Bus update for the week of March 1. Service suspended for: #5 – Pine Ridge, #5 – Central Middle/Central High, #6 – Northern Trails, #6 – Northern Middle/Northern High, #74 Knapp Forest, #74 – Eastern Middle/Eastern High, #75 – Central Woodlands, #75 – Central Middle/Central High. Service resumes for: #40 – Northern Trails, #40 – Northern Middle/Northern High, #65 – Thornapple, #65 – Central Middle/Central High, #72 – Knapp Forest, #72 – Eastern Middle/Eastern High, #93 – Pine Ridge, #93 – Northern Middle/Northern High.
Food Service Department
Welcome to FHPS Food Service!
The Forest Hills Food Service Department is dedicated to serving nutritious and healthy food every day to over 10,000 customers. Approximately 56 percent of the products we purchase are locally grown and/or produced.
Important Updates from Food Service
Your Food Service staff are continuing to work hard to provide meals for ALL students, whether they are learning in school or at home. Be assured we are following all recommendations from our Michigan Health Department and the Michigan Department of Education to ensure the safety of your child and our staff members.
Free Meals in School!
The USDA has extended a waiver through the entire 2020-21 school year that allows all students to eat free meals!
For In-School Meals Only:
- Breakfast and Lunch is free for all students
- No application is necessary.
- Breakfast is available at eligible schools only.
- Milk without a meal is not free.
- Milk may be purchased for $.65 (student must have funds in his/her account)
- Only ONE lunch per day is free.
- An additional lunch may be purchased at full price (student must have funds in his/her account)
- Students at K-4 & K-5 elementary schools must pre-order lunch each morning in their classroom.
- Students at Goodwillie and Transition Center must pre-order for the week
Free Breakfast and Lunch for 100% Virtual Learners and Unenrolled Children!
- Unenrolled orders are available for children ages 18 and under, up to age 26 for people with disabilities.
- Meals must be pre-ordered weekly by Wednesday at 9am for pick up on Friday between 3-5pm.
- Pick up location is 160 Alta Dale Ave SE.
A La Carte Items
A la carte items are now available at 5/6 buildings, middle schools, and high schools.
Back by popular demand, schools now offer bottled drinks ($2.00), assorted chips ($1.25) and homemade chocolate chip cookies ($1.25) daily!
NOTE: All a la carte purchases, including single milk, second meal, bottled drinks, chips, and cookies, must be purchased through your child’s meal account. No cash sales.
To deposit funds into your child’s account using a credit or debit card please set up an account at www.schoolpay.com, or pay by check/cash in your school’s office or at the Production Kitchen (160 Alta Dale Dr SE Ada, MI 49301). Make sure any cash or check funds are clearly marked with your child’s name and state that the deposit is for “Food Service“.
Job Openings in Food Service
WE NEED YOU!
Are you looking for a part-time job while your kids are at school? WE HAVE OPENINGS IN FOOD SERVICE!
Work on your kids’ same schedule and get paid for holidays and sick time. Get nights and weekends off as well as summers and all other school breaks. Openings vary from 3 to 4 hours daily between the hours of 9a-2p.
If you prefer a more flexible schedule, we also are hiring substitutes! Must pass a background check and a 50 pound lift test.
Visit our Employee Applications page or call Sarah Hawkins at 616-493-8774 for more information.
Student Kiosk Ordering
For students in high school and middle school enrolled in the in-person learning model, students can order their lunches via electronic kiosks. Here’s how:
Interactive School Menu
Visit fhps.nutrislice.com for menus and nutritional information
The way you access your student’s school menus is by using the above Nutrislice interactive website. In addition, you may download a free app for a smartphone or mobile device to view things when you’re on the go. The website and app allow you to see menu item descriptions and photographs, filter common food allergens, translate the menus into another language, view carb counts and calories, and much more.
Did you know free meals are available over the summer?
Inclement Weather
When school is canceled due to inclement weather, the meal that was scheduled to be served on the inclement weather day will be served on the return day of school.
Example: Tuesday is an inclement weather day. Tuesday’s menu will be served on Wednesday, the return day.
SchoolPay Now Used to Deposit Funds
Forest Hills Public Schools utilizes SchoolPay for electronic payment of school meals. SchoolPay handles all payments from one easy-to-use, fully self-service interface. You can access SchoolPay through the Parent Portal of PowerSchool or by visiting www.schoolpay.com.
For instructions on registering your SchoolPay account, please see the attached SchoolPay Instructional Brochure.
If you have any questions or concerns relating to meal account deposits, please contact the Food Service Office at 616-493-8774.
SchoolPay determines their own fees for credit card processing and updates these fees each year. FHPS does not determine these fees. Please see their website or contact their customer service department for updated credit card processing fees.
Quick Links
Financial Assistance
If there is a need for financial assistance with school meal programs, you can apply online at www.lunchapp.com. When using this site, you will no longer need to send in the paper application. Once the application is reviewed, you will receive a letter indicating if the application was approved as free, approved as reduced price, or denied. Please be aware that any benefits will begin only after the food service representative has reviewed your application. Benefits cannot begin immediately as a determination of eligibility must be made. Any charges to the account before the application is approved will be your responsibility.
If you do not have access to a computer, you can fill out a paper application. Print the paper application and mail completed application to:
Forest Hills Public Schools
Food Service Department
160 Alta Dale Ave SE
Ada, MI 49301
Paper applications are also available in school offices. Our goal is to have healthy, happy, and well-fed children who learn to the best of their abilities. Please call the Food Service Office at (616) 493-8774 for CONFIDENTIAL help in applying for free or reduced-price meals.
- Apply for assistance at LunchApp.com
- Free and Reduced Price Meal Application
- Free and Reduced Application in other languages
- How to apply for benefits
- FAQs About Free and Reduced-Price School Meals
- Sharing Information with Other Programs
Meal Charge Policy
All students will be allowed to purchase a reimbursable meal regardless of their lunch account balance. If a child’s lunch account balance is zero or below, we will offer a reimbursable meal; however, they will not be allowed to purchase any à la carte items. This will create a negative balance on their account. Negative and/or low balance reminders will be emailed twice weekly to the email address on file. Parents and/or guardians are responsible for the negative balance accrued on their student(s) accounts.
Special Dietary Needs
If your student has a special dietary need due to a disability or medical issue, special dietary accommodations can be made. Please complete the Medical Statement to Request Special Meals and/or Accommodations and mail to the Food Service Office:
160 Alta Dale Ave SE
Ada, MI 49301
Wellness Policy
Read the FHPS Board of Education Wellness Policy on the BoardBooks website.
Catering Options
Forest Hills Public Schools Food Service Department Catering helps you make sure your event is perfect—from planning to the presentation! We have an experienced and passionate team dedicated to your event, and for your convenience, our chefs have created menus with popular, seasonal and perfect pairings. This is just a sample of what we offer, so don’t hesitate to share your ideas—we’re here to make them happen.
Whether your plans call for a small reception or a gourmet dinner, our catering team will work with you every step of the way.
And the icing on the cake: yes we do fabulous desserts, but also ordering through FHPS Catering means you’re doing something great from the start—proceeds from the event go directly back to Forest Hills Public Schools.
Download the 2020-21 FHPS Catering Menu
Catering Coordinator:
Daniela Eggers McClure
District Chef
Phone: 616-493-3370
Fax: 616-493-8784
Email: deggers@fhps.net
Food Service Employment
Forest Hills Public Schools is looking for qualified employees to serve as members of our Food Service crew! If you are a reliable and trustworthy person that would like to serve the students and staff of the district on a full or part-time basis, please consider applying for a food service position. Jobs are posted online with Applitrak. Visit the Human Resources Department homepage for more information or visit the Kent County Consortium Application Site to view additional available jobs and apply online!
