APS where, when, and how do we learn about school lunch?

[Anonymous]

It occurred to me that school starts in two weeks and I don't know the first thing about what time DD will eat lunch, how much it costs to buy lunch, if a menu is posted in advance, and all those things.

I thought I was on top of things with school supplies, backpack, lunch box, and all that but now I'm getting worried about all the things I'm not thinking of.

[Anonymous]

Your child could eat anytime between 10:15 or 10:30 and 1:00 or something close to that.

Menus and pricing are posted on the APS website.

[Anonymous]

http://www.apsva.us/Domain/112

They changed up how they do menus each year, and they're harder to find. Sign up for a meal account at My School Bucks. If your child is starting kindergarten, I'd plan on sending lunch the first month or so - it can be a bit much for the littlest ones to get their lunches, remember their lunch number, and actually eat.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. I would send in a lunch since the lines to buy can be really long. Plus the food is um, hmm, what's a word to describe it?

[Anonymous]

Is she in K? Most kids brought their lunches, at least in the beginning of the year, b/c lunch isn't that long and it's better not to have to wait in line. That said, there will be people to help your daughter if she buys and they don't have to have their numbers memorized. Each kid has a card and the teacher keeps it. Kids who are buying are given their card right before lunch.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you very much for all your responses, this is helpful!

[Anonymous]

I agree with sending her with lunch for the first month. After that, though, you might want her to try buying a few times. Our kindergarten teacher last year specifically recommended it because kindergartners (at least in our APS school) got an extra 10 minutes for lunch, which gave them more time to figure out how the lunch line works. A first grader who's never bought lunch before and doesn't understand the system won't have as much time to figure it out and get through the line efficiently.

[Anonymous]

As to what time they eat, you will be able to find out her class's schedule at the school open house. At our school, that's on the Thurs. before school starts. If you haven't heard about it, check the school website or call the school.

[Anonymous]

Our kindergartener bought lunch pretty often this year, because it helped us get out of the house on time. If she likes the lunch on the menu, she buys. If not, she brings. If you google "APS elementary lunch menu" you might find something. I print them out and put them on the fridge. You should definitely set up and fund your myschoolbucks account now, and do the quarterly fee to save a lot on paying for individual transactions.

I've eaten lunch with my daughter's class a few times. I liked the burger, but was a little wary of the salisbury steak, which she said was fine. She dislikes the (whole grain crust) pizza. there are alternatives, like PB&J or bagels if they forget lunch and don't like the lunch. And pudding cups!

[Anonymous]

I heard they're introducing Lunchables.

[Anonymous]

But even if you do end up sending lunch every day, put some money in her account. That way if someone forgets or lunch or something like that, she can buy it!

[Anonymous]

I agree with the previous poster who said that the lunch lines are long. I don't think parents realize how little time buyers have to eat. ?. --APS teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the previous poster who said that the lunch lines are long. I don't think parents realize how little time buyers have to eat. ?. --APS teacher

That was supposed to be a sad face. Not a?.

[Anonymous]

Follow-up question. If I put money in her account, how does the school know that? Will she be issued a lunch card, or does she give her name to the checkout person? Sorry, beginner questions but I'm starting to get nervous about the details of sending my little one off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Follow-up question. If I put money in her account, how does the school know that? Will she be issued a lunch card, or does she give her name to the checkout person? Sorry, beginner questions but I'm starting to get nervous about the details of sending my little one off.

In my son's school, the teacher would give out lunch cards to the kindergartners who were buying before they went to the cafeteria, and those cards (which were linked to each child's account) would be swiped at the register to pay. If the child didn't have their lunch card for whatever reason, they could also punch in their student id number at the keypad. I had no clue how this all worked when I sent my kid to kindergarten, his teacher taught them all how to do it, helped them memorize their student id numbers, etc.