Outside Food Policies

Outside Food Policy:

1. Parents or guardians are not to bring food or drop off to students, unless a student has forgotten their lunchbox at home. Please drop off lunchboxes by 10:15am to ensure your child has their lunch in time.

2. Parents are only permitted to bring hot food/fast food when they come in for lunch with their child (sign up for lunch in the ADDitions portal). 

3. Food deliveries for students of any kind are not permitted on campus, both during school hours and after school hours.  This includes pizza delivery, Uber Eats, etc.

3. Homemade food items are not to be shared in any group setting on campus. This includes both during school hours and after school hours.

4. Students are not allowed to share food at school as it is a health risk. 

*For information on bringing in a treat for a student's birthday (K-5 only) please see below.

Pershing K-5 Policies/Procedures for Birthday Treats/Goodie Bags 2024-2025

Items Consumed at School:

Elementary parents/guardians may bring in store bought treat/snacks (example: cookies or cupcakes; 1 for each child in the classroom) for their child’s birthday if they choose to.

-Hot food items are not permitted.

-Must be a snack/treat type item.

-Parent must contact teacher at least 3 days prior to arrange the day/time to drop off items at the front office and check for allergies in the class. Teacher must verify and communicate any allergies. 

-Teacher will notify front office of the expected delivery date/time.

-Birthday treats will need to be served to students right after lunch/recess in the grade level collaboration area. (Treats cannot be served in the cafeteria, on the patio, or on the playground.)

-OCPS outside food guidelines apply: items must be store bought, opened by the teacher, and the ingredient label must be kept for the teacher to complete the outside food documentation form and turn in to the food service manager.Teacher must review the outside food form for further information.

-Teacher must make sure the decorations on the treat items are school appropriate (free from any promotions, religious or political advertising).

-Teacher will need to review family beliefs regarding student participation in celebrations and provide alternative activity, if necessary.

*Note: the cafeteria has FNS Birthday Bites available for parents/guardians to purchase. For more information please contact the cafeteria manager. 3 weeks prior notice is required for Birthday Bites.

Goodie Bags:

Elementary parents/guardians may bring in goodie bags for their birthday student to pass out to the class if they choose to. 1 per student in the classroom.

-All food/candy items must be store bought and individually packaged.

-Teacher must check the contents of the bags to make sure the items are school appropriate (free from any promotions, religious or political advertising) or that any students in the class are not allergic to any contents in the bag.

-Goodie bags are to be passed out at the end of the school day and opened at home.

-Teacher is required to notify all parent/guardians the goodie bag is coming home and provide a description of the contents.

-Teacher will need to review family beliefs regarding student participation in celebrations before sending the goodie bag home.

Updated: 7/15/24