On behalf of Nutrition Services, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our students to the 2022 – 2023 school year! We hope you enjoyed your summer and are ready and excited to be back in school. We, as Aramark Student Nutrition, are pleased to be your school district’s food service provider.

To help prepare for your child’s return to school, we want to share important news you may have heard: As of June 30, 2022, the federal waivers – administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – that made it possible for us to serve school breakfast and lunch meals to students for free throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, have expired.

However, we would like to reassure you that we are committed to providing every student in Lockport City School District with the tools they need to succeed, including nutritious meals they can enjoy. Lockport City School District is approved for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a meal program option offered by the USDA that allows us to serve school breakfast and lunch at no charge to all enrolled students, regardless of financial condition. Families don’t need to take any action. We only remind and encourage your child to take advantage of this opportunity and grab a school breakfast and lunch every single school day.

As we reopen for the new school year, Aramark Student Nutrition is Powering Potential for students and faculty with innovations in our menus and enhancements to our overall dining operations. When your child dines with us, rest assured that we will be serving delicious, nutritious meals prepared with the utmost attention to safety. We encourage every student to fuel up with breakfast and lunch meals each day so they can be energized and prepared to succeed throughout the day, in and out of the classroom. Check out our daily menus on Nutrislice | Lockport City SD.

One thing that you can do to help this important cause is to encourage your students to eat with us. The demands of the classroom can be difficult for children who are hungry, as you know. Studies indicate students who eat breakfast can concentrate better, earn higher grades, and have fewer illnesses*. We do offer various breakfast programs – either in the cafeteria or in the classroom – to ensure students can start the school day right! (*Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). “Breakfast for Learning.” Spring 2014.)

To further enhance our commitment to the health and wellness of our students, this year you can expect to see quarterly nutrition newsletters and monthly student educational materials. We look forward to working for you to create a healthy learning environment for all students. If you’d like more information, please call our office 1-716-478-4804 or email us at theagerty@lockportschools.net. or check the district website https://www.lockportschools.org for the latest news and updates.

Community Eligibility Parent Letter 

Dear Parent or Guardian: We are pleased to inform you that the Lockport City School District will be implementing a meal certification option available to schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs for the 2022-2023 school year.

What does this mean for your child(ren)? All students enrolled in Lockport City School District are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to your household each day of the 2022-2023 school year. No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit another application.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at (716) 478-4852. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, gender identity, 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 at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html Or 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 mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda.gov