Welcome back from Food Service!

We can’t wait to welcome students back to the cafeteria for the 2023-2024 school year! To kick off the new year, we wanted to share a few things you and your child can look forward to when it comes to mealtime, information on free meals and steps to complete the Education Benefit Form, how we manage food allergies and the documentation needed, and an inside look at the new recipes, concepts, and programs we’ll be introducing this fall.

Free Meals and the Education Benefits Form

Cheboygan Area Schools will continue to offer FREE breakfast and lunch to all students daily as we have been doing for many years. As a reminder, any extras such as additional entrees, extra milk, or other a la carte items will still have a cost associated with them. As an example, a student that wants a second piece of pizza, or a student who brings a lunch from home but wants a milk only, will be charged for those items.

Further, we ask that all families please complete the Education Benefits Form regardless of whether you feel you would not normally qualify for a meal benefit.

The Education Benefits Form collects information needed to ensure the school receives state and federal funding for education programs. Without this information, Cheboygan Area Schools could lose important funding for education programs that our students need.

Why is Cheboygan Area Schools requesting financial information? The Education Benefits Form determines eligibility of a student or household. The total count of eligible students is used to determine the funding amounts that will be made available to a school. The more forms returned the better. The form is available in all school offices, (some may be sent home), and may also be completed online. Follow the link on the Food Service page under Departments on the District website.

Menus, Nutrition Facts, and Mobile Ordering at Your Fingertips

Through Nutrislice, an innovative app, students, parents and faculty have access to school menus, including nutrition information, allergens and photos. Nutrislice can be downloaded for free from the App store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) and is available on desktop and mobile devices. Menus are also available on the District website as well as school offices.

Programs that Encourage Fun and Discovery

Chartwells and the dedicated food service team here at CAS continues to inspire healthy eating habits and spark a culinary curiosity to last a lifetime through fun and engaging programs, including:

* Global Eats: Highlighting the unique ingredients and authentic flavors from cuisines around the world, Global Eats brings a world of flavors to the cafeteria. Our newest signature program takes students on a food exploration that celebrates cultural heritages, traveling through China, India, Italy, Mexico, and more.

* Discovery Kitchen: Designed to make nutrition education fun and entertaining, Chartwells chefs and dietitians have worked together to create curriculums that get kids cooking, trying new foods, and learning about what they’re eating. Each month has a different theme and activities will be adapted for the current meal programs.

* Mood Boost: This innovative program helps elementary and middle school students connect what they eat with how they feel. It features recipes and characters that focus on six moods: Smart, Happy, Confident, Alert, Strong and Calm.

* Student Choice: Giving middle and high school students a voice in deciding what food concepts are featured and new menu items that will be available, Student Choice brings the latest food trends to school menus.

Food Allergies and Special Dietary Needs

We recognize the critical importance of our approach to supporting students and families who manage food allergy and dietary issues every day.  Our approach involves coordination between parents and guardians, school nurses, school administrators, and food service professionals.

If you would like your child to receive meal accommodations for food allergies or a medical condition impacting the diet, please visit the Food Service page on the District website to obtain the required form and submission information.

Celebrating Our School Lunch Heroes

As kids advance from grade to grade with new classes and different teachers, the dedicated lunch ladies and men in the school cafeteria are often one of the few constants throughout the academic journey. Throughout the school year, these heroes of the cafeteria are dedicated to making mealtime a bright spot in a student’s day, ensuring kids throughout the Cheboygan community are served nourishing meals.

Through sharing our passion for great tasting food, instilling a desire for food discovery, and most importantly, providing nourishing meals, we're excited to continue serving up happy and healthy to your children in the year ahead!

We love hearing from parents, and your feedback is important to us. Please reach out to our team with any questions or comments. We’re looking forward to a great school year!

Thank you,

John Galacz

Director of Dining Services

Food Service
801 W. Lincoln Ave
Cheboygan, MI 49721
231-625-3794 

John Galacz - Food Service Director
Leslie Jonas - High School Head Cook
Barb Borowicz - Intermediate/Middle School Head Cook
Christina Barrette - Elementary School Head Cook

• 2 - Education Benefits Form with annual income ranges 2024-2025

• Request for Special Dietary Needs