Food Services

Nourishing Students for Success

The Avon Grove School District Food Service Department will provide all students with the fuel their minds and bodies need in order to learn, by preparing and serving nutritious meals in accordance with the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs.

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) evolved from efforts to assist children in low-income households and was established under the National School Lunch Act signed by President Harry Truman in 1946. The program is monitored by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Department of Education and all menus must meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The NSLP is designed to provide students with approximately one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Menus are planned to limit calories from fat to less than 30% and less than 10% calories from saturated fat. A variety of grains, vegetables and fruits are available daily.

All school cafeterias participating in the National School Lunch Program are meeting tough new federal nutrition standards for school meals. This change is due to the passage of the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act passed by U.S. Congress.

Updates to Our School Breakfast Program: Nourishing Students for Success!

We are excited to share important updates to the National School Breakfast Program guidelines, aligning our meals even more closely with the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These changes, phased in over the coming school years, aim to provide even healthier and more delicious breakfast options for all students!

Focus on Less Added Sugars: For the first time, there will be limits on added sugars in specific breakfast items like cereals, yogurt, and flavored milk, starting July 1, 2025. By July 1, 2027, the goal is for added sugars to make up no more than 10% of weekly calories in our school breakfasts.
Gradual Sodium Reduction: We'll be gradually reducing sodium levels in school breakfasts, with a 10% reduction targeted by July 1, 2027.
Continued Emphasis on Whole Grains: Our commitment to whole grains remains strong, with at least 80% of weekly grains offered continuing to be whole grain-rich.

Resources

Menus

August and September Menus

Penn London Elementary School (ESPANOL)

Avon Grove Intermediate School (ESPANOL)

Avon Grove Middle School (ESPANOL)

Avon Grove High School (ESPANOL)

Menus are subject to change without notice.

What is a Meal?

Beginning July 1, 2014 a student must select 3 of the 4 items offered at breakfast and one of those MUST be a serving of fruit to qualify for the breakfast MEAL price. Students with incomplete breakfast meals will be charged a la carte pricing for each item.

As in previous years, the student lunch MEAL consists of 5 components: Protein, Grains, Vegetables, Fruits and Milk. Using the offer vs. serve option, a student must select 3 of these 5 components and 1 of those components must be a 1/2 cup serving of fruit or vegetable to qualify for the meal price. Students with incomplete meals will be charged a la carte pricing for each item.

We encourage all students to choose all components for well balanced meals.

Before you double up on the entree, complete your meal with fruit and vegetables!

SchoolCafe

Avon Grove School District is proud to offer SchoolCafe a safe and secure way for parents to make online payments to student meal accounts.

Enrollment is fast and easy with the Student ID number for each student.

With SchoolCafe you will enjoy convenient features including low balance alerts, automatic payments, access to student purchase history and balance information as well as school menus.

Please contact SchoolCafe at 1.855.729.2328 with questions concerning registration. Please contact the Food Service Office with questions concerning purchase activity.

2026-2027 Student Lunch Meal Prices

Free & Reduced Price Meals

Please visit SchoolCafe to apply for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2026-2027 school year.

Applications for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2026-2027 school year are available. As a reminder, applications are due every year before the end of the 30 day grace period, usually in early October. We encourage families to apply before Oct 1st.

Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Food and Nutrition has announced an upgrade to streamline the process of student eligibility determination. The upgraded process in an online application where families can apply for Free and Reduced Price Meals quickly and easily. Find an instruction card here.

You may also download the application packets listed below.

2026-2027 ENGLISH FREE AND REDUCED MEAL APPLICATION PACKET

2026-2027 SPANISH FREE AND REDUCED MEAL APPLICATION PACKET

With the re authorization of the National School Lunch Program, students enrolled in the Migrant Education Program are eligible to receive free school breakfast and lunch; a family application is not required.

Please call our office at 610.869.2441 if you need assistance with completing the application.

Dietary Needs

Accommodating Children with Special Dietary Needs in the School Nutrition Program

If a child has been determined by a doctor to be disabled and the disability would prevent the child from eating the regular school meal, the school will make substitutions prescribed by a licensed medical professional as described in the Medical Plan of Care document. If a substitution is needed, there will be no additional charge for the meal. Please complete the Medical Plan of Care document and email to Mita Barot at mbarot@avongrove.org

Schools may make substitutions for students who have a special dietary need, but do not meet the definition of disability (ie. food intolerances). Lactose Free Milk may be provided for those students with a non-disabling special dietary need, such as milk intolerance, or due to cultural, religious or ethnic beliefs.

Medical Plan of Care Document

Meal Charging Policy

Meal Policy & POS Information

Touchless Access to Meal Account

All students have been assigned a personal identification number (PIN) and will receive an ID card which will be scanned for all purchases in the cafeteria. All students will receive an ID card with a barcoded PIN number at the start of the school year. As students proceed to the cashier, they will scan the ID card to access funds in their prepaid account.

All students or parents may prepay for meals by depositing cash or check into the meal account at breakfast or lunch service. Parents also may prepay online via S choolCafe.com.

This system provides complete confidentiality to all students as all students have an ID Card and PIN number and use it in the same way.

School Meal Account and Charges

All students who request a school meal may receive a school meal regardless of cash on hand or account balance. Students are permitted to charge one (1) complete student breakfast meal and one (1) complete student lunch meal daily.

Negative balance reminder letters will be sent to parents on a regular basis. All debts must be paid before the end of the school year. Please contact the Food Service Office to make payment arrangements.

Schools may only prohibit charging when a written directive is received from a parent or guardian.

Parent Request for No Charge Form

A la carte, second meals and snack items may not be charged at any time.

Meal Policy

Carry Over Balances

All positive balances at the end of the school year will carry over to the next school year, following the student to their new grade and homeroom assignment.

Negative balances must be cleared up before the end of the school year. Notices will continue until the debt has been paid. Please contact the Food Service Office to make payment arrangements.

Positive Balance Notifications will be sent to all graduating seniors requesting one of three options: refund, transfer the balance to a sibling or donate the balance for the benefit of another student.

Refund request form - English

Refund request form - Spanish

Use Student ID to access Meal Account

As students proceed to the cashier, they will scan their student identification badge or enter their PIN to access their meal account and quickly move through the line. At this point the process remains the same where the student may pay with cash or use funds in their prepaid account.

Food Allergy List and Food Safety

Catering Request

Community Resources

At Avon Grove School District, we understand that every family may need a helping hand from time to time. If you are experiencing food insecurity or need assistance accessing nutritious meals, the following community resources are available to support you. All services are confidential, and many are available year-round.

Chester County Food Bank

The Chester County Food Bank connects individuals and families with local food pantries, meal sites, and nutrition resources throughout Chester County. Their Food Finder tool can help you locate the nearest food pantry, and staff are available to assist with SNAP applications.

Pennsylvania SNAP (Food Assistance)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps eligible individuals and families purchase groceries. If you are unsure whether you qualify, the Chester County Food Bank can help you complete an application.

Women, Infants & Children (WIC)

The Chester County Health Department administers the WIC program, which provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age five. A WIC clinic is conveniently located in Toughkenamon, serving families in southern Chester County.

PA 211 Southeast

PA 211 is a free, confidential resource that connects families with community services, including:

Emergency food assistance
Housing and utility assistance
Childcare resources
Healthcare and mental health services
Financial assistance
Transportation resources

Simply dial 2-1-1 or 1-866-964-7922 to speak with a resource specialist.

Need Help Finding Resources?

If you are unsure where to begin, contact the Chester County Food Bank or call PA 211. These organizations can connect you with food assistance and other community resources available near your home.

Food and Nutrition Resources

Wellness Policy

Avon Grove School District recognizes that student wellness and proper nutrition are related to students' physical well-being, growth, development and readiness to learn. The Board is committed to providing a school environment that promotes student wellness, proper nutrition, nutrition education and promotion, and regular physical activity as part of the total learning experience. In a healthy school environment, students will learn about and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices that can improve student achievement.

Click the link to view the full wellness policy.

The USDA Program Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form can be obtained online, from any USDA office by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted 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; or
fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
email:
Program.Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

US Department of Agriculture Non-Discrimination Statement
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Program Discrimination Complaint Form and Instructions
DFN Civil Rights Complaint Procedure-2022

Summer Meals

Summer Meals in Your Community

Summer Meals for Children and Teens being served in your community.

To find a nearby site:

Call: 1-866-3HUNGRY (english) or 1-877-8HAMBRE (spanish)
Text: FOOD or COMIDA to 914-342-7744 during the summer months
Visit: https://www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sitefinder

SUN Bucks

Summer EBT, or “SUN Bucks,” has been authorized by a bipartisan U.S. Congress to provide food dollars over the summer months to low-income families with school-aged children. The program is proven to reduce food insecurity and improve children's nutrition during summer break. Governor Shapiro’s administration announced that the Commonwealth would participate in this program beginning in the summer of 2024. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees the program, and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) coordinates the benefit issuance in Pennsylvania.

Please refer to DHS SUN Bucks website for information.

Contact DHS Statewide Customer Service Center at 877-395-8930.

Smart Snacks

USDA Smart Snacks in Schools

USDA School Snacks - Smart Snacks Guide for Parents, Teachers

School Fundraising Options

Reward and Incentive Ideas

Smart Snack Options and Resources

AGSD School Board Policy 246: School Wellness

Wellness Policy Assessment Tools

On August 24, 2017 the Board of School Directors adopted Policy 246: School Wellness. The Board is committed to providing a school environment that promotes student wellness and this policy is based on recommendations of the District Wellness Committee and in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with this new policy, especially as it relates to Birthday Celebrations, Rewards/Incentives, shared classroom snacks and classroom holiday celebrations (pg.8 & 9).

Field Trip Lunches

School Cafe
Menus

Food Services Administration

Director of Food Service
Mitali Barot
610.869.2441 x50500

Secretary

Marlene Nieves Diaz
610.869.2441 x50510

Avon Grove High School
Judy Hoopes

Avon Grove Middle School
Kathy Bivens

Avon Grove Intermediate School
Sue Kanis

Penn London Elementary School
Anna Mayer

If you believe your family may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals, please complete a Free and Reduced-Price Meal online application by logging into your SchoolCafe.com account. Paper applications are available for download on our webpage.