School Lunch Purchases and Payments FAQ

You can pay for your child’s school lunch
through the following methods:

• Online Payments: Visit our school district’s online payment portal . You can use a credit or debit card to add funds to your child’s lunch account. There is a $3.00 fee to use this service. If you’re having trouble, there is a tutorial available on our website.
• In-Person Payments: You can also send cash or a check (made payable to Orting School
• District) with your child to school. Please write your child’s full name and student ID number on the check.

You can check your child’s lunch account balance by logging into Skyward Family Access and selecting “Food Service.” If you need assistance, or login credentials, please contact the school’s main office or Shari Taylor, Student Information Systems and Data Security Manager at 360-893-4031.

To keep you informed about your child's meal account balance, we have several notification methods in place:

• 24/7 Online Access:
  • Skyward Access: You can log into Skyward 24 hours a day to view updated information regarding meal purchases and account balances. This allows you to monitor and manage your child's account at your convenience.
• Automatic Email Alerts:
  • Email Notifications: We also send automatic email alerts to the email address we have on file. Please ensure your email address is up to date in Skyward to receive these notifications.
• Paper Statements:
  • Seasonal Statements: In addition to digital notifications, we will send out paper statements during the fall, winter, and spring. These statements will provide a summary of your child’s meal account status.
• Student Notification
  • According to federal requirements, we are unable to communicate meal account balances to students who are under the age of 15. This policy helps protect student privacy and ensures that account information is handled appropriately. If your student is a Junior or Senior, they may ask the cashier for their account balance.

If you need assistance with accessing your account or updating your contact information, please contact the school’s main office or the Nutrition Services Department. Ensuring you have accurate and current information helps us keep your child’s meal account in good standing.

First, take a deep breath, we absolutely care and want to help, then…

• Fill out and submit the CNEEB application to see if you qualify for free or reduced meals. This WILL NOT forgive previous meal debt, but if you qualify it will keep you from accruing more.
• Call the Nutrition Services Office at 360-893-4397. We can talk about how to tackle any meal debt and come up with what works best for your family.

If you’ve forgotten your login information, use the “Forgot Login/Password” feature on Skyward. Follow the prompts and an email with your log-in information will be sent to the email address on file.

Yes, you can set a “daily snack bar limit” for your middle school or high school student using Skyward Family Access. Here’s how it works:

• Set the Limit: Through Skyward Family Access, you have the option to set an "Ala Cart" limit for your child. This limit specifies the maximum amount your child can spend each day at the snack bar.
• Managing the Limit: You have full control over setting and adjusting this limit. Log into Skyward Family Access to set or modify the limit as needed.
• Staff Assistance: Please note that our school staff cannot make changes to the snack bar limit on your behalf. All adjustments must be made by you through the Skyward Family Access portal.

Please note that students cannot incur meal debt to pay for snack bar items.

Yes, our district offers free and reduced-price lunch programs for eligible students. To apply, fill out Child Eligibility and Education Benefit Application available on our website here or contact the district’s Nutrition Services Department for assistance.

If your child forgets their lunch money, they can still receive a meal, but there may be a charge to their account. It’s important to keep their account funded to avoid any potential issues.

To request a refund or transfer funds between siblings, contact the Nutrition Services Department at 360-893-4397. Please provide your child’s name, student ID number, and details of your request.

Yes, students are welcome to bring their own lunch from home, however, due to the state health code kitchens are not able to heat outside food onsite.