Tag Archives: k-12 school nutrition software

Wordware, Inc. Announced That the Company Has Entered Into an Exclusive Partnership With FEEZEE

Wordware, Inc.  announced that the company has entered into an exclusive partnership with FEEZEE for proving online payment options to its clients in global market.

Wordware’s robust, reliable, and feature-rich School Lunch Software Mayflower LCS1000. FEEZEE is an integrated software platform that manages online payment features in many ways, its single high-security platform for any kind of business. FEEZEE allows end-users to control, manage, monitor, pay safely, prevent unwanted access, maintain compliance, and provide a robust audit trail. Secure payment processing on any device from a leading credit card payment processor.

Wordware’s School Lunch Software Mayflower LCS1000  are designed to integrate seamlessly with current systems, ensuring that existing credentials, readers, and user databases can be retained. The Wordware DataBridge is designed integrate data across multiple software applications within a School District. Our Databridge allows software applications to send information back and forth. The DataBridge allows each of these programs or portals to send information back and forth. With the DataBridge, a school does not need to maintain multiple databases of the same student list, they can maintain one and sync the rest with databridge.

Currently the LCS mayflower works seamlessly with hundreds of Student Information Systems. Many of our customers use Synergy, Infinite Campus, Power School, JMC, Skyward and more. The DataBridge has worked with every SIS that we have encountered.

  • Eliminate the need to maintain multiple databases
  • Maintain one database and sync the rest
  • One to many and many to one
  • Facilitate information for multiple departments within the district

“Wordware is excited to announce our partnership with FEEZEE, our exclusive online payment partner for School Lunch Software Solutions all over country,” said Manager  “We truly appreciate FEEZEE’s  expertise and are eager to support their growing channel partner network.  FEEZEE’s solutions, local knowledge, and experience complement our physical access product offerings for the market.

Under this best-of-breeds partnership, Wordware’s School lunch software platform is integrated with online payment gateway. FeeZee helps manage personnel access, online account management, credit card payment  etc. Wordware and FEEZEE will target customers in all kind of schools. These high customers require custom School Lunch Software with  policies that suit their individual needs and hassle-free deployments with seamless integration between software, hardware, and policies. • Easy online application • No complicated software to set up • No software or annual license fees FEEZEE Provides: • Secure, online payment processing from any mobile or internet capable device • Flexible payment options for your customers • An intuitive, easy to use interface • Reporting to help you manage payments • Customer receipts

About Wordware

Wordware, Inc., founded in 1983 and headquartered in Mendota Heights, MN, provides software applications for cafeteria sector. Wordware’s  LCS mayflower system is expandable to concessions, school store and could be integrated with Student information system, which makes perfect advance solution for your school. Wordware Inc, is the market leader in online Lunch payment system, most of the schools saves time and money using our unique and techno advance Lunch payment application software.  Lunch system makes your school to monitor money administration easier and will reduce time spent on managing the school meal service. Wordware Inc, Lunch payment system is a simple and secure way for schools to connect, transact and manage all their school payments solutions.

Contact Us. Corporate Headquarters: Wordware, Inc. 2526 Northland Dr: Mendota Heights, MN 55120; Email: Sales Information: sales@wordwareinc.com www.wordwareinc.com  call us at (800) 955-2649

About FEEZEE

FEEZEE is an easy to use payment processing solution that allows you to process credit cards, debit cards and ACH transactions with a simple interface launched right from your web site. FEEZEE does all the heavy lifting of payment processing so you can focus on the things you need to do to make your business successful. Don’t get bogged down with setting up merchant accounts, creating reports and managing software, let FEEZEE handle it and start accepting online payments today.

Solutions available for education and businesses that need to process payments electronically.Why FEEZEE? It’s easy. Contact sales@fee-zee.com, or call us at 844-5-FEEZEE (844-533-3933) for more information visit www.fee-zee.com

Free and reduced school lunch applications now online

VINELAND – The school district is not mailing out free or price-reduced lunch applications this year, instead it’s asking parents/guardians to apply online.

This is another online service the district can now offer through PCS Revenue Systems, the district’s food service accounting software, said Helen Haley, the district’s business administrator.

Previously, the school district included an application with a parent notification letter about the lunch program. When the applications came back, she said, the information was cross-referenced with the district’s student database and manually typed in by staff.

Now, the applications will be electronically entered, she said.

About 6,000 students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, said Purvesh Patel, the Sodexo food service director for Vineland Public Schools.

Parents fill out one electronic application per household, Patel said, noting the applications are available in English and Spanish.

The online applications are available by clicking here:

https://paypams.com/OnlineApp.aspx

“People can do it on their phone it is so easy,” Haley said.

It’s a secure website and a Social Security number is not requested on the application, Patel said. The school district processes the applications, which are then subject to review by State of New Jersey auditors to prevent fraud.

The online application process is an expansion of the district’s PayPams program.

Last year, the district used it to roll out an online application that allows parents to use credit cards to prepay for student lunches, set spending limits for their children and monitor their child’s school lunch purchases.

Going to an online system saves the district labor, paper and bulk mailing costs, Haley said. It also improves accuracy, she said, noting any discrepancies caught during a state review are noted in the district’s annual audit.

The free and reduced-price lunch application is now available online. Parents are urged to submit applications by Sept. 15.

If you’re not sure you qualify, the link does include an income eligibility chart.

The application does request a student identification number but parents do not need to include that at this time and can proceed with the application, Patel said.

Parents will receive a confirmation number when they’ve successfully completed the application.

The school board did vote earlier this month to raise the price of a school lunch.

An elementary school lunch will cost $2.65 and middle/high school lunches will run $2.80 when students return to school in September. However, the price of a reduced lunch remained steady at 40 cents.

For parents who do not have access to a computer or prefer not to file online, paper applications are available at each school or the food service office at 688 N. Mill Road, at the rear of Wallace Intermediate School.

Food service staff will be available 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday at the food service office at Wallace School to help anyone with the application, Haley said.

“This is a great process, it streamlines everything,” Patel said. “If you enter data incorrectly, it will notify you right away that it’s incorrect, so it won’t delay the process and the application.”

Deborah M. Marko; (856) 563-5256; dmarko@gannettnj.com DEBORAH M. MARKO, @dmarko_dj 11:16 a.m. EDT August 21, 2015

Food and Nutrition

Working with educators, parents, business people, students, policy-makers and other concerned people throughout the United States

Food and Nutrition

The Minnesota charter statute does not specifically address food service. Charter schools have the same responsibilities in this area as school districts. While nothing in state law mandates that public schools must provide meals to students, in most cases it will be necessary.

This section includes information on:

  • Funding
  • Food Service Options
  • Resources

The Food and Nutrition Service at the Minnesota Department of Education administers the School Meal Programs. The programs include: the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program, After School Snack Program, Food Distribution Program, Summer Food Service Program and the Minnesota Kindergarten Milk Program.

Participation in the food programs requires a substantial amount of paperwork, in terms of record keeping and regular reporting. Many of the software packages that schools use to report information include lunch programs, which can make the process much easier. MDE provides periodic training on the implementation of the School Meal Programs. Schools are strongly encouraged to attend one of these trainings well before school begins, so that a system can be set up to ensure prompt, full reimbursement. Once operating, schools should contact MDE if they have questions about operating the programs. Schools that do not implement the program properly might not receive the full amount of reimbursement to which they are entitled.

For more information about the School Meal Programs, please visit the Food and Nutrition Service website at fns.state.mn.us or the U.S. Department of Agriculture website at fns.usda.gov. The Food and Nutrition Service also provides periodic training on the School Meal Programs.

Funding 
Charter schools that choose to participate in the School Meal Programs may receive cash subsidies (reimbursements) for each meal served. For some programs, schools receive state subsidies and USDA commodities in addition to the federal awards. In order to participate in the programs, schools must serve meals that meet federal nutritional guidelines, keep accurate records of meals served and submit monthly reimbursement claim forms during the required timeframe.

Schools will be reimbursed at some level for all reimbursable meals served, although the amount is greater for meals served to students who qualify for free and reduced meals than for those who don’t. The amount of federal subsidy depends on each student’s eligibility category. Eligibility for free or reduced meals is based on the family’s income level. Children with family incomes at or below 130% of the poverty level are eligible for free meals, and those with incomes between 130% and 185% of the poverty level are eligible for reduced price meals.

Most charter schools will have a number of students eligible for free or reduced price meals. To determine whether a student qualifies, his or her family must complete an “Application for Educational Benefits” form. This is the same form used by schools to determine eligibility for certain state and federally funded programs aimed at high risk, low income students (e.g., Title I). Families must complete this form each year their child is enrolled at the school. It is important to have completed forms on file, especially for those schools with a substantial low-income population. You may lose significant financial benefits if these forms are not on file.

Any child may purchase meals served by schools participating in the School Meal Programs. Schools may not charge students eligible for reduced price meals more than $0.40 for lunch. In the 2003-2004 school year, state breakfast reimbursements were increased to allow schools to serve breakfast at no charge to reduced eligible students and at a low price to paid eligible students.

In general, schools charge and are reimbursed for after school snacks on the same basis as other meals, although special rules apply for schools that operate in an area where at least 50% of the students are eligible for free meals.

Beginning in the second year of operation, the school will qualify for USDA commodity foods from the Food Distribution Program. In addition to school year food programs, there is also a Summer Food Service Program.

Reimbursement Rates
Although these rates change annually, as a point of reference, the combined federal and state reimbursement rates for the 2003-2004 school year are:

Breakfast Lunch Snack
Free $1.20 $2.27 $0.60
Reduced $1.20 $1.87 $0.30
Paid $0.77 $0.29 $0.05

Food Service Options 
When providing food service, a charter school has three basic options:

  1. Prepare meals on site. This gives the school complete control over the program, in exchange for greater responsibility. Unless the school has access to an institutional kitchen, however, equipment needs are likely to pose a significant barrier. Schools that prepare their own meals must have equipment certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, which is quite expensive. Schools that choose to prepare their own meals will have additional health and safety requirements and should also expect more frequent health inspections.
  2. Ask the local school district to provide food service for the school. A district that agrees to provide food service may have a minimum number of meals that they are willing to serve, or a minimum number in order to serve hot, rather than cold, meals. You will also likely be tied to the district’s schedule. Some smaller districts, particularly in rural areas where each school has a small kitchen, may be unable to provide food services.
  3. Contract with a private caterer for school meals. A private caterer might be more flexible in terms of types of meals, special preparations, special meals for field trips, schedules, etc. Most charter schools that provide meals choose this option.

IMPORTANT: Regardless of the food service option the school chooses, the school is ultimately responsible for making sure that federal and state requirements are met. For example, the school must comply with requirements regarding food storage, handling and safety. The school will also be responsible for submitting the paperwork for meal subsidies and for billing students who don’t qualify for free meals. All employees and volunteers working with the School Meal Programs should have an understanding of the following:

  • Sanitation and food safety
  • Required meal components and serving sizes
  • Counting meals by eligibility category at the point of service

When exploring food service options, consider speaking with staff at nearby charter schools and visiting other schools to watch their meal service.

Other Considerations 
During the first year, it is very difficult to break even on food service, given equipment needs. Even if someone else is preparing the food, schools will need serving areas, coolers for storage and, often, warming ovens. Schools should budget for these expenses. Free or inexpensive equipment may be available to schools through the federal surplus property program. To learn more about this program, contact the State of Minnesota Surplus Services at
(651) 639-4024.

When providing meals, schools must comply with federal nutritional guidelines for schools. These include, for example, portion sizes for different age groups and sample meal patterns. These guidelines are available on the Food and Nutrition Service website.

In addition to nutritional requirements, schools must also comply with the state health department’s requirements for sanitation and food handling. Regardless of whether the school actually prepares its own food, the staff is required to ensure proper food storage and handling. For example, a school must have a way to keep food at temperature-warm or cold. The state or local health department will inspect your facility yearly. In addition, any school that serves food must have one certified food manager on staff. To become certified, this person must take a course and an exam and register with the Department of Health. The Department of Health charges approximately $150 for the certification process. For more information about the requirements for food handling, safety and inspections, contact the Environmental Health Services Section of the MN Department of Health at (651) 215-0870. If you plan to prepare meals on site, you should contact the Plan Review Specialists at the MN Department of Health at (651) 215-0862.

Resources
Minnesota Department of Education Food and Nutrition Service 
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 582-8526 or (800) 366-8922

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

American School Food Service Association

MN School Food Service Association

Minnesota Department of Health Division of Environmental Health

For easy to understand Food Safety Fact sheets, see: health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/food/fs/index.htm

For information regarding food service construction requirements and licensure, see:health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/food/license/summary.htm.
(651) 215-0870

As public schools, charters are eligible to obtain surplus federal property from the state for free or a nominal charge. Food service equipment may be available. To learn more about this program, contact:

State of Minnesota Surplus Services
5420 Highway 8
New Brighton, MN 55112
(651) 639-4024

 

Independence Community School District – School Lunch Software

Independence Community School District – School Lunch Software

Access your School Lunch Account Online and Make Payments

It is quick and easy to check your lunch account balance and to setup an account to make payments online! To check your account, first go to the Independence Community School District’s website. www.independence.k12.ia.us On the ICSD’s home page, about halfway down in the grid, Click on “School Lunch Program.” Then the next page, on the left side, will have a section where it says, “Lunch Account Balance”. On the page it takes you to, click where it says, “CLICK HERE to check on Your Family’s Lunch Account.” You will see the Wordware, Inc. Log In page. Please bookmark or save this first page. Then you can
access your account without having to go the ICSD’s website each time. You will need your Family ID (Username) and your PIN (Password)
to get started. Then it will ask for our state and our school district.
Please call the Food Service Office, 319-334-7423, and we’ll be happy to give you your Family ID (Username) and PIN (Password). You can also e-mail me at: kcrosssley@independence.k12.ia.us Once you get to your account information on the Wordware, Inc’s website, you’ll see information for thecurrent month only. At the bottom of this page, you’ll see a place to see a detailed report of transactions.This is also for the current month only. If it is the first or second day of the month, you will only see purchases and deposits for those days. At the bottom of the detailed report, you will see an opportunity to request a statement for more transactions. If you request a statement and there is a problem, please e-mail me directly and I will mail you a statement going back as far as you need it to go. To make a payment online After you have looked up your account on Wordware, Inc’s web page as instructed above, at the bottom of the page, you’ll see “To make a payment, Click Here”. If you “Click Here”, it will take you to our online payment page, called eFunds. Once on the eFunds page, you can either log in using the account you’ve already set up, or you can set up a new account where it says, “New Users”, click on “Register Here.” It will take you through several steps of taking your information and either credit card or checking account information, and will also have you link yourself to your student(s). You won’t be able to make a payment until you are linked to a student in our school district. If you have any problems getting to any of these webpages or need further assistance, please call the Food Services Office, 319-334-7423. The eFunds support team is also very good and will help you get set-up or fix any issues you have with making a payment.
Thank you for choosing to access your account online!!

Independence is a fantastic community located in Northeast Iowa. It has a population of around 6,000 residents and approximately 1345 students. The community of Independence is situated between the cities of Waterloo/Cedar Falls to the West and Cedar Rapids to the South. The beautiful Wapsipinicon River flows through Independence, providing for summer recreation. The school district includes the communities of Rowley, Brandon, and Independence. The community is proud of its strong school district and the dedicated staff who work here. Thank you for taking the time to investigate what we are doing in the district. Together we can make a difference in the lives of students.

Elgin Public Schools – Wordware, Inc. Family Login Becomes More Secure

Elgin Public Schools Wordware, Inc. Family Login Becomes More Secure

The school year is upon us and we have rolled out a new tool allowing families to use usernames and passwords to check their lunch account balance online.  This will ensure family financial information remains secure.

What do I have to do?

Log in to Wordware, Inc. family login as usual using the Lunch Account Balance link in the Quick Links section of the front page of our website.

A short message will come up with a message regarding the changes and an option to complete the registration form.

Please complete our REGISTRATION FORM for a user account.

After you register your user account you will then be able to access the family login using your secure username and password.  If you have not signed up to go online to check your family lunch balance or you have any difficulties with the system, please contact Ann Beckman or Paula Jensen to sign up!

The Parker School District tracks lunch using wordware’s School Lunch Software

The Parker School District tracks lunch using wordware’s School Lunch Software

Parents remember you can check your family lunch account balance by going to the Parker home-page, www.parker.k12.sd.us, “For Parents” section, Wordware link. You can now also add money to your child’s lunch account from your computer! Click the “e-Funds for Schools” link within the “For Parents” section on the Parker School website for details!

Winona Area Catholic Schools tieup with Wordware for School Lunch Software

Winona Area Catholic Schools tie up with Wordware for School Lunch Software

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”

The link below will take you to the login page to access
your family lunch account information and current balance.

1. Click on the link to go to the Wordware website.
2. “Click for family login” in the upper right hand corner.
3. Enter your username(Family ID) and password (Pin#).
4. Select the state (Minnesota) and school name (Winona Area Catholic Schools) from the drop down list.
5. Sign in and your account information will appear.

https://family.wordwareinc.com/login
**Accounts will be updated by 4:00 pm daily but always check the date listed to be sure that it is the current date.**

WACS. Setting your child's foundation for life.  Winona Area Catholic Schools, Pre-K, Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementrary.

South Tama Country CSD – Family Lunch Account Software

South Tama Country CSD Family Lunch Account Software

e~Funds For Schools

e~Funds for Schools allows you to deposit funds in your family lunch account, pay your Family Registration fees, or pay for student activity tickets, by transferring money from your checking account or charging to your credit card. There is no fee for Cash transfer transactions, and a credit card transaction fee of only $1.95. You’ll need to register first, and you’ll want your family lunch account ID when you register.

When submitting a payment, click on the “New Payments” tab so that you can  make separate deposits for Family Registration, Activity Tickets, and Lunch Balances  (when using your credit card, you’ll not be charged the $1.95 for each of the separate deposits – it’s considered one transaction ). When depositing to your Lunch Balance you do not need to divide the deposit between the various students listed on your account, even though all are shown. Just enter the entire lunch deposit amount under the first student number shown. After each transaction, print a receipt with your confirmation number. You may also print a report showing prior transactions. The transfer from your bank account will take place overnight, and we deposit it your family lunch account the following day, so there may be a two-day timing issue to remember.

Family Account Services (Wordware) / School Lunch Software

Family Account Services (Wordware) allows you to check recent transactions in your family lunch account. You’ll need to register first, and you’ll also want your family lunch account ID with you as you register.  Your password will default to the last four digits of your telephone number.

 

Hill Muray School – WordWare Account/School Lunch Software.

Welcome to Taher Food Service

Parents: Would you like a weekly email that let’s you know what your student’s cafeteria balance is?

Nancy Lynch, Director of Taher Food Services at Hill-Murray, has offered to send weekly emails to parents informing them of their students’ cafeteria account balances. There’s no fee for the service. If you’d like to receive the weekly notification from Mrs. Lynch, please send her an email at nlynch@hill-murray.org.
Follow us on Twitter

See what’s cooking in the H-M cafeteria! Watch for daily updates that’ll make your mouth water! Follow us: @hmcafeteria

Menus

March

Apri

Helpful links

Do you want to know what your kids are eating for lunch and what your balance is?  Find out by clicking WordWare Account/School Lunch Software.

The Story of our “Lunch Lady”

By offering marinated mushrooms, jicama coleslaw and black bean chipotle burgers, Hill-Murray’s cafeteria director Nancy Lynch hopes to add lots of flavor to the term “lunch lady.’’

“When you think of the lunch lady, you think of someone wearing a hair net plopping an unidentified heap of food on your divided tray, trying to hurry you along the line, right?’’ said Mrs. Lynch, breaking into her deep, raspy, wonderful laugh. “I want to be approachable to the kids.’’

Mrs. Lynch, who is employed by Taher Food Service Management Co., which operates the Hill-Murray cafeteria, said being friendly and engaging with students has helped her learn more about what they’ll eat and what they won’t. That approachable relationship has resulted in the cafeteria offering a wider variety of more appealing, nutritious and locally-grown food for our students.

On her own, Mrs. Lynch set up a partnership with Axdahl’s farm in Stillwater to provide locally-grown vegetables such as corn, tomatoes, squash and potatoes. She sought out a relationship with Ferndale Market in Cannon Falls to provide free-range turkey. She’s even brought farmers into the school as part of the state-wide “Farm to School’’ program, which allows students to meet the people who grow their food.

“It’s important that children understand where their food comes from,’’ she said. “Some of their food comes from so far away. Knowing the people who grow their food helps make that connection.’’

The cafeteria is located on Hill-Murray’s lower level and is the heart of our building where students, teachers and staff can go to meet friends and forget about the demands of the classroom or office for a while. The main cafeteria area opens to more dining tables in our sun-drenched Commons area next to the chapel. 

Mrs. Lynch enjoys creating a warm, “homey” environment for students filled with good smells from the kitchen, decorations that reflect the season and personal greetings from her and her staff.

“I think our staff is friendly and that students feel comfortable coming up to us to tell us what they need,’’ she said.

Some of the needs expressed by students have included foods that are gluten-free, dairy-free or vegetarian. The staff has responded with a growing array of foods to suit special dietary needs.

“Students are more interested in food today,” said Mrs. Lynch. And added that students are exposed to different foods than they were a generation ago. 

Mrs. Lynch gets many of her vegetables from the Hill-Murray garden in the back of the school. The garden yields crops like tomotoes, herbs, squash, zucchini and peppers. 

We invite you to visit our cafeteria, meet the staff and enjoy a delicious meal. And, please say hello to our ‘lunch lady!’

Taher Foods Mission Statement

Recognizing that good nutrition has a positive effect on learning and good health, the mission of the Food Srevice Department is to provide nutritious meals to students, staff and the community-at-large, in a caring and customer-friendly environment, using menus that emphasize:

  • Freshly prepared foods
  • No Trans-fats
  • More whole grain and legumes
  • Fresh fruit and vegetables
  • Minimally processed foods
  • Decreased use of foods containing high-fructose corn syrup

Additionally, we commit to assist in educating our customers to adopt a more nutritious lifestyle.

Taher Staff

Nancy Lynch
Luke Rother
Val Currie
Kathleen Bliven
Joan Ballanger
Yvonne Evans
Tammy Seebeck
Harold Lindquist
Mary Jo Barbato

Questions or comments? Send your email to the Food Service Director, Nancy Lynch at nlynch@hill-murray.org or call 651-748-2434.

WordWare Account/School Lunch Software.

School nutritional program to provide best Nutrient for the child – Wordware Inc.

Need to start thinking out of the box for your school lunch program? Some days it is hard to find where ‘out of the box’ is. Try viewing this You Tube video for starters, “School Lunch in Japan – It’s Not Just About Eating!” (youtube.com). It is a totally different experience to that of our USA approach to school lunch so it’s worth a trip out of the box!

The students eat in their classrooms with their teachers, for a 45 minute lunch period that same as a class. We first notice students bringing their personal items in their lunch bags, including a toothbrush, cup for brushing teeth, a napkin, chopsticks, and placemat. The school has a ‘farm’ for veggies and everything is made from scratch, five kitchen staff for 570 students. Everyone wears head and face masks around food from kitchen staff to the students. It appears that everyone has a mask, hat, and coat in their desks to don during the pre-eating activities.

Each class sends students to pick up the lunches for the day, which are individually dispersed in the classrooms. They even keep track of leftovers through a report from the students and they find out where all the food is from, local farms, sixth graders in the school farm, so forth. The recycling is amazing. All the milk cartons are broken down and flattened, then washed and set aside for drying. Everyone brushes their teeth at the end of the meal. Even the last 20 minutes before returning to class they sweep, scrub floors and do maintenance cleaning.

Out of the box thinking does not mean one system is better than other. These ideas can be the catalyst to solve a problem confronting us today. And it is just interesting to see how others handle lunch!

School nutritional program  to provide best Nutrient for the child

School nutritional programs to provide best nutritious meals to the child growth. Increasing participation ensures students never go without nutritious meals while wordware also guaranteeing your School nutritional programs success. Across the country we work with schools to help them achieve excellence with their school nutrition. We Power School Nutrition Departments. Our Nutrient Analysis component is easier than manual systems or other software programs. You’ll find it’s also:

  • Wordware LCS1000 is approved for nutrient analyses required in the school meal programs
  • Child Nutrition Database
  • Food-based analysis
  • Includes the nutrient standards from the Final Rule
  • Accessible from central office or school site
  • Ability to build and add local ingredients