, Adult Salad $7
A la Carte Items:
10 oz Juice $2
Chips and Snacks $1
Cookies $0.50 ea
Small Water $1
Large Water $1.35
Fresh Fruit $0.50
Life Water $2.50
12oz Tropicana $2.50
Switch $1.50
Snapple $1.35
Cereal $1
Bagel $1
Cream Cheese $0.50
Milk $0.60
Yogurt Parfait $2.25
Ice Cream $1
Frozen Yogurt $2.00
Fruit & Vegetable Policy
Any student that buys a meal shall have access to unlimited fruits & vegetables.
Any student that brings a lunch from home may purchase a fruit or vegetable for $.50 each.
Student Allergies
Wethersfield Public Schools recognizes that food allergies may be life-threatening.
The district encourages parents/guardians of students with food allergies to notify the school nurse of the allergies.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Field Trip Lunch Service
Nutritious student lunches are our first priority. USDA research indicates that children who participate in the School Lunch program have superior nutritional intakes compared to those students who do not participate. Teachers or coaches can order lunches for students traveling on classroom field trips or on athletic team competitions. If students will miss school lunch while they are on a field trip or traveling to a competition, they can sign up for lunches that can be picked up in the school kitchen/cafeteria on the morning of the trip.
Please fill out the field trip order form and submit it to the Food Service Office 7 days before the trip. Students can choose one of the following selections:
A. Turkey and Cheese Sandwich
B. Ham and Cheese Wrap
C. Bagel Fun Lunch with Cheese Stick
D. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
All lunches will include fresh baby carrots, fresh fruit, a bag of baked chips, and a low-fat milk (16.9oz bottled waters can be substituted for milk on field trips). Paper goods will be included. Coolers can be signed out for longer trips.
The cost for each student will follow their school’s lunch prices:
Elementary $2.60, SDMS $3.60, WHS $3.60; no charge for students who qualify for free lunch; $.40 for students who qualify for reduced lunch, Adults $5.00.
Students who sign up for a field trip lunch can have their lunch charged to their Nutrikids account or pay cash.
Please call Rob at 860.571.8277
Nutrition & Educational Resources
Nutritious meals are the foundation of any healthy eating plan and the school breakfast and lunch meals remain the cornerstone of all school based child nutrition programs. It is the position of Chartwells School Dining Services that we become active participants in fostering healthy school environments in the communities that we serve. Creating a healthy school environment involves the collaboration of many, including Administrators, Parents, and School Dining Managers. At Chartwells, we take this responsibility very seriously and aim to be an integral part of the wellness solution.
Chartwells employs more food and nutrition specialists serving the academic community than any other food service company. All of our recipes, menus and nutrition programs are designed by a network of Registered Dieticians and professional Chefs. This team provides local support for every school district we serve.
Since students spend a significant portion of their day in the school environment, schools are uniquely positioned to convey the fundamentals of good health to students. Teaching students about wellness during the school aged years, builds a foundation for a healthy and productive life.
At the elementary level, the Chartwells Eat.Learn.Live. characters, Theodore Eat, Sydney C. Learn, and Ava Live focus on the importance of balanced meals, physical activity and nutrition education.
The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) developed the Connecticut Nutrition Standards in response to Section 10-215e of the Connecticut General Statutes, which requires the CSDE to publish a set of nutrition standards for foods offered for sale to students separately from a reimbursable school lunch or breakfast. The Connecticut Nutrition Standards focus on
limiting fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and sugars;
moderating portion sizes; and
promoting increased intake of nutrient-dense foods such as such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat/nonfat dairy products, lean meats, legumes, nuts and seeds.
The nutrients addressed in the Connecticut Nutrition Standards are based on current nutrition science and national health recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and national organizations, such as the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Dietetic Association and American Academy of Pediatrics. They are supported by 28 health and education organizations in Connecticut.
Health & Wellness
Health refers simply to a physical body being free from diseases, but wellness is an overall balance of your physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, environmental, and occupational well-being. Wellness is a lifestyle and is not an end to be achieved. Wellness means that one strives for balance throughout his whole life. On the other hand, health would be that a person wants to lose weight and lower blood pressure. Once he does this, he is considered healthy. Health is a goal one can achieve while wellness is a dynamic concept that continues for a lifetime.
Informational Links:
Local School Wellness Policy (LSWP) Summary
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 - Public Law 108-265 108th Congress Act Public Law 108-265) required that schools participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs (National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, After school Snack Program and Special Milk Program) establish a school wellness policy by the 2006-07 school year. The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) conducted a review of school wellness policies in Connecticut schools using a school wellness policy assessment tool developed in partnership with the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University.
Wethersfield participates in Healthy Food Certification with the CT State Department of Child Nutrition (HFC) under section 10-215f of the CT General Statues. By complying with Healthy Food Certification, our program sells only snack items that meet the Connecticut Nutrition Standards which focus on limiting fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and sugars, moderating portion sizes, and promoting increased intake of nutrient-dense foods such as whole grains. The nutrients addressed in the Connecticut Nutrition Standards are based on current nutrition science and national health recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, MyPyramid and national organizations, such as the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Dietetic Association and American Academy of Pediatrics.