Changes to Lunch Charging Policy

Dear Cherokee Families:

I want to let you know about a change Springfield Public Schools is making that will affect student lunch charges in the future. Due to increasing balances in unpaid lunch charges, SPS will implement a new charge policy, effective Monday, Feb. 4.

From that date forward, elementary school students who do not have money to pay for their lunch will be allowed to charge lunch two times; middle and high school students will be allowed to charge lunch one time.  The current practice of no breakfast charges will continue.

After charging the maximum lunches allowed, students will be provided a deli lunch, which includes a fruit, a vegetable and a protein. Students may not receive a regular hot lunch until they have paid off their outstanding lunch charges.

We know how important a nutritious lunch is for students and it is our desire to provide a hot lunch to every child who wants one. However, unpaid lunch charges have become excessive and we cannot continue to absorb these costs.

If your child is in a position where he or she must frequently charge lunch, please remember the following:

1.     Your child may be eligible to receive free or reduced price meals at school if your family meets certain income guidelines. Please consider filling out the application to determine your eligibility. Applications are available in every school office or can be completed online at the following link: https://horizon.sps.k12.mo.us.

2.     It is easy to add money to your student’s lunch account using the online service MealpayPlus.  For a small fee, MealpayPlus accepts MasterCard and VISA credit cards; or you may make an electronic debit from your checking or savings account.

3.     If your financial situation has temporarily changed due to family illness, unemployment or other unforeseen circumstance, please let me know. There may be community resources available to temporarily pay the cost of your child’s lunch until you can make other arrangements.

If you have additional questions please contact me or call our nutrition services department.

Thank you for working with us to ensure that your child continues to receive a hot lunch and for your assistance in helping us control costs.

Sincerely,

Bill Powers

Principal

Cherokee Middle School

School Safety

Cherokee Family,

Friday's school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut has been on all of our minds since the news first broke. Our hearts and prayers are with the families, school staff, and community as they begin the healing process over the weeks, months, and years to come.

I want to let everyone know we at Cherokee are always putting our students, your children's, safety first. Throughout the year we have several safety drills. In fact we have 10 fire, 4 storm, 4 intruder, and 2 earthquake drills spread out during the school year. We set the schedule during the summer and it just happens we have an intruder drill scheduled for Monday, Dec. 17.

With Friday's events being so soon to our drill our staff will be talking with students to let them know in advance and remind them why we practice such procedures. 

However, we will NOT be discussing what occurred in Newtown. It is our goal to have as normal a day as possible. Details of what students are aware of are solely at the discretion of each individual family.

If your child has any questions or concerns about the events of Friday's shooting our counselors, Mr. Petree and Mrs. Roffers, and Mr. Groves and I will be available to speak with them. If we speak to your child we will personally contact you via telephone in the best interest of working together. 

As you all send your children back to school I want to reassure you we will continue to do everything we can to keep everyone safe and will begin by continuing with our drills throughout the year and by doing a comprehensive review of all of our safety procedures and practices.

Finally, if you ever have any questions or concerns about anything here at Cherokee Middle School please contact me at any time. I am here to answer any questions and am more than happy to visit face-to-face, via telephone, Twitter, or email to discuss your questions/concerns. We must work together in the best interest of our children and our future.

Thank you, have a great holiday season, and Go Indians!

Bill Powers
Principal
Cherokee Middle School
523-7210
wtpowers@spsmail.org
@MrPowersCMS