Free or Reduced lunch ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. What about when parents are working or volunteering at the school in some capacity? Would they be able to find out? People seem to gossip too much at our school.

It is all coded now with an individual pin number. No one should have a clue who is paying vs who isn't.

[Anonymous]

The music teachers might know because those kids also receive free instruments, instead of having to rent one from Music and Arts or Brobst Violins.

[Anonymous]

The kids that get the lunch every single day are generally getting free or reduced. Kids are aware of this...

[Anonymous]

Obvious when most kids bring their lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids that get the lunch every single day are generally getting free or reduced. Kids are aware of this...

Then the kids are wrong, my kid gets lunch every day and he is not even close to FARMs. Don't ask me why, he can make lunch at home but he seems to prefer to buy. He is not alone at his school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The kids that get the lunch every single day are generally getting free or reduced. Kids are aware of this...

Then the kids are wrong, my kid gets lunch every day and he is not even close to FARMs. Don't ask me why, he can make lunch at home but he seems to prefer to buy. He is not alone at his school.

[Anonymous]

Do teachers know which kids in the class get free or reduced lunch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The kids that get the lunch every single day are generally getting free or reduced. Kids are aware of this...

Then the kids are wrong, my kid gets lunch every day and he is not even close to FARMs. Don't ask me why, he can make lunch at home but he seems to prefer to buy. He is not alone at his school.

+1
I had one who packed lunch and one who bought. And, I suspect some FARMS kids also pack from time to time. All FARMS kids do not come from starvation homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do teachers know which kids in the class get free or reduced lunch?

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher and I used to know exactly who was in which category because I used to have to collect the reduced or the pay full price kids' money for lunch. Plus, there were different lunch card colors for each category (to prevent mix ups so teachers didn't try and collect $$ from kids who weren't supposed to pay).

Now, some schools offer free lunch to everyone or those who do pay, do it electronically (thank god because trying to collect lunch money from 5-6 year olds was a pain in the rear, trying to make change, etc, etc). But, schools still ask families to fill out the free and reduced lunch federal forms and families return those to teachers. So, yes, I see those. Families fill out forms to indicate they need a free coat for the winter. And even if I didn't see them, sometimes I know anyway because it is obvious. Sometimes families are able to weather the storms of poverty better than others and when they really struggle, it is noticeable.
I never ever share with anyone else the info I have unless it is someone in the school who needs to know. The secretaries know, but they know everything about everyone. I'm sure there are some schools where this is a part of salacious gossip, but honestly, not anywhere I've ever worked. People I've known are just there to help.

You clearly dont work for FCPS.

Collecting lunch money? Lunch cards? Um, no.

Try MySchholBucks and each kid punching in their number at the check-out. Done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do teachers know which kids in the class get free or reduced lunch?

No

I am temporarily under-employed while I finish up a master's program and my income level will be on the lower side. It would be helpful if I can get my kids the reduced lunch but I am hesitant to do it if it puts my kids on some kind of list where they send us canned food and free books.

[Anonymous]

If your family qualifies and could benefit please don’t let this fear stop you from signing up. If anyone ever makes a comment about it, that only reflects on them and their biases.

I am fairly certain that you have the option as to whether or not you get signed up for other benefits like help with school supplies or weekend food.

I have a child at a Title 1 school where the entire school automatically gets free breakfast and lunch via CEP and sometimes they send home free books to all kids too. My kid only asks why kids at other schools would possibly have to pay for food at school not why they and classmates don’t have to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher and I used to know exactly who was in which category because I used to have to collect the reduced or the pay full price kids' money for lunch. Plus, there were different lunch card colors for each category (to prevent mix ups so teachers didn't try and collect $$ from kids who weren't supposed to pay).

Now, some schools offer free lunch to everyone or those who do pay, do it electronically (thank god because trying to collect lunch money from 5-6 year olds was a pain in the rear, trying to make change, etc, etc). But, schools still ask families to fill out the free and reduced lunch federal forms and families return those to teachers. So, yes, I see those. Families fill out forms to indicate they need a free coat for the winter. And even if I didn't see them, sometimes I know anyway because it is obvious. Sometimes families are able to weather the storms of poverty better than others and when they really struggle, it is noticeable.
I never ever share with anyone else the info I have unless it is someone in the school who needs to know. The secretaries know, but they know everything about everyone. I'm sure there are some schools where this is a part of salacious gossip, but honestly, not anywhere I've ever worked. People I've known are just there to help.

You clearly dont work for FCPS.

Collecting lunch money? Lunch cards? Um, no.

Try MySchholBucks and each kid punching in their number at the check-out. Done.

Did you read the part about "used to?"

I was a teacher and back in the day that was the way it worked. Glad teachers are able to stay out of it.. They tried all sorts of things to keep it private, but the teachers knew because we collected the money. At my school, we finally had the cafeteria lady come to each class in the a.m. to "get the count" and then we just had the kids walk through the line. Most of the kids I taught were on Free Lunch.

[Anonymous]

I am at a title 1 school and I don’t know since everyone gets free breakfast and lunch.

Because it’s free for everyone, I suspect not as many families fill out the forms if no one explains to them the benefits outside of lunch.

But I have never been told who is on free and reduced list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher and I used to know exactly who was in which category because I used to have to collect the reduced or the pay full price kids' money for lunch. Plus, there were different lunch card colors for each category (to prevent mix ups so teachers didn't try and collect $$ from kids who weren't supposed to pay).

Now, some schools offer free lunch to everyone or those who do pay, do it electronically (thank god because trying to collect lunch money from 5-6 year olds was a pain in the rear, trying to make change, etc, etc). But, schools still ask families to fill out the free and reduced lunch federal forms and families return those to teachers. So, yes, I see those. Families fill out forms to indicate they need a free coat for the winter. And even if I didn't see them, sometimes I know anyway because it is obvious. Sometimes families are able to weather the storms of poverty better than others and when they really struggle, it is noticeable.
I never ever share with anyone else the info I have unless it is someone in the school who needs to know. The secretaries know, but they know everything about everyone. I'm sure there are some schools where this is a part of salacious gossip, but honestly, not anywhere I've ever worked. People I've known are just there to help.

You clearly dont work for FCPS.

Collecting lunch money? Lunch cards? Um, no.

Try MySchholBucks and each kid punching in their number at the check-out. Done.

Did you read the part about "used to?"

I was a teacher and back in the day that was the way it worked. Glad teachers are able to stay out of it.. They tried all sorts of things to keep it private, but the teachers knew because we collected the money. At my school, we finally had the cafeteria lady come to each class in the a.m. to "get the count" and then we just had the kids walk through the line. Most of the kids I taught were on Free Lunch.

DP
I just finished my 32nd year with FCPS (all ES) and I don’t recall ever collecting lunch money.