By Kelly Graeber

Oxford School District Media Relations

Parents can go ahead and line up their children’s lunch for the upcoming school year before the first day of school rolls around on Friday, Aug. 4.

All incoming Oxford School District students are invited to participate in the district’s Free and Reduced Lunch Program during the 2017-2018 school year. In fact, parents can complete their child’s online application now for the upcoming school year at www.oxfordsd.org/FreeReducedLunch.

OSD Child Nutrition Director Dan Westmoreland says that there are some families who might not know that their children qualify for the healthy lunch program offered throughout the school year. Every family is encouraged to apply for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program, which can be done anytime throughout the school year.

“We do have some parents who might not know that their child qualifies to eat a nutritious lunch at little or no cost each day, and that’s why we tell parents to fill out the application anyways,” said Westmoreland.

Parents can apply for the free or reduced price meals by simply completing the online form in the comfort and privacy of their home.

Only one application per household is needed, and applications will be processed by the district’s Child Nutrition Program in a timely manner. Parents will receive a notification from the district with the results of their application for free and reduced lunches for their children.

Families have until September 15, 2017, to complete an updated application for the 2017-2018 school year; if they do not, applicants will be responsible for paying full prices for lunch — $3 per day per child —until their application is processed. That’s why school officials encourage parents to get a jumpstart on filling out the online application now to ensure that their students have a healthy start to the school year.

“Children need nutritious meals to learn,” said Westmoreland. “Our district offers wholesome meals every school day, which are key to powering students’ learning.”

If Oxford School District families need one-on-one help with the online application process, they can call the Child Nutrition Program office at 662- 234-3541 and make an appointment for assistance in filling out the online application. A paper version of the application is also available to fill out at the district’s two central office locations — 409 Washington Avenue and 224 Bramlett Boulevard.

Parents or families who do not have access to a personal computer or Internet connection can use computers for free at the Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library, which is open to the public.

Also, the OSD Student Registration Office located at 409 Washington Avenue in Oxford offers technical assistance and computer use at no cost to school district families. The OSD Student Registration Office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Visit www.oxfordsd.org for more information on the Oxford School District.