Do you have a food allergic child at Westbrook Elementary?

[Anonymous]

We are in bounds for Westbrook Elem but are hesitant to send our child due to his potentially life-threatening food allergies. I would love to hear from parents who have personal experience with this issue at Westbrook. I have spoken to a staff member at the school by phone but want to hear from parents about whether you felt your child's allergies were taken seriously, how they handle lunchtime,etc. Do you have Epi-pens stored in multiple locations throughout the school? Is it common to have food in the classrooms?,etc. Any insight based off personal experience would be helpful.
Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Do you think you can make short visits to the school during the day? You cannot rely on assurances from the office staff. The principal may want to do her best, but the school has had some issues with the lunch people.

[Anonymous]

OP here:
Do you mean can I go to the school during lunch time to make sure all is well and oversee things? Would they allow me to do this?
I guess I could as we live right around the corner and I currently SAH with younger siblings.
I would never let my child buy lunch at any school, we will always pack a yummy safe lunch and they will understand they are not to trade/share with anyone else. I am however very concerned about how lunch is supervised. When you say there have been issues with the lunch staff, do you me food providers or supervisors?

[Anonymous]

You should be able to visit the school or volunteer in the lunch room. The issues are related to supervision. In my opinion the problem lies in the lack of effective communication between the principal and school support staff although the new principal is much better in that regard.

[Anonymous]

very interesting. thank you,PP. What are your thoughts on how this issue is handled by the teacher's? I'm sure it varies by teacher, but as a whole does the school community (parents etc) and teacher's think about the whole food allergy concern at all or would I just be letting my child out in a jungle--so to speak? any more insights you can give me are greatly appreciated!!

[Anonymous]

I don't think I understand your question. It is irrelevant what other parents think; if you adopt this approach you will be setting yourself up for a lot of frustration. It is the resposibility of the school to ensure that you child is safe all the time. You are already doing your best.

[Anonymous]

MCPS schools are not nut-free. It's my understanding that they have a nut-free table in the lunchroom. I don't think individual schools are allowed to change that policy. Food brought to school for parties or things need to be store-bought so there are labels to read, but nuts, etc., aren't prohibited.

[Anonymous]

Students are not well-supervised at lunch; there are just too many kids and not enough lunchroom attendants. So if what you would want is an attendant focusing on your child, making sure he doesn't eat prohibited foods, then no, that won't happen; you'd need to be sure that your child can police himself in terms of not sharing food, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think I understand your question. It is irrelevant what other parents think; if you adopt this approach you will be setting yourself up for a lot of frustration. It is the resposibility of the school to ensure that you child is safe all the time. You are already doing your best.

My question regarding the other parents at the school was more an aside question. I was merely curious if, as a parent to a food allergic child you felt the vast majority of the parents "got it"' in regards to how serious allergies can be. Obviously this varies class to calls and yr to yr but I was just curious as to others experiences,opinions.For instance, parents who don't "get it" bring in unmarked treats to classes,etc. with no ingredients listed.Obviously it's the teachers and staff who are ultimately responsible, but I was just curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Students are not well-supervised at lunch; there are just too many kids and not enough lunchroom attendants. So if what you would want is an attendant focusing on your child, making sure he doesn't eat prohibited foods, then no, that won't happen; you'd need to be sure that your child can police himself in terms of not sharing food, etc.

Thank you for this. I think we will hold off public school until he's older, if at all.
I really appreciate all the comments on this thread. It is very helpful to get "inside" info form parents, as the office staff said it wouldn't be a problem at all,etc...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think I understand your question. It is irrelevant what other parents think; if you adopt this approach you will be setting yourself up for a lot of frustration. It is the resposibility of the school to ensure that you child is safe all the time. You are already doing your best.

My question regarding the other parents at the school was more an aside question. I was merely curious if, as a parent to a food allergic child you felt the vast majority of the parents "got it"' in regards to how serious allergies can be. Obviously this varies class to calls and yr to yr but I was just curious as to others experiences,opinions.For instance, parents who don't "get it" bring in unmarked treats to classes,etc. with no ingredients listed.Obviously it's the teachers and staff who are ultimately responsible, but I was just curious.

I think you should assume that not everyone "gets it." No matter what anecdotal data you collect here, there will be lots of people who don't get it, and you will need to plan accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think I understand your question. It is irrelevant what other parents think; if you adopt this approach you will be setting yourself up for a lot of frustration. It is the resposibility of the school to ensure that you child is safe all the time. You are already doing your best.

My question regarding the other parents at the school was more an aside question. I was merely curious if, as a parent to a food allergic child you felt the vast majority of the parents "got it"' in regards to how serious allergies can be. Obviously this varies class to calls and yr to yr but I was just curious as to others experiences,opinions.For instance, parents who don't "get it" bring in unmarked treats to classes,etc. with no ingredients listed.Obviously it's the teachers and staff who are ultimately responsible, but I was just curious.

I think you should assume that not everyone "gets it." No matter what anecdotal data you collect here, there will be lots of people who don't get it, and you will need to plan accordingly.

of course. this is how I feel too. I assume I need to educate people. it is tiring to be honest, but necessary to try to ensure my child's health and safety.

[Anonymous]

Not your school but at mine when there is an allergic child in the class, a notice is sent to the parents in the beginning of the year with reminders at party times. The door to the classroom has a nut free sign on it. Children wash their hands after lunch. There is a nut free table..and I have noticed a seperate desk in the cafeteria that someone must need that is wiped down before/after use. Still you can't guarentee that ever parent will make the right choice ever time..without intention. The allergic children generally keep a supply of their own treats in the classroom so they don't have to wonder. As someone said, I don't think you can expect someone to monitor your child specifically..but there are many highly allergic children out there in public school.

[Anonymous]

We are at another Bethesda elem school, and very few of the precautions the above poster mentioned are in place at our school.

[Anonymous]

I am really not sure private schools are going to be a better option. Usually they are smaller so the ability to separate your child may be more limited (e.g, if they eat in the classroom, which my children did).