Parent Resources
IT'S EASY TO DEPOSIT MONEY IN YOUR CHILD'S CAFETERIA ACCOUNT!
Watch the tutorial to see how easy it is to make online deposits into your child's cafeteria account through Skyward, a small fee applies.
Login to Skyward's Family Access Portal to view, manage and deposit money to your child's cafeteria account.
Need help? Call 531-3050 and we will be happy to assist you.
How to Pay for Meals
Need help? Call 531-3050 and we will be happy to assist you.
How to Pay for Meals
Managing Your Student’s Cafeteria Account
Every student has a cafeteria account for purchasing meals, snacks, and beverages. Parents can deposit funds into their child’s account, and each purchase is automatically debited—reducing cash handling and helping speed up service in the lunch line!
Convenient Online Access:
Parents can make deposits and track purchases anytime through Skyward Family Access.
Parents can make deposits and track purchases anytime through Skyward Family Access.
Sending Cash or Checks?
If you prefer to send a cash or check payment to school, please attach it to a Prepayment Form to ensure accurate processing.
If you prefer to send a cash or check payment to school, please attach it to a Prepayment Form to ensure accurate processing.
Checks can be made payable to:
VCS School Nutrition
VCS School Nutrition
For your convenience, online payments can be made through Skyward’s Family Access. Sign in to the Parent Portal, open Family Access and click on the Food Service Tab. You can easily monitor your child’s cafeteria account balance, set spending limits, sign up for low balance alerts and view purchases. Payments can also be sent to school but must have a prepayment form attached. Click here to get the form.
What happens when there is no money in a child's account?
Meal Charge Policy
We understand that busy schedules can sometimes lead to missed deposits. Our charge policy ensures that students are treated with dignity while encouraging families to keep accounts current.
Elementary Students (Grades K–5):
Elementary students may charge meals when necessary. Account balances will never be discussed with students—it is the responsibility of parents or guardians to monitor and maintain their child’s account through Skyward.
Elementary students may charge meals when necessary. Account balances will never be discussed with students—it is the responsibility of parents or guardians to monitor and maintain their child’s account through Skyward.
Middle School Students (Grades 6–8):
Students may charge up to two lunches. Charges are not permitted for breakfast or à la carte/snack items. Once an account exceeds this limit, the student must provide cash payment to receive additional meals.
Students may charge up to two lunches. Charges are not permitted for breakfast or à la carte/snack items. Once an account exceeds this limit, the student must provide cash payment to receive additional meals.
High School Students (Grades 9–12):
Charging is not permitted at the high school level. All purchases must be paid for at the time of service.
Charging is not permitted at the high school level. All purchases must be paid for at the time of service.
If a student comes to school without lunch or money, we will provide a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with milk (for a limited number of times) to ensure no student goes without something to eat.
How does my child use their account?
At mealtime, students sign in to their cafeteria account using a PIN pad and their student ID number. For added security, the student’s photo appears on the screen to verify their identity.
As purchases are rung up, the system automatically charges the correct price based on each student’s eligibility for paid, free, or reduced-price meals.
The use of student accounts ensures complete privacy—even the cashier cannot see a student’s meal status.
Collection Procedure
Weekly phone calls will be made to VCS parents when their child’s account has gone negative. Parents can manage low balance email reminders through Family Access in Skyward. Payment plans can be arranged to clear up negative balances. At the beginning of each year, significant negative account balances from the prior year will be pursued for collection. If referred to an outside agency for collection, parents may accrue additional fees. Please call the School Nutrition Office at 219-531-3050 for help.
The most commonly asked question:
“I applied for free and reduced lunch. Why does my child have a negative account balance?”
Applications can take up to 10 days to be approved. Parents are responsible for paying for meals until they are formally approved for free or reduced price meal benefits.
It could also be possible that your child is taking a second milk with their meal. Only one milk is included with the meal. Additional milks are charged at the full price of .55.
Monitor your child’s purchases easily and often through Skyward’s Family Access. If you receive a phone call or email that your child’s balance is negative, please review the account right away. Don’t wait for charged purchases to add up.
Weekly phone calls will be made to VCS parents when their child’s account has gone negative. Parents can manage low balance email reminders through Family Access in Skyward. Payment plans can be arranged to clear up negative balances. At the beginning of each year, significant negative account balances from the prior year will be pursued for collection. If referred to an outside agency for collection, parents may accrue additional fees. Please call the School Nutrition Office at 219-531-3050 for help.
The most commonly asked question:
“I applied for free and reduced lunch. Why does my child have a negative account balance?”
Applications can take up to 10 days to be approved. Parents are responsible for paying for meals until they are formally approved for free or reduced price meal benefits.
It could also be possible that your child is taking a second milk with their meal. Only one milk is included with the meal. Additional milks are charged at the full price of .55.
Monitor your child’s purchases easily and often through Skyward’s Family Access. If you receive a phone call or email that your child’s balance is negative, please review the account right away. Don’t wait for charged purchases to add up.
What is Offer vs. Serve?
Offer Versus Serve (OvS) is a meal service method designed to reduce food waste and food costs in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program without jeopardizing the nutritional integrity of the meals served.
At lunch, schools must offer all five components (fruit, vegetables, grains, meat/meat alternates, fluid milk) and students must select at least three components, one of which is 1/2 cup fruit and/or vegetable.
At breakfast, schools must offer at least four food items from three required components (fruit, grains, fluid milk) and students must select at least three food items, one of which is 1/2 cup fruit and/or vegetable.
At lunch, schools must offer all five components (fruit, vegetables, grains, meat/meat alternates, fluid milk) and students must select at least three components, one of which is 1/2 cup fruit and/or vegetable.
At breakfast, schools must offer at least four food items from three required components (fruit, grains, fluid milk) and students must select at least three food items, one of which is 1/2 cup fruit and/or vegetable.
