Are all DCPS/ Charter Schools peanut/nut free?

[Anonymous]

Here is a link to the research at John Hopkins on food allergies:

http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/tpl_nav1up_nav2up.aspx?id=7920

[Anonymous]

our NW elementary school is peanut and TN free. My son is pn/tn allergic. We did a good amount of research and called around to different schools. Both the policies and how well they are implemented really vary school by school. We found you really need to work closely with the teachers and principal. Also, a lot of education about cross-contaminates and communication is needed for families that bring in class snacks and cakes/treats for birthday celebrations.

[Anonymous]

To answer the earlier post, yes, lots of kids (and adults) have allergies to peanuts and tree nuts, like my two-year-old, and yes, it's a terrifying world to live in! (She's also allergic to sesame, and hummus is a toddler staple these days. ..). I have an older daughter so I've experienced both sides of this - the oh, seriously, we can't send in peanut butter side? And now the wow my kid could eat the wrong cookie and die side. We appreciate all the empathy people can apply to the situation. I agree that by junior high I want my daughter to be able to navigate this by herself. But in elementary - especially preschool! - it's simply not feasible.

Fwiw, when I went on tours I recall the following were nut free (work varying degrees of enforcement):
cmi
its
Hearst

Not nut free:
marie reed
sww-Francis Stevens
two rivers

Also relevant: all dcps schools have a nurse. But not always full time, I don't think. Some charters have full time nurses and some don't. DOH has school health reports online with more info.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Janney is nut free.

I wonder if middle and high schools are also not free?

We were a Janney family who has moved on to Deal. Deal is definitely not nut-free.

Oh great! My kids love almonds as a snack.

My kids aren't allergic to anything, but I think you are such a bitch. What is it like to be such a hateful person wishing harm on other peoples children?

[Anonymous]

Peanut butter is not really healthy. Who cares if you have to substitute with sun butter which is delicious btw. Have some compassion.

- Nutfree only for friends as none of us have any allergies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DCPS is not entirely nut free. If there's a kid with an allergy, the classroom is nut free. OP, also keep in mind that the school nurse has to hang on to the Epipen which I think is outrageous considering the nurse is not always there.

you can get a doctor's note for the child to carry theepipen , just like they can carry asthma meds on their person

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DCPS is not entirely nut free. If there's a kid with an allergy, the classroom is nut free. OP, also keep in mind that the school nurse has to hang on to the Epipen which I think is outrageous considering the nurse is not always there.

you can get a doctor's note for the child to carry theepipen , just like they can carry asthma meds on their person

And document via a 504 plan.

[Anonymous]

As more research comes out about exposures I expect most schools to move away from "nut free."

The recent McGill University study was eye opening for us allergy parents.
http://www.peanutallergy.com/lifestyle/peanut-allergy/highest-risk-of-accidental-peanut-exposure-may-be-at-home

[Anonymous]

YY is nut free -- Also small kids (Pk3 and 4) eat in their class and not in the cafeteria (Multi purpose room).
Not sure about DCI but I assume that it follows the same policy.

FWIW: Peanut butter is healthy (for those not allergic of course). Not the Jif kind loaded with sugar but the straight peanuts butter with nothing else in it..

PBJ over BLT anytime...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Janney is nut free.

I wonder if middle and high schools are also not free?

We were a Janney family who has moved on to Deal. Deal is definitely not nut-free.

Oh great! My kids love almonds as a snack.

My kids aren't allergic to anything, but I think you are such a bitch. What is it like to be such a hateful person wishing harm on other peoples children?

Am I missing something? Why is PP a bitch for saying she's happy a school allows nuts so her kids can have almonds as a snack? Presumably Deal has found this policy works for their families.

[Anonymous]

Lafayette is NOT nut free

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our upper NW DCPS is not peanut free.

Wow, which school is this? Seems....outdated.

Neither is ours. There's a nut free table.

Elementary school students are old enough to manage this.

Ditto for ours. Pk and k are nut free if someone has an issue. Older kids have a nut free table in the cafeteria.

[Anonymous]

Not to underestimate the gravity of nut allergies, but is it realistic to expect every school, in the country, to peanut, tree nut, soy, and gluten free?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just noting there's a difference between a nut-free bubble, and not bringing peanut butter into a classroom of a 3 year old who can't be expected to self-advocate, check to make sure their classmates wash hands properly or the tables are cleaned properly, or screen for peanut ingredients. 3 year olds shouldn't be put in charge of a life threatening anything. And remember that there may very well be 3 (or 4 or 5 or 6 etc) year olds with delays or disabilities or other difficulties that make putting such a responsibility on their shoulders even more inappropriate. Hell, my kid , at 3, still occasionally eats non-edible things. She's unlikely to screen out nuts successfully. Are we working on it? Of course. But she's 3. Given that epi-pens are not 100% effective at saving a child having a life threatening reaction, a nut free classroom for 3 year olds is a reasonable expectation. It's one of those harm/risk versus imposition calculations. Death tends to outweigh most things. And to the extent it's required for a child to safely access school, it's mandated by section 504. I too want my kid to learn at an early age to keep herself safe. But I can't make her learn any faster than she does, and mostly I just want her to not die.

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask for a 504 plan and get your doctor to fill out a food allergy action plan:


http://www.foodallergy.org/faap?

Foodallergy.org has a wealth of info and you should read it thoroughly.

Insist on a peanut and nut free classroom and a peanut and nut free lunch table. Ask to be aware of other student's upcoming birthday celebrations so that you can provide a safe alternative cup cake or a Krsipy Kreme donut which are peanut and nut free (but always check labels since manufacturers can change ingredients at any time).

Ditch the epi-pen and get an Auvi-Q epi pen which is much smaller, less scary, and much easier to use since it talks you through the process. The web site has coupons to get it at a reduced price.

https://www.auvi-q.com/

Insist that all teachers and lunch room staff be trained in CPR, First Aide, and how to administer epi-pens and auvi-q. Insist that your epi-pen always be in the same location as your child with someone trained on how to give epi-pen at all times. The epi-pen should not be locked up somewhere in an office since every minute counts when it comes to treating anaphylaxis. I provided the school a fanny pack for the teacher to carry the epi-pen and benadryl. If the school insists that the epi-pen must be locked somehow then insist on the type of lock used on hospital emergency medication carts which can be ripped open by hand.

Always check every single ingredient on every single thing every single time. Do not allow your child to eat other homemade food since most folks to not know how to prevent cross contamination or how to check labels. Do not eat at Asian resturaunts and take extreme care at others.

Teach your child to only eat what is in her lunch box that you made. Teach your child to only accept food from you and from no one else. Provide safe treats in her lunch box for unexpected parties at school.

When your kid is old enough, teach them to carry epi-pen and benadryl in a fanny pack at all times when out of the house. Insist that your child be allowed to carry their meds on their person when they are old enough. My kid was allowed in 5th grade. Have a designated place to keep epi-pen in the house. Always carry 2 epi-pens and benadryl. You carry an extra set.

+1,000
By the way, I'm a 50 yr old woman who discovered at 18 months old I'm allergic to tree nuts. It's not a "new thing" although the auvi-q is new! Also the idea of doing food challenges is new and so is eating a tiny bit of the food weekly if you pass the food challenge, kind of like those with pet allergies when i was a kid used to get weekly allergy shots for years and now aren't allergic to pets.
So I never had food challenges, never had the chance to get over them, which is possible for some not all people. But food allergies are not new...