IMPORTANT CHANGES TO CANTEEN PAYMENT!
This week we have introduced a new ‘cashless’ system in our canteen. As from 1st March, no cash will be accepted for payment of meals. Please note the following information:
How does the system work?
· Once enrolled, as each student enters the canteen they will place their enrolled finger on a fingertip scanner to make a payment for their food. No cash or swipe card is required. During the enrolment process the software captures a digital signature of your child’s middle fingertip, which is then broken down into data points, similar to reference points on a map. VeriCool turns these data points into an alpha-numeric string which is then stored on our own school server. There is no storage of actual finger prints on the system.
· No-one has access to this information, and the stored data points can never be viewed as anything other than a string of numbers and letters, so please be assured this software is very secure. Once students have left the school, all records are deleted.
· Enrolment of our current students (and staff) is scheduled took place on Wednesday 10th February 2010. Anyone who was absent that day will be enrolled on their return to school, and new starters will be enrolled on admission to the school.
At present there are two options for payment:
· Firstly by cash using the wall mounted coin and note loader situated in the school Reception area. Each child can load their account and monitor their own balances on a daily basis. These units are programmed to accept 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2 coins as well as £5, £10 and £20 notes only.
· The second payment option is by cheque/s made payable to ‘Gleed Boys’ School’. Cheques must be in an envelope and have the name and form group of the child clearly written on the reverse side. The school administrator will then update the relevant account accordingly.
· This new software was used for the first time on Friday 12th February. Students are able to load the cash machine before school, ant break and lunchtime and after school. Money is credited to accounts immediately.
· If your child spends £2.50 per day then you will need to send in cash / cheque for £2.50 x 5 days x 2 weeks = £25.00. If you wish to send in money to cover a longer period then please feel free to do so, although we recommend you do not send in more than is needed for 1 term.
· From 1st March 2010, cash will no longer be accepted at the food counter till points.
· Students who are entitled to free school meals will use the ‘fingertip’ system in exactly the same way as all other students, and their account will be credited with the free meals allowance total on a daily basis.
The information collected for this system will be solely for school use and held on school systems only. Please be assured that whilst this technology is relatively new, there are many other schools using VeriCool extremely successfully, and the system does result in a better service and can greatly improve students’ ‘healthy’ eating habits during the school day.
SWINE FLU PANDEMIC POLICY OCTOBER 2009
To read the full policy please click on the link below:-
.
