This is the primary category for digital announcement items.
Food Services Info 21/22
August 2021
Food Service Information
We are pleased to inform you that MaST Community Charter School will be participating in the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) in the 2021-2022 school year. This program is available to schools and districts as part of the waivers issued by USDA on April 20, 2021.
All enrolled students of MaST are eligible to receive a nutritional breakfast and lunch each school day at no charge to your household.
EVERY FAMILY MUST RETURN AN APPLICATION unless you recently received a Notice of Direct Certification for the 2021-2022 school year. It is extremely important to complete a free/reduced application as doing so helps our school qualify for government funding and grants that, in turn, allow us to offer additional programs and services to your child. If there is going to be another P-EBT benefit this upcoming school year, only those qualifying for free/reduced meals via the application process and direct certification notifications will be eligible for this benefit.
We strongly encourage you to please utilize the online application for this school year. In order to complete the online application, please create an account by visiting: https://www.schoolcafe.com.
If you would like a paper copy of the application, please contact Jackie DeWan, Food Service Coordinator, at jdewan@mastccs.org, or you can download a copy from our school website.
SchoolCafe is being used at MaST for families both for the online application mentioned above and to deposit money into an account to pay for your child’s additional meals as well as snacks. The direct link to SchoolCafe is https://www.schoolcafe.com/. You will need to have your student’s school ID number to create an account. For new students to MaST this year, this ID number will be given to you.
There are several options available for depositing money into your child’s account. Through https://www.schoolcafe.com/ a minimum deposit of $25.00 or more can be made by debit or credit card. If you would like to deposit money into a child’s account less than $25.00, a check/money order/cash (minimum $5.00) can also be sent to school with your child should you choose that route. Please make checks or money orders payable to MaST Community Charter School, write your child’s name on the check, and place it in a sealed envelope labeled Food Service. Please note that no change will be given to a student. The total amount sent in will be deposited into the student’s account. For any checks, money orders, or cash that is brought in by students, it should be brought into school as follows:
Grades K-6: Put it in a sealed envelope with the student’s name, homeroom number, and “Food Services” written on it. This should be submitted to the homeroom teacher, and the homeroom teacher will then give it to the food services cashier to deposit into the student’s account.
Grades 7-12: Put it in a sealed envelope with the student’s name, homeroom number, and “Food Services” written on it. This should be given to the food services cashier directly by the student either during breakfast or lunch, and the cashier will deposit it into the student’s account.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jackie DeWan, Food Service Coordinator, at foodservices@mastccs.org
Sincerely,
Matthew Ehrlich
Head of School Operations
SEPTA Update
SEPTA has notified MaST that they are not able to provide us with our tripper buses (Routes, 14, 67, 20) until Monday, August 30, 2021.
SEPTA buses will be running those days on their regular routes (but not the ones that come to our parking lot- tripper buses).
SEPTA Fare Cards will be distributed to students on the first day of school and can be used on any SEPTA transportation. These cards are now permanent and the student will keep it until graduation. Encourage your child to keep it with them daily but in a secure pocket.
To plan your child’s route please go to SEPTA.org
MaST did notify SEPTA of our opening dates months ago but they are not able to provide operators.
For SEPTA customer service please call 215-580-7800.
Mask Update
August 11, 2021
MaST Schools Mask Update
Dear MaST Schools Families,
Based on the most recent release of recommendations by the CDC and the Acting Philadelphia Health Commissioners statements today, the Board of Trustees for all MaST Schools and MaST Schools Administration will now be requiring a mask to be worn by everyone in our K-12 schools when indoors and on school transportation, regardless of vaccination status. Today, Philadelphia announced that the city will require masks be worn inside businesses unless the business requires proof of vaccination. The mask mandate takes effect on Thursday at 12 a.m. Acting Health Commissioner, Dr. Cheryl Bettigole stated, “That means everyone in Philadelphia must wear a mask when going into any business or institution, with an exception for those that require vaccinations.”
Currently, the CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Masks will be optional for everybody when outdoors on school grounds, including recess. These masking rules will also apply to athletic teams. For indoor sports, masks will be required. For outdoor sports, masks will be optional. It also remains possible that the leagues our schools participate in may impose stricter rules that would supersede our school requirements listed in this letter. If that happens, we will communicate with those teams and families.
Our Health and Safety Plan approved on July 21st will be updated to reflect the mask requirement. We are also working to update our COVID-19 information page on our websites. We know that the conflicting advice from multiple sources can be frustrating. We are doing our best to follow the current guidance while preparing for the upcoming school year. We do expect a universal masking policy to significantly limit the need for students to quarantine when cases do occur, and this weighed heavily into our decision making. Per the CDC, if an unmasked individual either tests positive or sits next to an individual who tests positive (whether that person is masked or not) in a classroom, the positive case and every person sitting around the positive case (tic-tac-toe board) would need to quarantine with the 3 foot spacing we’re able to create between students. With universal masking, only the positive individual would have to quarantine. Families will be contacted for every student sitting around that student (the tic-tac-toe board), but quarantines will be optional for those families. This will play a huge role in being able to maximize student attendance. As always, the plan is subject to change. Your understanding is always appreciated.
Thank you,
John F. Swoyer III
Chief Executive Officer
MaST Schools Network