Nutrition Services

SPS believes it is critically important to take the necessary steps to ensure the health, well-being and safety of our students. Food allergies are becoming more common. However, due to food processing practices, it is impossible to guarantee that any school environment can be allergen-free, thus the need for a raised level of food allergy awareness.

Below you will find the appropriate forms that must be filled out and returned to the School-Based Nurse or Health Aide to ensure any allergies accomodations for your student. If your child has a disability the form must be filled out by a physician.

Meal Accommodation Quick Guide
Meal Accommodations Decision Tree
Meal Preference Request Form
Medical Statement to Request Special Meals or Accommodations

The SPS Wellness Committee has created some tips and guidelines for parents to use when determining what to contribute for classroom snacks. The idea is to seek out prepackaged nutritious foods that avoid common allergens such as nuts. Snacks cannot be homemade.

General Guidelines: We suggest you keep an eye on fat and sodium content and limit artificial colors or sweeteners. Good examples are fresh or dried fruits, raw veggies; wholegrain items like crackers or cereal; or proteins like string cheese or yogurt.

For drinks, water is the preferred choice, but other uncaffeinated, relatively low sugar drinks such as juices (that actually have juice in them) or low-fat milks are acceptable.

Parties and Celebrations: Change the focus of classroom parties to fun activities rather than just high-calorie food.

Healthy Party Food Ideas

During the winter of the 2023-24 school year, Springfield Public Schools (SPS) was able to return to a robust set of food choices for students, and the new menus offered even more exciting and nutritious options than ever before. Read more about how more local, nutritious choices support student learning and hear what students have to say about the options.

Kids can eat free lunch during the summer thanks to FOOD For Lane County's Summer Food Program.

Staff and volunteers serve meals at schools, parks and community centers located throughout Lane County during the summer months, including a number of sites in Springfield. 

• Children and youth 18 years of age and younger are invited to eat at one of the many sites, including several Springfield schools and nearby parks.
• Most sites are open in June and run through August. The schedule is posted in late spring each year. No registration is required.
• Children ages 1-2 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Food is not provided for parents or guardians, but they are invited to bring along their own food to eat with their kids.

Headspace for Educators - Headspace, a mental health, sleep, and meditation app, offers free access to K-12 teachers and supporting staff. 

Springfield Public Schools recognizes that students and their family members who speak multiple languages are assets to the community and is committed to providing equitable access for families to participate in their students’ education by addressing language barriers, free of charge.

SPS recognizes the importance of providing consistent language support for students and parents or guardians whose preferred language is not English. By communicating essential educational information in the preferred language of families, schools foster greater involvement, thereby enhancing student success and ultimately reducing opportunity gaps.

Free language assistance, auxiliary aids, and accommodations are available upon request. Please contact SPS Communications Team, to request interpretation services or a district translator during an academic meeting.

The USDA Nondiscrimination Statement prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family status, political beliefs, or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in programs and activities conducted or funded by USDA.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
(2) fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Oregon School Wellness

Alliance for a Healthier Generation

USDA Nutrition Standards for School Meals

USDA Choose My Plate