DCPS No Nut Policy - Do coconuts count?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure DCPS has a policy where home baked goods are not allowed and only store bought items with labels are allowed. I'm familiar with the MCPS policy and those in VA suburbs, so I'd assume DCPS has that same policy. In any case, I'd check with the teacher because bringing home baked items from your kitchen could turn into a problem.

No, DCPS does not have this policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS has a no nut policy? We are new and didn’t see this in handbook.

There is no one DCPS "no nut" policy. Allergy policies vary by school. Janney and Murch are tree nut and peanut-free.

If you have questions about the policy contact the school.

And Deal is not nut free. They do have a no-nut table in the cafeteria, but after the first week, no one sits there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My son is deathly allergic to peanuts and a number of tree nuts, and has registered a slight reaction to coconut and certain seeds, but not to an anaphylactic level. It's true that allergies to coconuts are more rare than other tree nuts or peanuts.

You should get DCPS to clarify, OP, because I am sure they have not thought about this. They should list all the "nuts" it doesn't want.

My sibling is deathly allergic to peas, but we never made the school ban peas (even though the ones the served are not fit for human consumption).

[Anonymous]

Epi-Pens for all.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I assumed all DCPS schools were nut free, but I guess I am wrong! Our school is "nut free" but it's not clear what that means. I'm happy to comply as I know some of DS's friends have severe peanut allergies.

Anyhow, I'll check with my school about coconut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school is nut free. Except when my fellow teachers want nut products for snacks or lunch. Or the principal serves staff items made with nuts. Once a teacher ate a nut bar in front of my highly allergic student.

To answer the PP, there isn’t a policy against stupidity.

People are going to eat nuts in front of your kid just like proper will eat shellfish or peas in front of others. It's not on the teacher to adjust their diet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school is nut free. Except when my fellow teachers want nut products for snacks or lunch. Or the principal serves staff items made with nuts. Once a teacher ate a nut bar in front of my highly allergic student.

To answer the PP, there isn’t a policy against stupidity.

People are going to eat nuts in front of your kid just like proper will eat shellfish or peas in front of others. It's not on the teacher to adjust their diet.

Thank you! Are teachers supposed to starve? I hate that some kids have allergies, but my son is allergic to cats and guess what? He has had to sit on a flight where someone had a “comfort” cat whatever that is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS has a no nut policy? We are new and didn’t see this in handbook.

Dcps does not. Schooos might. But they are creating a liability nightmare if they say ‘nut free’. They can’t control that tightly what kids bring in. However- they could say but aware & Cover their asses.

[Anonymous]

People are going to eat nuts in front of your kid just like proper will eat shellfish or peas in front of others. It's not on the teacher to adjust their diet.

Actually, it is. Severe allergies are protected under anti-discrimination statutes because they impair a major life activity -- i.e., living. So parents can obtain formal, legal accommodations under Section 504, including a requirement that a classroom be nut or peanut free. It is too bad that people are selfish enough about their need to have a specific food in all venues that such accommodations are required, and that concerns about access to said food apparently outweigh concerns about a kid dying, but there you go.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! Are teachers supposed to starve? I hate that some kids have allergies, but my son is allergic to cats and guess what? He has had to sit on a flight where someone had a “comfort” cat whatever that is.

Unless your kid has an anaphylactic allergy to cats, it is not the same. My kid almost died from eating a food contaminated with her allergen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

People are going to eat nuts in front of your kid just like proper will eat shellfish or peas in front of others. It's not on the teacher to adjust their diet.

Actually, it is. Severe allergies are protected under anti-discrimination statutes because they impair a major life activity -- i.e., living. So parents can obtain formal, legal accommodations under Section 504, including a requirement that a classroom be nut or peanut free. It is too bad that people are selfish enough about their need to have a specific food in all venues that such accommodations are required, and that concerns about access to said food apparently outweigh concerns about a kid dying, but there you go.

PP said her son was highly allergic, if it were bad enough where he needed a 504 for it, I’m sure the teacher wouldn’t have eaten a bar with nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS has a no nut policy? We are new and didn’t see this in handbook.

There is no one DCPS "no nut" policy. Allergy policies vary by school. Janney and Murch are tree nut and peanut-free.

If you have questions about the policy contact the school.

And Deal is not nut free. They do have a no-nut table in the cafeteria, but after the first week, no one sits there.

A 6th grader with an allergy is a long way away from a 1st grader with an allergy. The kids' ability to say no, avoid the allergen, identify an allergic reaction, carry their own epi-pen, even if they can't administer it, notify others of needing help, etc. A first grader does not have that ability. That's why it is different in elementary school. There are of news stories about middle schoolers who save their friend's life by administering an epi-pen.

And I don't know if a PP was being sarcastic or not but yes every school should have epi-pens. At $700 a pop for some families, they can't afford multiple sets. Also, a bill was introduced in the Senate this week to have airlines carry them on planes like they do defibrillators.

OP, please contact your school directly, they should be able to help you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

People are going to eat nuts in front of your kid just like proper will eat shellfish or peas in front of others. It's not on the teacher to adjust their diet.

Actually, it is. Severe allergies are protected under anti-discrimination statutes because they impair a major life activity -- i.e., living. So parents can obtain formal, legal accommodations under Section 504, including a requirement that a classroom be nut or peanut free. It is too bad that people are selfish enough about their need to have a specific food in all venues that such accommodations are required, and that concerns about access to said food apparently outweigh concerns about a kid dying, but there you go.

I don't think it is an undue burden to require a 504 as proof that the disability is severe enough to restrict the activities of a classroom or school full of other people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS has a no nut policy? We are new and didn’t see this in handbook.

Dcps does not. Schooos might. But they are creating a liability nightmare if they say ‘nut free’. They can’t control that tightly what kids bring in. However- they could say but aware & Cover their asses.

And then you have the situation when a school says ..... we are Nut Free - but do not add in peanut free as well - someone will send in a PB sandwich and say - "But peanuts are not nuts! "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS has a no nut policy? We are new and didn’t see this in handbook.

There is no one DCPS "no nut" policy. Allergy policies vary by school. Janney and Murch are tree nut and peanut-free.

If you have questions about the policy contact the school.

And Deal is not nut free. They do have a no-nut table in the cafeteria, but after the first week, no one sits there.

A 6th grader with an allergy is a long way away from a 1st grader with an allergy. The kids' ability to say no, avoid the allergen, identify an allergic reaction, carry their own epi-pen, even if they can't administer it, notify others of needing help, etc. A first grader does not have that ability. That's why it is different in elementary school. There are of news stories about middle schoolers who save their friend's life by administering an epi-pen.

And I don't know if a PP was being sarcastic or not but yes every school should have epi-pens. At $700 a pop for some families, they can't afford multiple sets. Also, a bill was introduced in the Senate this week to have airlines carry them on planes like they do defibrillators.

OP, please contact your school directly, they should be able to help you.

Exactly the point. But parents should know that their kid is going to have to make this transition, which is why I pointed it out. It comes up at the parent orientation every year and a few parents seem to be caught by surprise.