September 2007

Dear Parents,

The serious nature of LIFE-THREATENING FOOD ALLERGIES requires our school to continue to take steps to keep all our children safe.

We have several children with severe food allergies that are potentially life-threatening. The most common allergies are to peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish, shellfish, eggs, milk and wheat. The consistency and oiliness of all nut products makes it difficult for children that are allergic to these products to avoid its residue, so in a school setting it is impossible to monitor. All of our classrooms, library spaces (books included), gym and bathrooms are used by many. Strict avoidance of the allergy causing food is the only way to avoid a reaction.

We ask your cooperation in providing only peanut/treenut free snacks for your child to have during their daily “snack time” in their classroom, at holiday parties and other special occasions. Birthdays are creative celebrations within each classroom and food items should not be brought to school to be shared with classmates and staff for this event. Your child’s teacher may have more information available regarding how they plan to honor each child on their day. We welcome your non-food ideas to make this a special, exciting time.

It is extremely difficult to provide you with a list of safe foods as ingredients can always change without notice, so please read labels carefully and watch for manufacturer’s allergy warnings on the labels when considering a snack.

We attempt to serve only nut safe foods in our hot lunch program, but it is necessary for our staff to constantly read labels since ingredients change or nut products are packaged and produced in the same factory. If your child is in grade 1 through 8 (they eat in the large dining area) and chooses to bring a cold lunch, we strongly ENCOURAGE you to provide a lunch that is entirely peanut/nut safe. However, if preferred, s(he) may bring a peanut butter sandwich or bar, but they will be required to wash hands or use a hand wipe prior to leaving the lunch room. Please keep snack and any peanut/nut lunch foods carefully separated. Our pre-K and K dining area are completely nut-free so NO cold lunches containing nut products are allowed. We encourage you to clean your child’s lunch container on a daily basis to eliminate the possibility of contact. If a nut product is eaten in the car on the way to school, please have your youngster(s) use a hand wipe prior to entering the school building.

We can only imagine the fear and anxiety parents of a child with life-threatening food allergies encounter on a daily basis. Learning to read labels helps us all to become more proactive.

We are most grateful for your understanding and willingness to help provide a safe environment for everyone that will result in a healthy, happy school year.

Many thanks,

(Mrs.) Doreen McNeil, School Nurse