Meal Prices

PHM School Meal Program 2024-2025 

P-H-M school meals are healthy, well-balanced and tasty as well as providing students the nutrition they need to succeed at school. School menus are posted here and at Schoolcafe.com. 

School meals offer students milk, fruits and vegetables, proteins and whole grains, and they must meet strict limits on saturated fat, sodium and portion size. A detailed analysis of lunch entrees can be found on Schoolcafe.com.

Breakfast Programs – For parents with busy schedules, it can be hard to make sure that kids are eating a healthy breakfast before they go to school in the morning. Sometimes children aren’t hungry right after waking up, and it’s hard to find food they like to eat that is also healthy. Also, some kids refuse breakfast at home but are hungry when they arrive at school. Fortunately, we have a great breakfast program for all students, and it’s available at school every day.

If morning meals are difficult for your family, let the School Breakfast Program help you out! Free meal students receive a free breakfast. Reduced price breakfast for qualified students is $.30. Regular priced breakfast is $1.35 at elementary and $1.60 at secondary. À la carte is also available at the middle and Penn High School. All elementary and secondary schools serve breakfast each morning.

Lunch Program – Students in all schools are offered many choices that they can combine into a complete lunch. The complete lunch includes 1 Entrée, fruit, vegetable, and milk. Students must take at least 1 fruit or vegetable but may take both or 2 fruits or 2 vegetables. Students not selecting a minimum of 3 items will be charged à la carte for the items chosen. Students choosing more than 1 Entrée and 3 sides will be charged on an à la carte basis for the additional items. Meal prices are $2.50 for elementary, $2.75 for middle and high schools. Approved free students will receive lunch for free and reduced lunch is 40 cents. Elementary students are required to purchase a complete lunch unless the student has brought their lunch from home. 

Snack Purchases – A variety of snacks and drinks meeting the new “Smart Snacks” regulation are offered to students. Snack purchases are limited in the elementary and middle schools as follows: Elementary students are limited to one snack and one additional drink per day. Middle School students are limited to two snack purchases and one additional drink per day. Parents can block snack purchases by going to Schoolcafe.com when putting money on their child’s debit card. Snack prices at the elementary range from $.50 to $1.50. À la carte at the middle and high schools is from $.50 to $3.50. 

Debit Cards – This is an easy to use option so your child does not need to bring money daily. You may pay online at Schoolcafe.com or send cash or check into the school. Please specify your child’s name and “lunch money” on the envelope. You may register your child on Schoolcafe.com to monitor their purchases. Please keep in mind that per district policy, refunds are only made for $20.00 or more. We are always happy to move money between student accounts. 

Free/Reduced Meal and Textbook Applications can be complete online at SchoolCafe.com. You can access this by computer or mobile device. After the application is approved, you can print off confirmation letters from the website. If you are unable to complete an online application, paper applications are available at each school. 

Meal Charges Please make sure your child has meal money daily. Charges are not allowed for à la carte items that are packaged. Please see the Meal Charge policy for details.


SchoolCafe 

School Cafe Flyer


The National School Lunch Program

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) requires school food authorities to establish written administrative guidelines for meal charges. Penn Harris Madison School Corporation will adhere to the following meal charge guidelines:

  1. Cafeteria purchases are to be prepaid before meal service begins or at the Point of Sale either by credit or debit card or EFT using the food service online payment system, by cash or check at the point of sale or in the individual school office.
  2. A student may charge up to three (3) meals maximum (one charge per meal) as long as they establish and maintain a good credit history of making payments on their food service accounts.
  3. A staff member may charge up to $3.00 as long as they establish and maintain a good credit history of making payments on their food service accounts.
  4. A student who has charged a meal may not charge or purchase à la carte item(s), including extra main entrees.
  5. Schools may deny a meal to a student who pays reduced or full price and who does not provide the required payment for that meal following three charged meals. The student and the parent must be notified at least 24 hours in advance that future meals will be denied. The Site Leader will keep a record of notifications.
  6. The Site Leader or other school personnel will coordinate communications with the parent(s)/guardian(s) to resolve the matter of unpaid charges.
  7. If food and nutrition services staff suspects that a student may be abusing this policy, written notice will be provided to the parent(s)/guardian(s) that if he/she continues to abuse this policy, the privilege of charging meals may be refused.
  8. The Site leader will send home or email letters at least once each week to parents of students who have low balances. The site leader will also make phone calls at least twice a week to all parents of students who have negative balances.
  9. All accounts must be settled at the end of a school year. Letters will be sent home approximately five (5) days before the last day of school to students who have any negative balances. Negative balances of more than $10.00 not paid in full thirty (30) days prior to the start of the following school year will force the District to take action to collect unpaid funds by means of collection agencies, small claims court, or any other legal method deemed necessary by the District. The United States Department of Agriculture does not allow school nutrition programs to write-off debt.
  10. Refunds of meal account balances will be made through a check mailed to the student address on record. To request a refund call or email the Food Service Office at 574-254-2814 or mjaroch@phm.k12.in.us. Refunds will only be processed for balances of $20.00 or more unless the student is approved for free or reduced meals. You may request a transfer of any amount to be moved to another student account.
  11. This information will be shared with parents on the PHM website and through the first day of school packet. It will also be shared with appropriate school staff.

Breakfast

*See the list above to see what P-H-M schools serve breakfast.

  • Elementary: $1.35
  • Middle and High School: $1.60
  • Reduced Price for all eligible students: $0.30
  • Click Here for Free/Reduced Application
  • Adult Price: $2.50

Lunch

  • Elementary: $2.50
  • Middle and High School: $2.75
  • Reduced Price for eligible students: $0.40
  • Click Here for Free/Reduced Application
  • Adult Price: $4.60

Snacks & À la carte

Snacks at the elementary range from $.50 to $1.50 each.

À la carte purchases at the middle and high schools range from $.50 to $3.50. 


Payment Options

You can pay for child’s meals online using a debit or credit card or by  cash or check at the school. Click here for more details on the payment options.

Meal Price Guidelines

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) requires school food authorities to establish written administrative guidelines for meal charges. Penn Harris Madison School Corporation will adhere to the meal charge guidelines. Click here to read those guidelines.

Middle School Menus

Breakfast & Lunch is served at all three middle schools.

Monthly Menus:

*School menus are also posted in Schoolcafe.com. 

The Penn-Harris-Madison Food Service department implements the Offer Versus Serve (OVS) system. OVS allows students to accept or decline some of the food offered as part of a complete meal. The goals of “OVS are to reduce food waste in the school nutrition programs and to allow students more customization of the meal they select. 

CLICK HERE to fill out a new application for Free / Reduced Lunch. 

*Due to nation-wide supply shortages, meals could be subject to change. Products or menu items are being substituted when a school kitchen runs out of any particular item. School kitchen staff are trying to make sure that the students have their first choices available, but that may not always be possible. If a student has a specific dietary need, the family is welcome to fill out a special diet form that can be obtained from the school nurse or click here to download it off our website, and then there will be a full meal waiting for the student each day. 

Breakfast benefits

Elementary School Menus

Breakfast & Lunch is served at all 11 elementary schools.

Monthly Menus:

*School menus are also posted in Schoolcafe.com. 

The Penn-Harris-Madison Food Service department implements the Offer Versus Serve (OVS) system. OVS allows students to accept or decline some of the food offered as part of a complete meal. The goals of “OVS are to reduce food waste in the school nutrition programs and to allow students more customization of the meal they select. 

CLICK HERE to fill out a new application for Free / Reduced Lunch. 

*Due to nation-wide supply shortages, meals could be subject to change. Products or menu items are being substituted when a school kitchen runs out of any particular item. School kitchen staff are trying to make sure that the students have their first choices available, but that may not always be possible. If a student has a specific dietary need, the family is welcome to fill out a special diet form that can be obtained from the school nurse or click here to download it off our website, and then there will be a full meal waiting for the student each day. 

Breakfast benefits

Payment Options

DEBIT CARDS AND CREDIT CARDS

We recommend that parents create a SchoolCafé account to pre-pay for meals online using a debit or credit card. Visit P-H-M’s PAY MEALS ONLINE page to learn more about the many benefits of using SchoolCafé.

CASH OR CHECK

If you prefer to pay the school via cash or check, please write your child’s name and “lunch money” on the envelope. Don’t forget to specify either “Meal account” or “Ala-carte account.”  The meal account only allows full meal purchases, while ala-carte allows for the purchase of snacks as well as meals.

 

Note that when you provide a check as payment for a food purchase in the food service department, you authorize the P-H-M Food Service Department to process the payment as a check transaction. Federal Automated Recovery Systems (FARS) processes our electronic collection of checks returned for insufficient funds (NSF).  


PAYMENT TERMS

Please make sure that your child has lunch money available each day. Children without lunch money may be required to call home, or be served a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, milk and fruit, after the first charged meal. You will still be charged for peanut butter and jelly meals. Ala-carte and snack items may not be charged.

If your child has a negative balance, they will not be allowed to purchase snacks. Food Services is not allowed to carry negative balances on children’s accounts in the National School Lunch Program so if a meal is charged for your student, you must pay the amount due the following day.

Free/Reduced Meals Assistance

Your family may be eligible for assistance paying for cafeteria meals. 

Households that meet the financial guidelines of the National School Lunch Program are eligible for free or reduced meal prices. To receive this support parents must apply annually and provide information that serves to verify household income. The application is easy to fill out; you can choose online or paper format.  Please make sure to submit only one form (application) per household, even if the children are in different schools.  

We encourage P-H-M parents to apply online at this website: www.schoolcafe.com.

Applying online is faster and easier than using printed forms, and your benefits will start sooner!

Prefer to apply using a paper form? ​

Questions about the application process should be directed to Administrative Assistant of Food Service Mindy Jaroch, click here to email or call (574) 254-2814.

Summer Food Service Program

The Summer Food Service Program for 2024 is complete. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make it happen. The information for Summer 2025 will be posted in late May, 2025.

 


Information on the 2024 program is for informational purposes only. Locations, prices and other details are subject to change for 2025

Summer School Food Service 2024:

Meals for summer school students will be available at both elementary locations, Prairie Vista and Meadow’s Edge.

Summer Food Service Program:

The Food Service Department of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is participating in the Summer Food Service Program.

FREE MEALS will be available to ANY child between the age of 1-18! The child does not need to be enrolled in P-H-M to qualify for a meal.

This is also available to persons more than 18 who are determined by a state or local public education agency to be mentally or physically disabled and who participate in a public or non-profit private school program established for the mentally or physically disabled. The program will operate Monday through Friday.

The only requirement is to enjoy your lunch at the site. Food may not be taken off site to eat.

Additional meals for adults will be available for $5.00.

​All sites will be closed on Thursday, July 4, 2024.

The locations, times and dates can be seen in the graphic below, or click here.

summer food sites 2024

*Menu items are subject to change based on product availability


To find additional Summer Food Service site please use the resources:

  • Text ‘Summer Meals’ or ‘Verano’ to 914-342-7744
  • Visit the USDA Site Finder

 


Contact Penn-Harris-Madison Food Services at 574-254-2814.  

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

Special dietary needs in the school breakfast or lunch program

This form is used by a medical professional to certify dietary needs related to a student’s health condition or disability

Medical Statement for Children with Special Needs in the School Breakfast and Lunch Program

Penn Menus

Breakfast & Lunch is served at Penn High School.

Menus:

Click Here for Information on our Summer Food Service Program

CLICK HERE to fill out a new application for Free / Reduced Lunch. 

*If a student has a specific dietary need, the family is welcome to fill out a special diet form that can be obtained from the school nurse or click here to download it off our website, and then there will be a full meal waiting for the student each day.  

Benefits of Breakfast 

  • Eating breakfast can help improve math, reading, and standardized test scores
  • Children who eat breakfast are more likely to behave better in school and get along with their peers than those who do not
  • Breakfast helps children pay attention, perform problem-solving tasks, and improves memory
  • Children who eat school breakfast are likely to have fewer absences and incidents of tardiness than those who do not
  • By eating breakfast, students get more of important nutrients, vitamins and minerals such as calcium, dietary fiber, folate and protein
  • Studies have shown that children who eat breakfast on a regular basis are less likely to be overweight
  • Eating breakfast as a child is important for establishing healthy habits for later in life
  • Schools that provide breakfast in the classroom to all students have shown decreases in tardiness and suspensions as well as improved student behavior and attentiveness
  • What you eat for breakfast can have an impact on learning. One study showed that eating breakfast food high in fiber and low in sugar for breakfast helped students sustain the cognitive effects of breakfast
  • School Breakfast provides daily servings of fruit, whole grains, and milk, plus roughly ¼ the recommended calories needed for lasting energy

Pay Meals Online

*Parents can set spending limits for their student(s) accounts. Please visit www.schoolcafe.com to create your new accounts.

SchoolCafé is P-H-M’s online payment system for school cafeteria meals!

The SchoolCafé secure payment portal at www.schoolcafe.com allows parents to pay online using credit or debit cards. Other SchoolCafé benefits include:

  • Easy to enroll
  • Downloadable app
  • View your child’s cafeteria balance
  • See what your child ate & spent
  • 24/7 access to your account
  • Set up automatic payments
  • Get low balance email reminders
  • Apply online for Free/Reduced Lunch & Textbook Assistance 

Click here to download a pdf of step-by-step instructions to set up your account today. Click here for the Spanish version.

SchoolCafé will charge a 5% service fee for each transaction (no minimum required). MySchoolBucks had previously charged $1.95 per transaction regardless of the amount. Parents may find it most beneficial to add $39 at a time to their child’s account which would keep the SchoolCafé service fee at $1.95, the same as they were previously paying.

To create a SchoolCafé account, you will need a valid email address and your child’s school ID. Then go to www.schoolcafe.com and follow the steps. 

  • Once you’ve created your account, all the school children in your family, no matter which P-H-M school they attend, can be added to your one account. 
  • Remember to bookmark www.schoolcafe.com in your browser—or you can get there quickly through all P-H-M websites. Just look under QUICK NAVIGATION in the lower left corner of the page and click on PAY MEALS ONLINE.

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Food & Nutrition

Horizon students at lunch


Penn-Harris-Madison Food Service proudly serves nutritious school meals that meet federal nutritional standards and guidelines. Providing healthy, well-balanced meals supports students’ overall performance and success at school. Proper nutrition fuels the brain!

Penn-Harris-Madison’s Food Service Department is located within Penn High School, at 56100 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545. 

List of Contacts:

  • Jill Riggs, Director of Food Service (574) 258-9552
  • Michael Alwine, Assistant Director of Food Service 574-258-9500 ext 20997
  • Mindy Jaroch, Secretary (574) 254-2814

Jill, Michael, and Mindy are all happy to assist Penn-Harris-Madison families with questions or concerns about food service at any of the fifteen schools.


Penn-Harris-Madison is an equal opportunity provider

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 which can be obtained online, click here. Or call the USDA office at (866) 632-9992, or write 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:

    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:
      program.intake@usda.gov