March 7, 2024

Dear Parents and Guardians of PENN Students,

Starting on March 11, 2024, the Food and Nutrition Department will be offering a la carte food items available for purchase in addition to a student’s school lunch. These additional items include bottled water, freshly baked cookies, and packaged snacks such as baked chips, crackers, pretzels, and more. These new items all meet Smart Snack Guidelines (https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/guide-smart-snacks-schools) and meet our Divisions Clean label Policy to not include any artificial colors, preservatives, sweeteners, and partially hydrogenated fat in our menu. Students also can purchase second entrees, sides, and milk in addition to their first school breakfast and lunch.

These new a la carte food items can be purchased using cash or can be charged to a school meal account if there are sufficient funds available on this account. No sales of a la care items will be available to any student or adult who does not have money in their account. Prices for these new a la carte items and information about setting up and managing school meal accounts can be found on the PWCS Nutrition Website.

Please note that there are limits and regulations around the purchase of a la carte items at elementary and middle schools. A la carte items are intended to complement school meals and not replace them. Elementary and middle school students will only be able to purchase a la carte items if they have already purchased a school lunch or brought a lunch from home. In addition, purchases of cookies and packed snacks will be limited to one per student.

Thanks,

Elliot F. Bolles

Elliot F. Bolles, Ed.D.

Principal