Educational Benefits:
Gentry Academy participates in Minnesota’s Free School Meals Program. Our school offers healthy meals each day. All students can get one breakfast and one lunch free of charge each day at school. Although no application is required to receive this free meal benefit, filling out the Application for Educational Benefits is still important! Your child(ren) may qualify for other benefits like reduced fees at school. Your application may also help the school qualify for education funds, discounts, and other meal programs.
To apply, complete the enclosed Application for Educational Benefits and return it to:
Gentry Academy
1420 County Road E East
Vadnais Heights, MN 55110
Who should complete this application? Children in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and foster, homeless, migrant and runaway children qualify without reporting household income. Alternatively, children can qualify if their household income is within the maximum income shown for their household size on the instructions.
Common Questions
I get WIC or Medical Assistance. Can my children qualify? Children in households participating in WIC or Medical Assistance do not automatically qualify. Children may be eligible depending on other household financial information. Please fill out an application.
Who should I include as household members? Include yourself and all other people living in the household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends).
May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens for you to complete an application.
What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally get. If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get overtime only sometimes. For seasonal work, write in the total annual income.
Will the income information or case number I give be checked? It may be. We may also ask you to send written proof.
How will the information be kept? Information you provide on the form, and your child’s approval, will be protected as private data. For more information, see the back page of the Application for Educational Benefits.
If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? Yes. Please complete an application at any time if your income goes down, your household size goes up, or you start getting SNAP, MFIP or FDPIR benefits.
If you have other questions or need help, call 651-604-8300.
This confidential form may be filled out at any time during the year.
Guidelines:
Gentry Academy follows The National School Breakfast and Lunch Program which enacted guidelines for food available in schools. The guidelines restrict caloric, sodium, fat and sugar content in items available during the school day. Included are our a la carte options.
Smart Snacks:
Smart Snacks Standards’ are a Federal requirement for all foods sold outside the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. These standards were developed to promote student wellness. More than a quarter of kids’ daily calories may come from snacks. Kids who have healthy eating patterns are more likely to perform better academically. Kids consume more healthy foods and beverages during the school day. When they are Smart Snacks, the healthy choice is the easy choice.