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Cicero School District 99

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Food Services

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Food Services

D99's Food Services Department is committed to nourishing the students of Cicero District 99 with healthy, balanced meals that fuel learning and growth. Every day, our dedicated team prepares and serves thousands of breakfasts and lunches that meet or exceed USDA nutritional standards—ensuring all students have access to the meals they need to succeed in the classroom. We offer a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins to support student health and encourage lifelong healthy eating habits. In addition to daily service, the department works closely with families to accommodate food allergies, dietary restrictions, and medical needs with care and sensitivity. We are proud to participate in programs that provide free meals to all students, eliminating hunger as a barrier to education. Through teamwork, nutrition education, and a strong commitment to equity, the Food Services Department helps build a stronger, healthier school community for every child.

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Summer EBT

To support families beyond the school year, Illinois is launching SUN Bucks in 2025 — a program that provides a $120 food benefit to eligible children during summer break. Most students will be automatically enrolled if they qualify through SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, or by attending a National School Lunch Program (NSLP) school and receiving free or reduced-price meals. For those not eligible, an application is available through August 13, 2025. Families are encouraged to check eligibility using the Summer EBT screener and ensure schools have the correct mailing address for benefit cards.

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Breakfast Is Served Daily At No Cost!

Elementary Schools: 8:10–8:50 a.m. Unity Junior High: 7:45–8:05 a.m. Cicero District 99 is committed to helping all students start the day with a healthy breakfast—at no cost to families. Research shows that students who eat breakfast perform better in school, have higher attendance, and show improved behavior. We know mornings can be busy, and many kids aren’t hungry right away. That’s why District 99 offers a Grab and Go Breakfast Program. Mobile carts are placed in school hallways so students can grab breakfast on the way to class. During the first 15 minutes of their first class, students can enjoy breakfast with classmates and fuel up for learning. This program helps ensure every student has access to the nutrition they need to succeed—regardless of when or where their day begins. Please Note: Students should not arrive before their school’s breakfast time, as adult supervision will not be available.

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Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

Cicero District 99 is proud to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a federally funded option for schools that are part of the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. What does this mean for you and your child? All students enrolled in Cicero District 99 are eligible to receive free healthy breakfast and lunch every day of the school year—with no cost to families. There is no need to submit an application or take further action. Every student can participate in the meal program automatically, regardless of income level. This initiative ensures that all children have access to nutritious meals that support their learning, health, and overall well-being—because when students are well-fed, they are better prepared to succeed. If you have any questions about school meals or the CEP program, please contact the Food Services Department.

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Team Nutrition

Team Nutrition is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service that supports national efforts to promote lifelong healthy eating habits and physical activity. The program works to improve nutrition practices within the Child Nutrition Programs. Cicero District 99 proudly supports this initiative by providing resources and guidance to schools, child care settings, and summer meal sites that participate in these programs. Through Team Nutrition, we aim to empower students and families with the tools to make healthy choices and build a strong foundation for lifelong wellness.

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Daily Food Menus

K-8 Breakfast

Elementary School Lunch

Unity Jr. High Lunch

EC Center Breakfast & Lunch

Extended Day Snack

Nutritional + Allergen Info

Wellness Policy

Student wellness—including good nutrition and regular physical activity—will be actively promoted through the District’s educational programs, school-based activities, and meal services. This policy is in alignment with Section 204 of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 and the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA).

The Superintendent is responsible for ensuring that each school building complies with this policy. Additionally, the policy will be made available to the community on an annual basis through either printed copies or online access to the Board Policy Manual. The Superintendent will also ensure that the community is kept informed about the progress of the policy’s implementation.

This reflects the District’s ongoing commitment to fostering a healthy school environment for all students.

  • The goals for addressing nutrition education and promotion include the following:

    • Schools will support and promote sound nutrition for students.
    • Schools will foster a positive relationship between sound nutrition, physical activity, and students’ ability to develop and learn.
    • Nutrition education will be integrated into the District’s comprehensive health education curriculum. (See Board Policy 6:60, Curriculum Content.)

     

    These goals reflect the District’s commitment to creating a learning environment that supports healthy choices and lifelong wellness.

  • The goals for addressing physical activity include the following:

    • Schools will support and promote an active lifestyle for all students.
    • Physical education will be provided at every grade level and will follow a developmentally appropriate, sequential curriculum. This curriculum will foster the development of movement skills, improve health-related fitness, increase student knowledge, provide opportunities for cooperative group work, and encourage lifelong healthy habits and attitudes. (See Board Policies 6:60, Curriculum Content, and 7:260, Exemption from Physical Education.)
    • All students will be required to participate in daily physical education during the school day, unless exempted in accordance with district policy.
    • The physical education curriculum will align with the Illinois Learning Standards for Physical Development and Health, as established by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

  • Students will be offered—and schools will actively promote—nutritious food and beverage choices throughout the school day, in accordance with Board Policy 4:120, Food Services, which requires compliance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Smart Snacks nutrition standards.

     

    To further support student health and help reduce childhood obesity, the Superintendent or designee will:

    • Restrict the sale of competitive foods, as defined by the USDA, in food service areas during meal periods
    • Ensure full compliance with all Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) rules
    • Prohibit the marketing of foods and beverages during the school day that do not meet the standards outlined in Board Policy 4:120. All in-school marketing must align with competitive food standards.

     

    Please note: Competitive food standards do not apply to items not sold in school during the school day, such as packed lunches, classroom party treats, school celebrations, or reward incentives.

  • All food and beverages sold to students on school campuses during the school day must meet the general nutrition standards for competitive foods as defined by federal law. These standards ensure that all items sold support student health and align with national nutrition guidelines.

     

    In addition, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) prohibits the use of exempted fundraising days (EFDs) for grades 8 and below in schools that participate in the federal Child Nutrition Programs. This policy helps maintain consistent access to nutritious food options throughout the school day.

  • All reimbursable school meals served shall meet, at a minimum, the nutrition standards and regulations set forth by the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or the School Breakfast Program (SBP). These guidelines ensure that every meal supports students’ health, development, and academic success.

  • In collaboration with the District’s local health department, the Superintendent or designee will:

    • Develop and support a Food Sharing Plan focused on redistributing unused food to support students in need.
    • Implement the Plan consistently across all schools in the District.
    • Ensure full compliance with the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and related USDA guidance on the Food Donation Program.
    • Oversee that all leftover food is donated appropriately to help reduce food insecurity within the community, following all applicable federal regulations and state and local health and sanitation codes.

  • At least once every three years, the Superintendent shall provide the Board with data and/or reports evaluating the implementation of this wellness policy. This triennial report will include sufficient detail to allow the Board to effectively monitor the policy and make adjustments as needed.

     

    The report will include, at a minimum:

    • An assessment of the District’s implementation of the wellness policy
    • The extent to which schools are in compliance with the policy
    • A comparison of the District’s policy to model local school wellness policies
    • A description of progress made toward achieving the goals of the policy
    • An explanation of how the assessment results will be shared with the public
    • The location where assessment records will be retained

     

    The Board will review the findings and revise the policy as necessary, in accordance with Board Policy 2:240, Board Policy Development.

  • The Board and Superintendent will actively seek and welcome suggestions and feedback on the development, implementation, periodic review, and updates of the school wellness policy. Input will be invited from a diverse group of stakeholders, including parents, students, school food authority representatives, physical education teachers, school health professionals, members of the school board, school administrators, and the broader community.

     

    All methods of community involvement should align with Board Policy 2:140, Communications To and From the Board, and the Community Engagement section of Board Policy 8:10, Connection with the Community.

  • The Superintendent shall ensure that all records related to the implementation and compliance of this policy are properly retained in accordance with the District’s records retention protocols and the requirements of the Local Records Act.

  • Legal and Policy References

    • Pub. L. 108-265, Sec. 204, Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004
    • 42 U.S.C. §1771 et seq., Child Nutrition Act of 1966
    • 42 U.S.C. §1751 et seq., National School Lunch Act
    • 42 U.S.C. §1758b, Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-296)
    • 42 U.S.C. §1779, implemented by 7 C.F.R. §§210.11 and 210.31
    • 50 ILCS 205/, Local Records Act
    • 105 ILCS 5/2-3.139
    • 23 Ill. Admin. Code Part 305, Food Program
    • ISBE’s School Wellness Policy Goal, adopted October 2007

     

    Cross References:

    • 2:140 (Communications To and From the Board)
    • 2:150 (Committees)
    • 2:240 (Board Policy Development)
    • 4:120 (Food Services)
    • 5:100 (Staff Development Program)
    • 6:60 (Curriculum Content)
    • 7:260 (Exemption from Physical Education)
    • 8:10 (Connection with the Community)

Contact Lunch Staff

☎️ Call (708) 863-8229

Using non-food rewards builds healthy habits by limiting exposure to high-calorie treats like cake, candy, and cookies. This helps kids form better food preferences and hunger cues for life. All party food must be store-bought, pre-packaged, and approved by the principal’s office. Candy, cakes, and soda are not allowed. All deliveries must check in at the school’s main office first.