Dear Parent/Guardian,
Occasionally health concerns arise in the school setting that require enlisting the support of parent/guardians and classmates to help make the classroom a safe and healthy place for all. This letter is to inform you that we have several students at our school with severe allergies to peanuts/tree nuts. Strict avoidance of all nut products is the only way to prevent a life threatening allergic reaction. Even touching a small amount of a product or accidental ingestion containing nuts could result in a life-threatening situation. We are asking your assistance in providing our students with a safe learning environment.
If exposed to peanuts/tree nuts some students may develop a life-threatening allergic reaction that requires emergency medical treatment. To reduce the risk of exposure, no nut products will be allowed in your child’s classroom(s) this year. Please do not send food containing nuts for any class snacks, treats, or crafts. Please read ingredient labels carefully. Any exposure to nuts through contact or ingestion can cause a severe reaction.
Many teachers offer a nutritional break in the classroom. Given the increase of students with food allergies (including life-threatening dairy allergies) and students with strict dietary restrictions (such as diabetes and eosinophilic esophagitis) it is imperative you send snacks that meet our healthy and safe nutritional requirements. Also, if you plan on bringing treats (such as birthday treats) to your child’s classroom, please provide ingredient list(s) to teacher two weeks before the event to obtain proper approval. Remember that crafts and activities need to be free of peanuts/tree nuts as well, and should receive teacher/parent approval two weeks before the event. Any class treats brought directly to the classroom without prior notification will not be distributed to the class.
Since lunch is eaten in the lunch court, your child may of course bring peanut butter, peanut or nut products for consumption at lunchtime. In the lunch court there is a special table designated where no nuts are allowed. Any classmate with a lunch from the cafeteria lunch program (all menu items are nut-free) may sit at this table along with students with severe allergies. If your child sits at this table with a peanut or nut product, s/he will be asked to move to another table. This plan will help to maintain safety in the classroom while allowing classmates without allergies to enjoy peanut/nut products in a controlled environment.
Please remind your child not to share any food, eating utensils, or food containers with other students.
We appreciate your support of these procedures. We believe all families understand a parent/guardian's concern and worry about safety and the opportunity for their children to feel fully integrated in all classroom activities, and are grateful for your help in ensuring that our environment is conducive to this goal. If you have any questions regarding ingredient lists or other questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher or the school nurse.