Quote:Originally posted by Carefulmom:
[b]No time for a long post as I am out of town and borrowed a computer just to check email, but this sentence really struck me from Chanda4: "The school did say I could make a list of safe foods that I could give the parents to consult(but if they didn't want it was their right)...do you think any of these parents would look twice at this list, take it with them to the store, or hang it in the kitchen to refer to in the future HECK NO!!"
This sentence really bothers me. It is not up to the parent to pass a safe list out to the parents. It is up to the school to do it. I think this just causes other parents to get angry at the pa parent, which I know is what happened to you (Chanda4). The school should be passing out the safe list. All the rules related to the pa should be presented as coming from the school, not the parent of the pa child.
In elementary school, our teacher sent home a letter every year with the rules coming from her. I don`t have it with me since I am out of town, but it went something like this:
"Dear Parents,
This year we have a child in our class who is severely allergic to peanuts. For someone who is severely allergic to peanuts, even the smell or contact with a small amount of residue can cause a severe reaction. I am doing my part to reduce the risk by requesting that parents not send in food with peanuts."
I don`t recall the rest right now. Mommyofmatt, you have the letter. It was in the pile of stuff I mailed you when I mailed you dd`s 504. You can post the rest of it if you want.
I also remember another note going home about birthdays with a suggested safe list. It said something like "if you want to bring in a treat that everyone can eat, the following items are safe". It did not require it. It was suggested and most people did follow it.
I totally agree about the food free room. When your child is MFA and not just pa, it becomes even more clear cut. Almost anything the other kids eat will have either milk, eggs, or peanuts in them. They do move from station to station quite a bit in the room. If they do this while eating, everything is contaminated, so a peanut free zone in the classroom is not really effective. It was very common in elementary school for kids to be separated into groups for various things, and dd could be sitting anywhere in the room.
[/b]
reraising for Adele.

carefulmom..the difference with my school though(they send the same letters aksing "Please make your best efforts to avoid sending foods to be shared with the class that contain the foods to which their classmates are allergic"...above is a blank to fill in Peanuts/Treenuts and Eggs)...but that's it. *IF* the parent wants to send in pb crackers...even though it's asked they make an effort not to, it won't be taken away or not allowed if they don't want to make the effort. There is no ban in our district. And it quite a apparent, that my school has parents that are NOT going to make an effort. I can guarentee if one of the *mean moms* has a child in my sons class, that child will be bringing in Cracker Jacks, pb crackers, reeces peanut butter cups...probably everyday, just to prove they can!!!
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Chanda(mother of 4)
Sidney-8 (beef and chocolate, grasses, molds, weeds, guinea pig & asthma)
Jake-6 (peanut, all tree nuts, eggs, trees, grasses, weeds, molds, cats, dogs, guinea pig & eczema & asthma)
Carson-3 1/2 (milk, soy, egg, beef and pork, cats, dog, guinea pig and EE)
Savannah-1 (milk and egg)

Quote:Originally posted by MommaBear:
[b] so you have no say whatsoever? I'm assuming Mariah can refuse...[/b]
Of course Mariah can refuse, but I don't think she ever has because she enjoys the 'treats'. . . and knows they are safe because her teacher tells her that they are.
Any food provided to students by staff or the Parent Association must be submitted in its original package to the school nurse who, upon deeming it 'safe', forwards it on to the Director of Food Services who also checks the ingredient label. If both approve it (documented), the teacher may use/serve that food. The teacher informs Mariah that the food has been approved per her 504 plan.
Almost always the teacher, nurse and/or the Director of Food Services includes me on the e-mail correspondence. So I have known about food use ahead of time. But one teacher didn't, as I don't require it in the 504 plan. I found out after-the-fact from Mariah. I did feel the need to follow up by requesting a copy of the approval from the nurse, who immediately obliged.
So no, I have no 'say'. <> Maybe I'm the 'bad mommy' LOL, but this is how I prefer it. Mariah is 13, and this is what works for her and us.
In elementary school I was often (always?) at the school reading the labels. But not any more. I haven't read a label at school since Mariah started Middle School (over 1.5 years).
[b]Anywhooo. I might consider it [i]to a point[/i] if my school nurse had been on the job longer than a month. (LOL) She recently sent me "epipen administration" forms. I'm assuming she's still a "newbie" and can't find the ones I turned in earlier this year. We don't have a "Director of Food Services". The "Hot Lunch Moms" run the show. (They bring in "fast food" a few times a month for the entire school) I think they are having a hard time working around the "Wellness Policy". I'd offer to help, but I don't believe in what they are doing. I was told by their leader their goal was to be able to "see their children, in their [i]environment[/i]". I told her (thinking: "[i]what a crock[/i]")[i]: "You can come in any day lunch is served, sit and eat lunch with your child in the lunchroom." [/i] paraphrased. (I verified this with the principal who oversaw our meeting and was sitting right next to me.) Great satisfaction when I pointed that out, I admit. I think I made an enemy of her at that moment, but it was sooooooooooooooooo worth it. Not like we were best buds to begin with. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/tongue.gif[/img][/b]
[i]"Hot Lunch Moms" [/i] is just plain creepy. Unbelievable to me really.
[This message has been edited by Gail W (edited March 25, 2007).]

Quote:Originally posted by chanda4:
[b]carefulmom..the difference with my school though(they send the same letters aksing "Please make your best efforts to avoid sending foods to be shared with the class that contain the foods to which their classmates are allergic"...above is a blank to fill in Peanuts/Treenuts and Eggs)...but that's it. *IF* the parent wants to send in pb crackers...even though it's asked they make an effort not to, it won't be taken away or not allowed if they don't want to make the effort. There is no ban in our district. And it quite a apparent, that my school has parents that are NOT going to make an effort. I can guarentee if one of the *mean moms* has a child in my sons class, that child will be bringing in Cracker Jacks, pb crackers, reeces peanut butter cups...probably everyday, just to prove they can!!!
[/b]
See, this is where I think it gets ridiculous. If there were Cracker Jacks and PB crackers coming into my kids' classroom, I'd have a major issue with that. There are several ways I can think of to handle this and I'm pretty sure I'd have the teacher and principal on my side pretty quick.

Quote:Originally posted by Gail W:
[b] Of course Mariah can refuse, but I don't think she ever has because she enjoys the 'treats'. . . and knows they are safe because her teacher tells her that they are. [/b]
Honestly? I don't know what to say, except If this is the truth of the situation (treats are really safe), then I'm happy for you and Mariah. I will also say you probably built the district up to that point. It's not something they did on their own. I think, in some ways, I've been such a pain in.....well, you know....that the district has [i]made progress[/i]. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/cool.gif[/img] Still, it was a backwards environment to begin with, definitely not "progressive", and I'm pretty sure my district is not capable of the situation you describe [i]at this point[/i]. Even if I took up residence in their inner most cavities.
Quote:[b]Any food provided to students by staff or the Parent Association must be submitted in its original package to the school nurse who, upon deeming it 'safe', forwards it on to the Director of Food Services who also checks the ingredient label. If both approve it (documented), the teacher may use/serve that food. The teacher informs Mariah that the food has been approved per her 504 plan. [/b]
Are the criteria the food must meet in her 504 plan? Or is it criteria the district has devised themselves?
Quote:[b]Almost always the teacher, nurse and/or the Director of Food Services includes me on the e-mail correspondence. So I have known about food use ahead of time. But one teacher didn't, as I don't require it in the 504 plan. I found out after-the-fact from Mariah. I did feel the need to follow up by requesting a copy of the approval from the nurse, who immediately obliged. [/b]
I'm sure she did. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img] BTW, that 504C...she is gone, right?
Quote:[b]So no, I have no 'say'. <> Maybe I'm the 'bad mommy' LOL, but this is how I prefer it. Mariah is 13, and this is what works for her and us.[/b]
When did Mariah stop asking you to "double check" labels?
Quote:[b]In elementary school I was often (always?) at the school reading the labels. But not any more. I haven't read a label at school since Mariah started Middle School (over 1.5 years).[/b]
Whoops. Does this answer my last question? How did this transpire. What provoked it?
Quote:[b][i]"Hot Lunch Moms" [/i] is just plain creepy. Unbelievable to me really.[/b]
Completely understand. Kinda gives me the same feeling as when someone says: "Oh, look---carnies!"
You know what? I'll take your suggestion and get that book. Queen Bee something. I trust you that it's an informative read. Or at least confirms a thing or two. I might even buy a copy for the school resource library.

Quote:Originally posted by TwokidsNJ:
[b] See, this is where I think it gets ridiculous. If there were Cracker Jacks and PB crackers coming into my kids' classroom, I'd have a major issue with that. There are several ways I can think of to handle this and I'm pretty sure I'd have the teacher and principal on my side pretty quick.[/b]
but can I ask what all of you would do if the school didn't side with you...in this situation?? What should I do?????????????
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Chanda(mother of 4)
Sidney-8 (beef and chocolate, grasses, molds, weeds, guinea pig & asthma)
Jake-6 (peanut, all tree nuts, eggs, trees, grasses, weeds, molds, cats, dogs, guinea pig & eczema & asthma)
Carson-3 1/2 (milk, soy, egg, beef and pork, cats, dog, guinea pig and EE)
Savannah-1 (milk and egg)

Quote:Originally posted by solarflare:
[b] The thing that I failed to make clear in both of my other replies is that the list you're providing is only safe for your child, and does NOT take into account the possible food allergies of any other student.
If your "name brand only" list contains many things that another student is allergic to, it's probably not going to be fair.
I've been there, done that. The preschool that we use has a "parents bring in snack on a rotating basis" thing going.
I don't think my son has ever been in a class where he was the only child with food allergies, so I'm kind of biased to that extent.
What has worked for us in those communal snack situations is to either provide safe snacks for our children and the teacher requests that other parents not send in the things our kids are ana to.
[/b]
There is another child in the class who was recently diagnosed milk allergic (January). When I found out we were dealing with more than just my son's PA, I offered to change the snack policy to accommodate this other child. The teacher told me "no, this is working great for DS, the other parent has provided an alternative snack for days the food is not safe for him". I have since asked more than once if they wanted to change the snack policy and the teacher keeps saying "no". I am in the classroom about 8 hours a week so I understand how much my ds's allergy affects snacktime.
Had I known there was another allergy I would have set this up differently to begin with. That is why I said we may have to change the policy going forward. I feel that I have always tried to be fair to other students' allergies, in fact I asked early on if we needed to accommodate for any other allergies and I was told "no". What else can I do then?
My DS is in kindergarten...so this is a new process to me. I set up a system that I thought would work for us, and so far it has.
I understand the "approved snack list" would not work for other allergies...but it was created to give the other parents a list in which to buy snacks safe for my DS to eat.
Perhaps I need to rethink this situation for 1st grade next year. Maybe I am putting too much trust in the teacher to "catch" a food that has not been approved by me...
Something to think about....

when there are multiple kids or even multiple allergies per child...these lists mean nothing, IMO. With multiple issues, it is just safer to take all foods elsewhere as not to contaminate the room your child is in 90% of the day. That's how I view it, I can't possibly keep all the kids from eating peanuts, tree nuts or eggs in any of their snacks(then throw in my younger son's(or another students), milk and soy into the mix...)it's impossible, really. I think that is a battle that could really never be 100%...and with food allergies, I need it to be 100%. (In our situation) if there is no food in the classroom, it's darn near 100% safe(I know, nothing is ever 100% safe....but close enough). If all food is consumed in the lunchroom, then the same safeguards that work for lunch, would now work for snack, or for b-day's. Just like at lunch Jake would have his own stuff that I approved, and the other kids, have no limits on what they can and can't bring(in our school) so I would think that set up would make everyone involved happy, no restrictions. But I am sure someone can prove me wrong...but as it stands I think that is the best solution(IMO-only).
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Chanda(mother of 4)
Sidney-8 (beef and chocolate, grasses, molds, weeds, guinea pig & asthma)
Jake-6 (peanut, all tree nuts, eggs, trees, grasses, weeds, molds, cats, dogs, guinea pig & eczema & asthma)
Carson-3 1/2 (milk, soy, egg, beef and pork, cats, dog, guinea pig and EE)
Savannah-1 (milk and egg)
[This message has been edited by chanda4 (edited March 26, 2007).]

Quote:Originally posted by MommaBear:
[b] If my child is of the sensitivity where labelling requirements aren't enough to keep him safe when he is merely in the room with something that doesn't have what he is allergic to written anywhere on the label, I'm going to have to consider a homebound designation.[/b]
I completely agree. Sorta like, [i]"Be careful what you ask for."[/i]
Quote:Originally posted by MB:
[b]Sure, "food free" might work, but there is that credibility issue. I guess people might wonder why [i]the rest of the school suddenly becomes safe[/i]. Sure, you can start to explain why you feel it's a more limited risk (might not be), but we begin to ramble. Tell people they aren't entitled to an explanation (504's IEP's etc,) and not only do you lose credibility, you look like an overlord. Both losing situatios, IMHO. No advice, IMMV. [/b]
Not necessarily. It depends on who requires the rule.
In my situation, the "no food in the classroom" was initiated and implemented [i]by the school.[/i] It was our assertion that label reading was necessary, and their assertion that label reading was too time consuming and cumbersome for staff to implement. They saw label reading interferring with the school's 'smooth functioning' (or something to that effect). So we requested label reading and the school asserted that it was not practical/implementable. "No food" was their solution because it was clear, consistent (a.k.a. universal), and implementable. We expressed concerns that there would be 'backlash' or resentment with this change, and in response the school spun the situation in their presentation (e.g. rationale was to keep the room clean, that lunch time was at a time that kids did not need a snack, etc).
No credibility issues here. Nope.
[This message has been edited by Gail W (edited March 26, 2007).]