September 2025 Newsletter

What’s Cooking Hingham!?

This summer, we've been busy prepping for the school year, including more from-scratch items on our menus and utilizing our outdoor freezer for extra space. Our focus is always on the kids, and this year, we’re excited to support the Hingham Food Pantry with a food drive during the first week of school. Donations should be closed, sealed, and not expired. Here is a list of items that the Food Pantry needs for this time of year; Crackers (saltines, wheat thins…), boxes of Granola bars, Mac and Cheese, canned soup, canned vegetables, side dishes, boxes of white rice, and ready to eat canned meals like Chef Boy-R-Dee. Students and staff can drop off items like crackers, granola bars, and canned meals in the bins located in the cafeteria. Thank you for helping us make a difference!

Food Drive
📆When? September 2-5, 2026

📍Where? Your School's Cafeteria

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1. School meals are free of charge for the 2025-2026 school year 📆

Each student is entitled to one breakfast and one lunch per day at no cost. Please note that any additional items, such as milk with a lunch from home, snacks or extra meals, will incur a charge. If you need additional support, don't hesitate to reach out—we're here to help!

2. We encourage families to fill out the school meal benefit application ✍🏻

If you think you might qualify, this could provide access to additional benefits. However, if you think your family will not qualify, it’s not necessary to apply. Remember, all Massachusetts students receive school meals at no charge regardless of the application outcome. Applications can be completed online at schoolcafe.com, or you can find hard copies on our website, or at the District’s food services page. For a mailed application, please contact Marisalyn Biagini at mbiagini@hinghamschools.org.

3. Our meal and snack pricing has changed 💲

Although school meals are free, any additional items like fruit, milk, or a second meal will incur a charge. You can find the pricing for 2025-2026 here. 2025-2026 pricing

We have some exciting theme days coming up this month!

National Charity Day - September 5th

Cheese Pizza Day - September 5th

National Pepperoni Day - September 19th

Johnny Appleseed Day - September 26th

You'll need your child's student ID to set up an account on schoolcafe.com, and their PIN number will be used at the lunchroom register

Creating an account on schoolcafe.com is free and allows you to view purchase history, set low balance alerts, transfer funds between siblings, and make online payments. Note that online payments incur a fee, with a minimum of $10 and a maximum of $100 per transaction.

Payments can also be made at school without a fee. You can send checks or cash with your child, with a maximum of $500 accepted per transaction. Please make checks payable to HPS Food Services and include your child's full name and homeroom on the memo. It’s helpful to place the payment in an envelope marked “school lunch” or “school cafeteria.”

I've sent an email with your child’s student ID and PIN numbers. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Secondary students can also find their PIN numbers in X2 under student information. Remember to remind your child not to share their lunch PIN number.

If your child has special dietary needs and wishes to participate in the school meals program, please contact us as soon as possible. We require advance notice to ensure we can accommodate your child's needs at mealtime. Additionally, all of our kitchens are peanut and tree nut-free. Our Food Service allergy procedures can be found here.

For contact information regarding your school's manager and food allergy procedures, please visit the HPS Food Service website. Feel free to reach out with any questions. Our goal is to ensure your children are well-fed and ready to thrive in school!

Harvest of the Month

This month's harvest is tomatoes!

Did you know?

In the U.S. people eat 20 pounds of tomatoes every year.
In Massachusetts, over 500 farms produce 6.5 million pounds of tomatoes every year.
Tomatoes come from Peru. Their Aztec name means “plump thing with a navel (belly-button!).
Click here for the HOTM Family Newsletter.

Happy Healthy Eating,

Kimberly Smyth, Food Service Director

Rebecca Hansen, MS, RD, Nutrition Coordinator

Email: ksmyth@hinghamschools.org; rhansen@hinghamschools.org
Website: Food Services Website
Phone: 781-804-2566

What’s Cooking Hingham!?

🍕 September Lunch Menus - click here! 🍕 September Lunch Menus - click here!

💡 Reminders 💡 Reminders