Student Life

Crusader Cafe

The Crusader Cafe is pleased to serve K-12th grade students at Northwest Christian School during recesses, breaks, lunches and more!

How to Order and Pay for Lunch for Your K-12 Student

Ordering and paying for your students lunch is an easy two-step process!

STEP 1. Set up your MySchoolBucks Account
STEP 2. Place an order for your students meal by visiting MealOrders.com

STEP 1. MySchoolBucks.com

The Crusader Cafe utilizes a cashless payment system for all students and staff. MySchoolBucks.com will be used exclusively as the payment method as cash is not accepted.

All elementary students will have an ID to present at the Cafe to purchase items. All students (including elementary) will have a barcode on their ID which will be scanned to allow servers access to your student's account to purchase their snacks/lunches. MySchoolBucks gives parents the convenience and flexibility of one account to securely pay for all their student's meals with a credit card, debit card or electronic check. MySchoolBucks accepts Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express.

Below, we hope to answer questions you might have about signing your student(s) up for MySchoolBucks account. There are a few options available to load money onto your student's account :

Pay As You Go: You may choose to load your child's account with any dollar amount up to $150.00 per student. There is a $3.50 fee each time you load your students account, however that fee is per transaction only - not per student. For example, you have three children, you may load all three accounts at one time for only $3.50 total. The pay as you go option accepts credit or debit card and echeck.

Pay by Year Per Student: You may choose to pay a yearly membership fee of $12.95 per student which enables you to add funds up to $150.00 at any time. This would be ideal for households with one or two students. Available by e-check only.

Pay by Year Per Family: You may choose to pay a yearly membership fee of $26.95 for your "family" which enables you to add funds up to $150.00 at any time. This plan is ideal for families of three or more students. Available by e-check only.

To take advantage of the yearly membership plan when setting up your students account, "click" your name at the upper right corner on your screen, then "my user profile", then "update membership". You may also choose AutoPay when you are setting up your account by selecting "setup AutoPay" from the meal payment options page. During the setup process, you may set up payments to occur when the account balance falls below your specified amount or on a set schedule. For example, when the account balance reaches an amount of your choice or on a given schedule, such as, on the first of every month, $X amount is deposited into your student's account. After you have chosen your payment type and entered your settings, click "complete setup" to enable the settings. This convenient option lets you set it up once and lets MySchoolBucks handle the rest.

Three Easy Steps to Setting Up MySchoolBucks Account

1. Go to MySchoolBucks.com or download the app and click on "sign up today".

2. Create a user profile with your email address, establish a password and add your students.

3. Pay with your credit/debit card or Echeck.

Once you have created your account and selected your payment type, you're ready to go. Payments will show as "pending" on your meal account page until they post to your student's account at their school. Meal funds are generally available for your student to use in 1-2 business days. At this time, you may also set up email reminders to add funds when your balance reaches a chosen amount.

MySchoolBucks also has a FREE Mobile app for both iPhone and Android at App Store or Play Store. You can quickly and securely add funds to your students account, using the same username and password you use on MySchoolBucks website.

STEP 2: MealOrders.com

Place Your Order

Go to MealOrders.com, Login using your MySchoolBucks log in credentials and “Create New Order.” Select Student, school, next, lunch period, in the cafeteria & next. From the list of dates on the right, select the day, choose the items, add the items to the cart. Multiple days may be selected up to 2 weeks in advance. Once order selections for the student are selected, go to your cart, review the cart and submit. Return to the home page and repeat the process for each student. Orders may be placed from 2 weeks in advance until the day of before 8:15am.

Menu Selection on MealOrders.com

The menu in the upper left corner may be used to start orders, cancel orders, add funds, view orders, add allergy settings and set up email preferences.

Order Charges

MySchoolBucks accounts are not charged until the item is picked up from the Cafe. If your student is absent, please cancel the lunch order before 8:15am.

Order Fulfillment

Student ID cards are scanned at the lunch counter. The order for the student populates and the lunch staff fulfills the order.

Crusader Cafe FAQ's

List of 7 items.

Can I add information about food allergies?

Yes! Please add food allergy information to your student’s profile on MealOrders.com. THE SCHOOL NURSE SHOULD ALSO BE MADE AWARE OF ANY AND ALL FOOD ALLERGIES ON THE STUDENT HEALTH FORM.
Can my student place a lunch order?

Secondary students may use their iPads to place orders on MealOrders.com once the student access has been granted by a parent. From the home page under student ordering select manage student access then send an “invite” to your student. Your student will login with their school email address and create an account for ordering.
Do I have to pre-order sides and drinks?

Side orders, drinks, desert of the day, etc. may be pre-ordered or ordered at the counter. Pre-ordering of these items is required for 1st through 3rd grade. Pre-ordering is not required for 4th-12th grade. Students may request these items at the lunch counter.
What about my Kindergarten student?

Pre-ordering for Kindergarten students will begin in September. Information will be communicated by Bree Tarbutton, Director of Early Education and Kindergarten Principal at a later date.
What is the order cut-off?

Orders may be placed from 2 weeks in advance until 8:15am the day of.
Who do I call if I need assistance?

Please call Diane Shulda in the Business Office at 602-978-5134 extension 517.
Will my student be able to get lunch if I forget to order?

Yes. The cafe prepares alternate meals each day. For example, on Mondays you may pre-order a meal from Samurai Sams or pick up Chicken Fried rice. The cafe also orders a limited amount of extra vendor prepared items. They are available on a First Come-First Served basis. During the first weeks of school, there will be a larger than normal amount of extra vendor prepared items available. Other nutritious items such as a bagel with cream cheese, yogurt and granola, string cheese, fruit, etc. may also be ordered at the lunch counter during lunch.