Experiences with food allergies in Fairfax elementary schools

[Anonymous]

Our DC was just diagnosed with some severe food allergies (nuts, eggs, sesame). We have been planning to head from private to our local Fairfax elementary school (Spring Hill) next year and are interested to hear how severe food allergies are handled especially during lunch at the elementary level. Our current private has been fantastic since the diagnosis. It is a small environment and everyone has been really supportive. DC's teacher has been exceptional. Now I am starting to have concerns that such a big school could be a challenge and increase anxiety for us. I have poked around FCPS and see lots of policies that are verbose without answering some of my basic questions (maybe I am not looking in the right places). Your experiences and insights would be greatly appreciated. TIA

Some of my specific questions are:

1. Are children with food allergies separated at lunch? Either way, what has your experience with this been?
2. How are in-school parties handled?
3. How do you feel your teachers, school nurse, and administrators have responded to your child's issue?
4. Do you feel like your child is safe in your FCPS?
5. Anything else you can think of that we should consider!

[Anonymous]

My son is in first grade, and brings PB&J for lunch. I believe kids with allergies have a special table (I know, not ideal, socially).

For in school parties, I think the teacher and room mom can set the rules, so it would just be a matter of making needs known.

I too find the FFX co website very confusing.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your response. I take that to mean that FFX is not free? I had actually assumed it was at least peanut free in elementary. I am glad to know I am not the only one who thinks the website is confusing!

[Anonymous]

It is not peanut free in any way, which would definitely worry me if I had a kid with serious peanut allergies. I will say, though, that the kids are not allowed to trade food, which my DS takes seriously, so I think it's well enforced at our ES.

My younger one has mild peanut allergies (skin reaction only, at least so far) and this conversation has gotten me thinking about about what to do in a couple of years when he's old enough.

Hmmm.

[Anonymous]

Our elementary school has a separate nut-free table, also. Starting this year, we are not allowed to bring in treats for birthday parties. For my Kindergartener who eats snack in the classroom, we are not supposed to send in dairy or peanuts but I don't know how much it is enforced.

[Anonymous]

I do not have a child with allergies, but I can answer a few of your questions. Our school is also not nut-free and there is a separate table for the children with allergies in the cafeteria. Unlike 19:06, we are still allowed to bring in snacks for birthdays and parties (nut-free is required for classroom snacks) and the children with allergies are asked to provide their own snack.

[Anonymous]

At my child's school there are a couple peanut-free lunch tables. Also, if there is a child in a classroom with a nut allergy, a letter goes home to those classroom parents advising that no snacks/birthday treats with peanuts may be brought in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DC was just diagnosed with some severe food allergies (nuts, eggs, sesame). We have been planning to head from private to our local Fairfax elementary school (Spring Hill) next year and are interested to hear how severe food allergies are handled especially during lunch at the elementary level. Our current private has been fantastic since the diagnosis. It is a small environment and everyone has been really supportive. DC's teacher has been exceptional. Now I am starting to have concerns that such a big school could be a challenge and increase anxiety for us. I have poked around FCPS and see lots of policies that are verbose without answering some of my basic questions (maybe I am not looking in the right places). Your experiences and insights would be greatly appreciated. TIA

Some of my specific questions are:

1. Are children with food allergies separated at lunch? Either way, what has your experience with this been?
2. How are in-school parties handled?
3. How do you feel your teachers, school nurse, and administrators have responded to your child's issue?
4. Do you feel like your child is safe in your FCPS?
5. Anything else you can think of that we should consider!

My child's school sent out a flyer early in the school year telling parents to not have kids bring tree nuts to school.

My son told me today that there is a table set aside for those that have this allergy, and a girl was sitting alone. He then told me that he heard a few friends say that they were going to go over and sit with her since she was alone.

[Anonymous]

Are the children with nut allergies required to go sit at the nut free table?

[Anonymous]

At my child's school there are a couple peanut-free lunch tables. Also, if there is a child in a classroom with a nut allergy, a letter goes home to those classroom parents advising that no snacks/birthday treats with peanuts may be brought in.

This our school's policy as well.

And PB&J is on the FCPS lunch menu as an item that kids can purchase every day. It's an Uncrustable.

[Anonymous]

It is unreasonable to believe that taxpayers would agree to a nut free public school. For some, peanut butter is the only protein a child might eat. You can not deny the majority of children their lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are the children with nut allergies required to go sit at the nut free table?

I would expect so, unless FCPS wants to get sued when jr. or precious daughter's face blows up with swelling and hives.

[Anonymous]

Interesting that there are even separate tables for those with allergies. We're in Arlington and the schools are definitely not peanut-free (nor are there separate tables as far as I can tell), nor are there nut-free requirements for b-day parties/in-class snacks. Haven't heard about this being an issue.

[Anonymous]

I was just volunteering in our school today. And every classroom (at least in the lower grades) has a sign at the entrance to the classroom that says "Nut-free Zone - No nuts, No peanut butter, No tree nuts" or something to that effect.

[Anonymous]

My son had many food allergies and asthma but he ate with everyone else. Now he is asthma free as they build immunities to things they are exposed to. His allergists did not believe in staying away from the products just not eating them. Many docs think making everything nut free will just keep them from devleoping immunities. If the child can go to the grocery store he/she can have lunch with other children.