Does your ES Allow Birthday Treats in the Classroom?

[Anonymous]

Our ES has a new policy banning treats in the classroom for birthdays - no cookies, cupcakes, etc.

This isn’t Covid related, because students were allowed to bring in treats last year.

Just wondering what the policy is at other MCPS elementary schools. Is this widespread MCPS policy, or is it our principal’s mandate?

[Anonymous]

My child's school, Bayard Rustin ES, doesn't allow classroom birthday celebrations (much less treats). It's too disruptive to the schedule to do individual birthdays for 20+ kids throughout the year. Instead kids get wished happy birthday on the morning announcements and get a special birthday pencil from the main office.

[Anonymous]

My kids transferred this year: no birthday celebrations. The previous school about 2 miles away allowed them.

[Anonymous]

No birthday celebrations at my Focus school. It’s actually sad as the majority of kids can’t afford a party and the celebration used to be their friend celebration. Instead, they just get announced on the announcements and get a pencil from the office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No birthday celebrations at my Focus school. It’s actually sad as the majority of kids can’t afford a party and the celebration used to be their friend celebration. Instead, they just get announced on the announcements and get a pencil from the office.

Same at our Focus school. Often the kids don’t have birthday parties where they can invite classmates. And the kids would look forward to handing our cupcakes at school. Even the lower/income families would send in small treats. It was equitable and fun. And took up less than 10 minutes at the end of the day.

Can’t think of a good reason why they nixed these.

[Anonymous]

We never were allowed this in any grade.

[Anonymous]

This is sad. At our school, we do birthday celebrations. At recess, we have the students sing happy birthday and then we pass out cupcakes. Kids love it and so do the teachers. No mess and no classroom disruptions.

[Anonymous]

Pre-covid - NO.

[Anonymous]

Nope, and it's been like that for at least three years. Announcement and pencil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child's school, Bayard Rustin ES, doesn't allow classroom birthday celebrations (much less treats). It's too disruptive to the schedule to do individual birthdays for 20+ kids throughout the year. Instead kids get wished happy birthday on the morning announcements and get a special birthday pencil from the main office.

Not disruptive at all. Truly, it takes all of 10 minutes. Kid distributes cookies. Kids sang Happy Birthday.

Ten minutes tops, right before dismissal. Even with 27 kids or so, it would be maybe 3 times per month.

I’d rather they do this than waste time playing useless games on the Chromebook or watch GoNoodle - which they seem to have plenty of time for at our ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is sad. At our school, we do birthday celebrations. At recess, we have the students sing happy birthday and then we pass out cupcakes. Kids love it and so do the teachers. No mess and no classroom disruptions.

It is sad.

Our ES got rid of Halloween a few years ago and now it’s not birthday celebrations.

I would like to know the justification for this decision.

[Anonymous]

It’s not about COVID, or disrupting the class. It is about severe, life-threatening allergies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No birthday celebrations at my Focus school. It’s actually sad as the majority of kids can’t afford a party and the celebration used to be their friend celebration. Instead, they just get announced on the announcements and get a pencil from the office.

Same at our Focus school. Often the kids don’t have birthday parties where they can invite classmates. And the kids would look forward to handing our cupcakes at school. Even the lower/income families would send in small treats. It was equitable and fun. And took up less than 10 minutes at the end of the day.

Can’t think of a good reason why they nixed these.

You can’t think of anaphylaxis from peanut and tree nut exposure?

[Anonymous]

At our ES they didn't allow it due to food allergies. The school gives out pencils and lower grade teachers give students hats. Parents sometimes send in knick knacks for the whole class.

[Anonymous]

The fact that like 10 of you posted all baffled proves that you are so clueless about allergy risk that of course it came to this.