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    Dear OPUSD Middle and High School Families,

    Welcome to the new school year! Our Student Nutrition and Wellness team is ready to provide your students with fresh, scratch-cooked meals each day—always free of charge.

    Meals at OPUSD are prepared on-site using ingredients that are fresh and minimally processed. We offer Mary’s organic chicken, Straus 1% milk through bulk dispensers, and seasonal produce from local farms. Compostable serveware is used across all sites.

    This year, we’re introducing several updates in response to student and family feedback, including input from the LCAP survey. While our program follows USDA and CA state nutrition guidelines, we make changes where we can and are always looking for ways to improve.

    Here’s what to know for the year ahead:

    FREE MEALS FOR ALL STUDENTS

    Thanks to California’s Universal Meals Program, all students may receive one free breakfast and one free lunch every school day. 

    WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR

    New Menu Items
    We’ve added several new options, some of which students helped us pilot last year:

    • Chicken or Tofu Chow Mein
    • Chicken or Veggie Alfredo Pasta with roasted vegetables
    • Fiesta Bowl with chicken or black beans over cilantro lime rice
    • Caesar Salad with chicken or veggie chick’n (vegan dressing)
    • Fajita Tacos at OPHS
    • Breakfast Burrito at MCMS

    We’ll continue to offer favorites like our chicken/veggie strips, Peruvian bowls, and Tikka Masala. Students will have a chance to give feedback through a survey this fall.

    Larger Protein Portions
    We’ve increased the protein portion in lunches to the highest amount allowed under USDA rules, based on LCAP feedback from families.

    More Ways to Grab a Meal

    • Kiosk at OPHS (reopening this fall) will serve the same meals as the cafeteria and help reduce wait times.
    • New vending machines at OPHS (starting in October) will offer free breakfast and lunch during regular meal periods.
    • Mobile breakfast cart at MCMS will offer the same breakfast as inside the cafeteria during Nutrition.

    Farm to School

    We’ll continue taste testing local, seasonal fruits and vegetables at all sites as part of our Farm to School program. These samples highlight the Harvest of the Month and connect students to the source of their food.

    BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENUS

    Monthly menus for MCMS, OPHS, OVHS, and OPIS are posted online and updated before the start of each month.

    Please note:

    • Menus may change due to local supply issues.
    • All meals are free of peanuts, tree nuts, nut butters, and nut-containing ingredients.

    Click the link for the MCMS/OVHS/OPIS AUGUST MENU and the OPHS AUGUST MENU, or view them on our department webpage.

    SECOND MEALS AND MEAL ACCOUNTS

    Students who want a second meal may buy one using their meal account:

    • $4.00 for a second breakfast
    • $6.00 for a second lunch

    The state’s free meal program does not cover these second meals. You can add money to your student’s account and check their balance through Q-Parent Connect.

    Our staff cannot provide second meals if there are not fun ds in the account.

    FREE/REDUCED-PRICE MEAL APPLICATIONS

    Even though meals are free, we still ask families to complete a Free & Reduced-Price Meal Application. These help OPUSD qualify for extra state funding and may make your family eligible for other benefits (internet discounts, P-EBT, utility assistance, etc.).

    Apply online through Q-Parent Connect or fill out an application HERE.

    FOOD ALLERGIES AND SPECIAL DIETS

    If your child needs special meal accommodations:

    1. Fill out a Medical Statement to Request Special Meals form.
    2. Email the completed form to schoolmeals@opusd.org.
      (If we already have your form on file, no need to submit again unless there are changes.)

    MEAL PICKUP AND STUDENT ID’S

    Students should bring their ID card each day and scan it when picking up meals from any of the following locations:

    • MCMS: Cafeteria or mobile breakfast cart
    • OPHS: Cafeteria, kiosk, or vending machine (students enter ID number and birthdate)
    • OVHS: Pick up from the Snack Shack after ordering through office manager Mouj Alshoubaki
    • OPIS: Contact Jennifer Burstein to request meals

    On minimum days, lunches are provided in paper bags for pickup at dismissal. Students may eat on campus in designated areas.

    If a student forgets their ID card, they will still receive a meal. But bringing their ID helps keep the lines moving and ensures an accurate meal count.

    VOLUNTEERS

    We welcome parent volunteers at MCMS and OPHS to assist with:

    • Scanning student IDs during lunch
    • Monitoring waste-sorting lines at MCMS (training provided)

    If you’re interested in volunteering, please sign up using the links below:

    MCMS Volunteer Sign Up Sheet

    OPHS Volunteer Sign Up Sheet

     

    If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to me at kadams@opusd.org.

    Wishing your family a great start to the year,

    Katherine Adams
    Director of Student Nutrition and Wellness
    Oak Park Unified School District​​