Food Program

No. Although Polk County Public Schools is participating in a Community Provision program which allows all students to eat for free, the school board would not allow Mi Escuela Montessori to opt into their NSLP program. Therefore, students at Mi Escuela Montessori must apply for the Free and Reduced Lunch program through the NSLP application. Students who meet the criteria for free lunch, based on their income and household size, will be provided free lunch. Students may qualify for a reduced fee price based on their income and household size as well.

The Diet Modification Form must be filled out by the student’s doctor. This form can be obtained from the registrar.

Yes, you may send your child to school with a healthy, balanced lunch. Students do not have access to microwaves or other ways to heat up food, so please send heated food in an insulated thermos. Please DO NOT send candy, soft drinks or sugary drinks, or chewing gum to school. These items will be confiscated and held in the school office for the parent to pick up after school. Families of preschool students, please cut foods that are choking hazards to appropriate sizes.

Our facility is not nut-free or free of other potential food allergens. Lunch seating is assigned, and students with food allergies are seated apart from students with foods that they are allergic to.

This handout provides a helpful set of guidelines for packing a healthy lunch.

No. We are unable to heat food from home or keep it cool. Please use insulated food containers and ice packs, if necessary.

Please practice with your child and help him or her learn how to independently open their containers and unwrap difficult to open items. Adults will assist preschool children, if necessary. Older students should be independent in setting up their own lunch.

Our breakfast and lunch programs are open to all of the students at our school.

Students will eat at picnic tables in the patios outside their classrooms, in their classrooms, or in the cafeteria.

No. Unless a student has medical documentation showing the need for an alternate snack, he or she may only eat the snack provided by the snack donation program.

No, our school does not celebrate birthdays. We do have a "walk around the sun" activity which shows students the passage of time and give their families a chance to talk about the milestones of their life. We do not sing Happy Birthday, and we do not allow any food to be brought from off campus.