Does your school have a candy exchange on Valentine\'s Day?

a note came home last week from my oldest cub's class asking them not to send any edibles with the valentines, with a complete list of names to facillitate *each* child receiving a valentine. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] It was also suggested that the giver address and sign each valentine themselves. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/cool.gif[/img] (*Personally*, I think that what valentines are about. I could be wrong.) I will be contacting the teacher this week to assist her in planning a party, which does include food. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] I'm room mom. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

The valentines my cub send in will include a heart shaped cookie cutter and a miniature rolling pin tied in tulle and secured with festive ribbon (secured to lace doily valentines (love making them with cubs).

mcmom, there isn't an "official" candy exchange in the classrooms where my children are, but they always manage to accumulate candy on Valentine's Day.

I did participate one year, buying Valentine's by Nestle (small boxes of Smarties, red and pink) that were for Valentine's Day specifically. That was two years ago.

They do have a Valentine's Day Party (or at least my daughter's class does) and my daughter is responsible for providing the treats that day (certain children are chosen for each occasion). The Class Mom called to remind me and asked for something like potato chips. I asked her if it was okay if we made chocolate chunk muffins because my daughter has her heart set on them. It was okay.

No, there has always been candy given out with cards, nothing "official". I can't remember now if it always adhered to the "peanut free" classroom rule or my son missed out on some Valentine's or not.

And the party is just something else I have to check out that day.

Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

They do this in my son's school too. They sent a letter home stating that we are to send in a valentine for each student from our child. For the past 2 years Max has come home with candy attached to each card. I basically throw it all out when it comes home. He is used to it since I do the same thing at Halloween!! Most of the moms in my sons class are so dumb as stumps so its just not worth asking them not to give him candy. So I let them waste their money and I toss it!! Simple as that!!

There's no official candy exchange, but there is a Valentine exchange and some of the kids bring in cards with candy attached. DS came home from preschool today (NKA himself and none in the class) with M&M's and some unidentifiable chocolate hearts. We ate 'em all up before DD could even see them!

Now, in DD's class the kids/parents were sent a note from the teacher reminding them of the allergy. The room mother (who has a nephew with PA) and I planned the class party and I'll be leaving in about 10 minutes to be there for the party itself. When I dropped off the cupcakes this morning, I was suprised to see a new substitute in the classroom--the regular teacher is out for surgery and they've had a regular sub the past two weeks who has been with the school a while. She knew of Claire's allergy so I had no concerns, but this new teacher probably *isn't* aware, so I'm glad I'll be there for the party to make sure there aren't any problems.

Sarah

Our school has Valentine's parties and the kids exchange Valentines, but no food treats are allowed.

Our school has a no food treats policy.

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Jean

There are a number of kids that bring in Valentine's Day cards with little pieces of candy on it (mostly lollipops). My son's teacher was very wise and taped their Valentine "mailboxes" to the wall outside the classroom.

I asked her to throw away/remove all the candy from Ryan's mailbox. These are sealed pieces of candy so I was concerned, but not worried.

Ryan's teacher had a healthy-heart type of Valentine's Day party. It was pretty cool--she did it with my daughter as well when she was in 2nd grade. They listened to their hearts with stethoscopes, did yoga stretches in the gym, performed some aerobic exercise, ate fruits/veggies/crackers/cheese/low-fat popcorn.

All-in-all, the type of party I love with no junk food.

All four of my kids' classes had party's today. As the computer teacher I was asked to type most of the notes that went home so I was sure to add "No peanut/nut candy allowed - child with severe allergy in class" on Timmy's teachers note (with her permission of course). We only had one child bring in a "may contain"... it was the best year yet! Of course there were a few things that I would not allow just because I don't trust the manufacturers but we were able to trade those out with other kids to make sure everything was safe.

I did attend the party as did the other pa child's mother at our school. The fact that Timmy had a dentists appointment right after lunch kept him from eating much candy... wanted to make a good impression LOL.

Take Care,
Valerie

They both came home with a ton of **** that I either threw out or ATE! The school said bring cards not **** !

Love,
D

Hey.
My kindergarten PA daughter brought home tons of this unacceptable candy too!! We have a great teacher and she should know better!! I kept the tootsie pops and threw away all of the rest of it. My daughter is a twin and her twin brother lost everything but the tootsie pops too!! Just when you thing people "get it" something like this makes you realize never to let your guard down.

I teach and sent a note home to the parents requesting no candy - not a problem. I also attached a list of children's names.

We had a 'party', with cupcakes (I requested peanut/nut free), vegetables and fruit juice. The kids had a great time without all the candy.

I don't have a PA/TNA child in my class this year, but we are a peanut aware school.

Well, when I started this topic I said last year ds just got a few pieces of candy. This year, almost every single card had candy attached. The three moms who I am personally friends with called me and asked if the candy they were attaching was ok, which I realy appreciated. But one mom, I don;t know who because there were no names on them, sent in goody bags for each child. They weren't the clear cellophane kind, so I didn;t know until we got home that inside was a Reese's pb cup. This after the teacher sent home letters telling the parents there is a PA child in class. I haven't had anything like that in my house in so long, I couldn't throw it in the garbage (outside!) fast enough. This is why I'm no longer comfortable with just sorting through the candy when ds gets home. Next year when he's in school all day, I don't want who knows what sitting in his backpack until 3:00! I've told the teachers both years at the beginning of the year that he shouldn't get goody bags or candy that is sent in, but I think they just assume since I'm there at the party it's ok and that I will sort through it. But honestly, even if it is something safe, I stil throw it out. (We have enough candy in the house, and I try to teach him that anything that doesn't come in a bag with an ingredient label isn't safe.)

I guess I have until August to figure out how I want to handle this next year. I think that candy shouldn't even be allowed to be sent in, but some of the parents are absolutely *obsessed* with it, and there would be a huge uproar, I'm sure.

My daughter's teacher even stressed that the kids absolutely adore JUST the cards as long as we keep it SIMPLE and don't set so many other expectations. The preschool just asked that the kids send in cards too. People don't care.