Food Service
The Portage Township Schools food service department serves nutritious and delicious meals to the students and staff of our schools. Nutrition has a direct impact on student learning, so we make it our mission to ensure all students have access to breakfast and lunch every day. Full stomachs lead to full minds!
Lunch and Breakfast Menus
Menus are subject to change.
While it is our intention to serve the posted menu each day at every school, supply chain issues have necessitated that we alter school menus with little notice. Our priority continues to be supporting the nutritional needs of our students, and we will always attempt to substitute the scheduled menu items with another that is as similar as possible. We are dedicated to continuing to provide wholesome meals for every student every day.
Special Meal/Allergy Accomodations
MEAL SUBSTITUTIONS FOR MEDICAL OR SPECIAL DIETARY REASONS
USDA Regulation 7 CFR Part 15b requires substitutions or modifications in school meals for children whose disabilities restrict their diets. A child with a disability must be provided substitutions in food when that need is supported by a signed statement from a licensed physician.
In Cases of Food Allergy
Generally, children with food allergies or intolerances do not have a disability as defined under either Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or Part B of IDEA, and the school food service may, but is not required to, make food substitutions for them. However, when in the licensed physician's assessment, food allergies may result in severe, life-threatening (anaphylactic) reactions, the child's condition would meet the definition of "disability," and the substitutions prescribed by the licensed physician must be made.
School food service may make food substitutions, at the discretion, for individual children who do not have a disability, but who are medically certified as having a special medical or dietary need. Such determinations are only made on a case-by-case basis. This provision covers those children who have food intolerances or allergies, but do not have life-threatening reactions (anaphylactic reactions) when exposed to the food(s) to which they have problems.
Medical Statement for Children with Special Dietary Needs
Each special dietary request must be supported by a statement explaining the requested food substitution and must be signed by a recognized medical authority. The Medical Statement must include:
- An identification of the medical or other special dietary condition which restricts the child's diet;
- The food or foods to be omitted from the child's diet; and
- the food or choice of foods to be substituted.
If we do not receive a medical statement from a recognized medical authority, your child will receive a regular lunch tray. Medical statements completed by parents or guardians will not be accepted.
Pre-Payment Options
Free Meals for All Students in 2023-2024
All Portage Township Schools students will receive free breakfast and lunch during the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. This is made possible through the USDA's CEP program. Each student is eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch per day. Additional food and a la carte items are available for an additional charge.
Online Payments
We will be utilizing My School Bucks to manage student meal accounts for the 2023-2024 school year. This is where you will be able to manage money for your child to purchase additional food and a la carte items. Here is how you can sign up for MySchoolBucks online.
Send Check or Cash
Families are welcome to bring money to our Food Service office to add money to their children's lunch accounts. Please place it in an envelope marked clearly with your child's name, their student ID number (located in PowerSchool), their teacher's name, the dollar amount, and the check number.
Transferring Funds/Refunds
Fund Transfers: Families will be able to transfer funds between students using My School Bucks. More information on this will be available soon.
Refunds: Refunds from your child's school lunch account must be requested and issued through the PTS Food Service Department (6270 US Highway 6 in Portage, located next to the PTS Administration Building). Please call (219)763-8008 to request a refund.
Angel Food Fund Donations: Leftover funds on your child's school lunch account may be donated to the Angel Food Fund. This fund assists families experiencing meal debt from previous school years. Please contact our Food Service Department at (219)763-8008 for more information.
2023-2024 Meal Prices
All Portage Township Schools students will receive free breakfast and lunch during the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. This is made possible through the USDA's CEP program. Each student is eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch per day. Additional food and a la carte items are available for an additional charge. Additional meal prices will be available soon.
Free/Reduced Meal Applications
All children will receive free breakfast and lunch, regardless of their Free/Reduced Meal status. We are waiting on further guidance from the USDA so that qualifying families can continue to receive the Free/Reduced associated benefits to include Summer EBT cards, 21st Century Scholars, college application fee assistance, and more.
Nutrition & Fitness Education
Nutrition is for Everyone!
The winning recipe for a healthy lifestyle includes a combination of both good nutrition and physical activity. Your body needs a variety of nutrient rich foods to grow and prevent illness. And your body also needs to move and exercise every day.
- Key things you need to know about leading a healthy lifestyle are:
- Eat a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products
- Control portion sizes and never "supersize"
- Get active for at least 60 minutes, five times a week for ages 6-18
- Avoid tobacco and illegal drugs all together
Well-nourished students have higher test scores, increased school attendance, improved concentration, and improved classroom behavior. Students who are physically fit sleep better and are better able to handle the physical and emotional challenges that they encounter during the day.
Proper nutrition in the school age years can reinforce lifelong eating habits that contribute to a student's overall well being. This will help them to grow and learn to their fullest potential and then go on to lead a long, healthy life. Click on the links below to see how you can form good nutrition habits.
Click on the link above to see how learning about nutrition is not only good for you but is also a lot of fun. Play the games and test your skill. Choosing the right foods can help you learn better, play harder, and have a lot more energy.
This teachers section includes a collection of teaching tools that reinforce our district's Wellness Policy, incorporating nutrition lessons into classroom curriculum. Click on the link above to find lessons, Power Points, links, and other resources to complement nutrition in the classroom.
We have put together some learning tools and resources to help you promote fitness and nutrition at home. We want to help you encourage and reinforce lifelong nutrition and fitness practices that will support healthy lifestyles for you and your children. Click the link above to learn more
Policies
Food Finder
Food Finder is a food pantry locator and 501(c)(3) nonprofit that show you when and where to get free food assistance in your area. The map on the homepage is a map of food pantries and school meal locations - every pin that appears is a food assistance program nearby. Click here to visit their website and find food assistance programs in our area.
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. Person with disabilities who require alternative means of communications 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 which can be obtained online at: Non Discrimination statement 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 (ASC) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
1. mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
(833)256-1665 or (202)690-7442; or
3. email:
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Contact the Food Service Department
Portage Township Schools Food Service Department
6270 U.S. Highway 6
Portage, IN 46368
(219)763-8008
Dawn Kelley
Director of Food Services
(219)764-6277
Kelly Pennington
Food Nutrition Operations Manager
(219)764-6278
Linda O'Hara
Operations Coordinator
(219)764-6281
Cecilia Quiñones
Site Specialist/Receptionist
(219)764-6279
Amanda Palmer
Finance & Information Specialist
(219)764-6280