About Hot Lunch
The Hot Lunch Program is a service of the PTA that offers lunch five days a week to children in first through sixth grade. The food and beverages are provided by local vendors in our community. The program is a major source of revenue to help fund PTA projects at Springer and is made possible through the efforts of our many parent volunteers. The Springer PTA thanks you for your support!
How It Works
There are three sessions of Hot Lunch this school year:
- Session I from Sept 7 – Nov 19
- Session II from Nov 29 – Feb 18
- Session III from Feb 28 – June 2
Each session generally has two menus offered on alternating weeks. For example, the Monday vendor in Menu 1 might be House of Bagels while Menu 2's Monday vendor is Chef Chu's. The menus for each day include entrée options, drink options, and fruit or vegetable (on some days) for you to select for your child. You may choose as many of each item as you want, or just a single item, such as milk. Whatever you select will be served to your child on the days you have ordered, throughout the session.
Ordering
Use the Hot Lunch ordering system to place orders:
- Complete an online hot lunch order form for each participating child, grade 1 – 6.
- Pay online via PayPal. Please note that PayPal incurs an approximately 3% surcharge.
-OR-
Submit a check for payment to the Hot Lunch cubby in the office. Please include the internet order number(s) on your check, and don't submit a copy of the order.
There will be no changing of orders mid-session, so please check with your child before ordering. Please visit the restaurants and sample the food if you are unsure of an item.
Payment for orders must be received by this session ordering deadline (the date that ordering for the session ends). No late orders will be accepted.
What if I make a mistake on my order form?
If you have not paid, just start another order. Be sure to reference the correct order number on your check. If you already paid via PayPal, Hilary Burcell hilary[at]burcell.com.
Why can't I order after the deadline?
Late orders cannot be accepted. We need adequate time to process the orders, generate labels, and give final numbers to the vendors. Complete payments must be received on the due date (prior to start of Hot Lunch) to confirm your child's order.
Tracking Your Child's Hot Lunch
You can look up your child's Hot Lunch calendar or order listing on the Hot Lunch ordering system. Please be aware that the calendar and order listings will be unavailable after ordering starts for the next session (usually the last week or two of the current session), so we suggest that you print or save a copy of your child's calendar or order listing.
Missed Lunches
Hot lunches are not available to students who are on field trips during lunch. Lunches will not be ordered for students who are on scheduled field trips during serving times. If your child misses Hot Lunch for any reason, please consider it a donation to the PTA. Refunds can't be given. Parents may pick up lunches at the Hot Lunch room by noon (12 p.m.) for children absent due to illness.
What if I forget to pack a lunch?
If your child comes to school without a lunch, he or she may go to the Hot Lunch windows after going to the school office and receiving a Hot Lunch Voucher. If there are food items left after all students with standing orders are served, the remainder will be distributed on a first come basis. Your family will receive a phone call or an e-mail requesting payment for the lunch given to your child.
What if I have questions or problems?
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Hilary Burcell at hilary[at]burcell.com.
How can I help? Volunteer
The PTA runs the Hot Lunch program, and the parent volunteers who serve the lunches are an integral part of the program. We also need volunteers for the fruit portion of Hot Lunch. Sign up at the Back to School Coffee on the first morning of school for either opportunity. Contact the Hot Lunch Volunteer Coordinator, Stephanie Towell (atowell[at]yahoo.com), for volunteering opportunities. We look forward to meeting you, and we appreciate your support!