MRSD serves breakfast and lunch each school day. The state of Massachusetts has permanently funded free school meals for all public school students! Every child who wants or needs a school breakfast or lunch will be able to receive those meals at no cost to their family. Students may also bring a lunch and drink from home, if desired.

To find school meal menus, along with nutritional data and other information, click here.

It is still important for families to complete the Free and Reduced Meal application if applicable, as free and reduced benefits can offer additional support to families and can also include certain other fees being waived or reduced. The data also impacts overall school and district funding, in some cases.

Click here for the Free and Reduced Meals guidelines, information, and applications.

If students wish to have more than one meal, or wish to buy additional a la carte items above the free meal offered, they may do so. Monomoy Regional School District utilizes a computerized Point of Sale payment system in all of the district’s cafeterias called Nutrikids. Every student has their own personal meal account based on their own PIN. Students can access their accounts on the PIN pads located at every register. This PIN will be the same PIN as the students’ progress through the school district and will be the same year after year. 

We encourage families to deposit money into the student’s MySchoolBucks account,  although they may still pay cash. Monies paid into a student account can be used for the purchase of additional meals and a la carte items. This system allows students to charge only if there is money in their account – we won’t allow any negative balances to occur.

MySchoolBucks provides a quick and easy way to add money to your school meal account using a credit/debit card or electronic check. 

1.   Go to www.MySchoolBucks.com and register for a free account.
2.   You will receive a confirmation email with a link to activate your account.
3.   Add yourself and your students using the school name and student/staff ID.
4.   Make a payment to your account with your credit/debit card or electronic check.

A program fee may apply. You will have the opportunity to review any fees and cancel if you choose, before you are charged. If your student has qualified for free or reduced price lunches or breakfasts, this information is securely contained within the system and the meal will be processed just as it is for all other students. There is no need to be concerned about a potentially uncomfortable situation for the student.

If you are concerned about a food allergy that your student has please notify the cafeteria and the school nurse with this information. A warning will appear on the cashier’s screen allowing for a review of the items on the student’s meal tray.

If you have any questions, contact Garth Petracca, Food Services Director, at 508-237-5016 or gpetracca@monomoy.edu.

Harwich Elementary School is an “allergy aware” school and is not “nut-free.” However, we make specific accommodations to protect students with life-threatening food allergies including the designation of “nut-free” individual classrooms, as well as a section in the cafeteria. Field trips are “nut-free”. Caregivers are notified in advance if their child is in one of these designated situations. We appreciate your cooperation in creating a healthy and safe learning environment for all children. 

We recommend that students with life-threatening allergies have an “Allergy Action Plan” formulated in consultation with their MD, the School Nurse and caregiver(s). Allergic students are to keep a dose of their prescribed epi-pen at school and are allowed to carry their own epi-pens with proper documentation and medical orders. A table is designated in the cafeteria for students in need of a nut-free eating area. Proper hand washing is essential to health and good hygiene.

Field trips are an extension of the elementary school’s Standards Based Curriculum. Field trips are considered regular school activities. They are related to curriculum objectives and will have the approval of the principal. When students are on a Field Trip, school rules and policies will be observed, particularly as they relate to expectations for student behavior.

Local field trips may be adequately supervised by staff and may not require caregiver chaperones. caregiver chaperones will be recruited to ensure safety for trips that require a small student to adult ratio. All chaperones must have a current, approved CORI on file at the Superintendent’s office. 

The primary role of the caregiver chaperone is to ensure the safety of students assigned to them. For this reason, younger siblings and/or other children may not accompany the chaperone on the trip. In addition, chaperones are expected to adhere to the policies established for field trips and to report any concerns or infractions of the policy to the teacher(s) on the trip at the time of the incident.

Before the Trip

1. The teachers, in consultation with the principal, will determine the number of chaperones required for each field trip. Site requirements regarding adult to child ratio, the distance of the trip, and safety issues will be considered when determining the number of CORI approved chaperones needed for each trip.  Chaperones, in some cases, may need to be fingerprinted.  
2. If more caregivers wish to chaperone than are needed, a lottery will be held. Caregivers not selected for the trip will be notified, as will those who have been selected.
3. All chaperones will be provided with an agenda, the names of students in their assigned groups, and a copy of the field trip policy.
4. Chaperones must arrive on time so the trip may commence on schedule.
5. Caregivers unable to chaperone due to illness or last minute emergency should contact the teacher as soon as possible so a replacement can be found.

During the Trip

1. Chaperones and all students must ride on the bus.
2. Chaperones must stay with their assigned student group at all times throughout the trip (lunch, bathroom visits).  Students must also stay with the assigned chaperone, unless a change is made by the teacher(s).
3. Caregivers not selected in the lottery are discouraged from driving on their own to the site to meet their child at the site, as this disrupts the supervision plans that have been established.
4. Chaperones may not bring anything from home (toys, candy, snacks) for students, nor buy any treats (candy, ice cream) for students at the site.
5. There will be no visits to the gift shop, unless this is included in the agenda by the teacher.  Chaperones should not take students to the gift shop on their own, if it is not on the agenda.
6. Chaperones and students will wear name tags with school identification.
7. During a Field Trip, a Chaperone will not at any time possess or use illegal drugs or controlled substances including but not limited to; tobacco and all alcoholic beverages.

After the Trip

Caregivers of students unable to attend prepaid field trips due to illness or family emergency are responsible for requesting reimbursement from the field trip site. Note: There is no guarantee that the organization will give the refund.

Notes:

1.  The principal will make a decision regarding the status of the trip should there be an elevated national security threat or weather conditions that compromise safe travel.
2.  Children who come to school, but do not attend the field trip (by caregiver choice) will be placed in a classroom and will be supervised at school for the extent of the trip.

Students are responsible for the contents of their lockers (cubbies). Lockers are provided by and owned by the school. Cubbies are not locked so there should be no expectation of privacy or security in the use of cubbies.

Lost and Found items will be displayed/hung on the table and racks in the Activity Room. Please help us to return items to their owners by labeling everything. Please check for lost items as soon as you know something is missing. Unclaimed clothing will be donated to an appropriate charity at the end of each school year.

We realize that your child’s birthday is a very special day and birthdays will be recognized in classrooms. Staff and children’s birthdays are also announced on Morning Announcements each day.  Do not send in food of any kind to celebrate your child’s birthday.  Birthday invitations may not be distributed in school unless everyone in the class is being invited.

All classroom events will be organized by the homeroom or other teacher. Caregiver volunteers may be asked to support. All events must adhere to the MRSD Wellness Policy (File ADF): Only staff members will plan and organize celebrations. The staff member responsible for the event must notify administration for approval and notify parents. School celebrations such as holidays and birthdays will emphasize physical activities, academic achievements or positive youth development. Examples include the writing of poems for Valentine's Day, telling scary stories for Halloween, etc. Schools should encourage celebrations that include nutritious foods or non-food items and will use only foods that meet the above nutrition and portion size standards for foods and beverages sold individually. Each celebration should include no more than one food or beverage that does not meet nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold individually.

School based after school programs such as Chorus and clubs may be offered throughout the school year.  

For links to after school child care programs, click here.