Furious! Do they listen to us at all???

I don't think you need to apologize at all. I think venting is one of the reason we are here. Sorry, this day turned out so badly for you. Thank goodness your DD is on the ball or it could have been much worse. Is your sons classroom peanut free? It might be time for you and your DH to have a serious talk with the teacher and principal. Good luck.

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Cynde

Hi katiee

This makes me even more angry now that I have a copy of the Board Policy. The guidelines say to avoid food during special occasions like this and tell them not to permit home baked goods coming to the classes and then say that if a parent does end up sending something in it should have an ingredient list. GRRRR

I am still at work so now I am scared to find out what my own kids may have come home with today.....

take care

deb

PS - I want to get my written plan done and in place ASAP - and if it isn't followed maybe we should contact CJOH with an idea for a story? There hasn't been much coverage this year - and there are so many safe treats that could be sent in. Maybe we could ask them to do something on all of the new peanut free products that are available and point out that parents need to be aware of this on special occasions?

[This message has been edited by DebO (edited February 14, 2003).]

Katiee, thank heaven for your daughter. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
I would have a written school plan implemented. Obviously the school does not understand the phrase "life threatening allergy" or anything about no food. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/mad.gif[/img]
Your son could have had a reaction to-day because of their blatant stupidity.

In my written school plan for Jesse, I am the food monitor for the school, which actually means very little because they seem to do what they want when they want anyway when it comes to food, but I do have to say that despite the difficulties I do have with Jesse's present school adhering to his written school plan (or actually his teacher), I was called to have different treats that were brought in to-day checked with me first. The teacher was providing treats (I thought she would be reasonable and do veggies and stuff but no, it was candy) and she had to check with me as well (through the principal though, just so I don't *harrass* her). They were also selling Candy Grams in the school for Valentine's Day and the principal did call me when it was being organized to check to make sure that everything was safe, which it was.

No, Jesse's school does repeatedly screw up (pardon the language, I was going to use worse, because I am livid right now about what happened with Wade to-day), but at least I have a written school plan that adheres to school board policy to back me up.

I have a meeting on Monday with the superintendent, principal and teacher to go over the plan and how it hasn't been followed this year.

My best advice, Katiee, would be to get a written school plan implemented.

As I just posted to DebO in another thread, I am currently awaiting an answer from my lawyer as to whether or not the written school plan would be considered a legally binding document as the 504 Plans are in America. I don't think it is, but I'll post when I find out. If they are, at least we have some legal recourse when the schools screw up. Actually, we have legal recourse regardless, but I think it might carry more weight if they did ignore a written school plan.

I just feel badly for Wade. So much for the buddy on the bus as well and again, thank heaven for your daughter.

[img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/mad.gif[/img]

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

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Sorry your day didn't go well but I have a question and do not intend to hurt anyone's feelings by it........ If you bake cookies for your child's class it is okay but why is it not okay for another mom to bake cookies for her child to hand out to friends??

As I stated I am only asking the question. I too sent Homemade treats in for my daughter and her class and came to her class later in the day to see LOTS of homemade treats none of which my daughter would eat (nor would I allow her to eat). I never really thought about until I read your post about the cookie on the bus BUT perhaps I shouldn't be baking treats but rather send in fruit --- no nuts in fruit!!

Any other opinions??

I baked the cookies after a request by the teacher. They tend to allow the JK and K classes to have something special once and a while but if there is a FA child in the class (we have roughly 15children with food allergies in the school), only that child's mother would bring in baking.

The reason I felt OK about this was that I figured that once the teacher let the parents know that there would be a "safe" treat available, it would lessen the chance of something "not safe" being sent to the classroom.

You were quite right to ask the question, I should have been clearer in my original post.

Thaks for the support you guys, I'm thinking now that anytime there is a "party/theme day" at school I am going to have to be there. I can't see any other way to be sure Wade is safe.

Take care,

Katiee

Katiee, I understand you wanting and needing to be with Wade at special occasion times from now on, but the point still would be, you shouldn't have to be. Wade has the *right* to attend school in a relatively safe environment. You shouldn't have to be available for every function that happens at school. What about PA parents that are not able to do this? No.

I'm not saying, no, you're not to do what you feel you need to do. I just think that you could look at something else to do instead.
Both DebO and I suggested the written school plan and I really think that's what you need here. And if you use the clause "parent designated supervisor" in it, as I did, you end up being there for every field trip and function if you so desire.

I think I'm trying to say that I wouldn't let the school off that easily. They screwed up (see my Irish is still boiling [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/mad.gif[/img] ) and you shouldn't have to go to school with your son to make sure he is safe. What happens should this happen during a regular school day?

I completely understand where you're coming from and of course, respect your feelings re this. Attend Wade's special functions, but put something into place as well. Just my opinion.

Also, to whoever posted just above Katiee, I agree (although Katiee clarified that her situation was different). I usually make muffins for my kids' classes when there are special events. Then, I sat back and thought, wait, I really don't want other homebaked items in there and yet I'm bringing in homebaked items as if they are the only edible product on the face of the earth.

It's funny, I can remember posting about a party in one of Jesse's classes in either JK and SK and how I was disappointed at how few baked goods there were and I thought it was because of Jesse's PA. I don't even know what I was thinking at that time because I'd rather see vegetables, fruit, and potatoe chips or other things in well labeled bags.
It's weird how things change.

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

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our school system has a policy against ANY homebaked goods; even brought from teachers. even though they aren't really on the ball about pa in other ways, i do appreciate this particular policy. i don't think anyone should want their kid eating food from someone else's personal kitchen where there are no health/cleanliness standards (not to mention the PA risks). i do bring my daughter's own foods for parties and today that included a homebaked heart-shaped cookie and our own sprinkles and frosting so she could decorate hers like the other kids were (theirs were bakery bought). however, the school would not allow me to give any other child an item made by me. i am okay with that. i don't want them feeding mine either. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] joey

katiee: Thanks for clarifying about the treats. You said only the FA parent is allowed to bring in treats -- is this known to all parents? Are they informed of this at the beginning of the school year?? After receiving treats from many parents rather than just you, I am curious to find out what if anything the teacher said to the parents when they dropped off the treats or what the teacher will say on Monday to the other parents!!

Another question ...... Is food normally allowed on the bus?? If not, I would phone the bus company and inform them what happened. Eating food on the bus is one reason I decided not to have my daughter ride the bus to and from school. Even though the rule is no eating food on the bus, sometimes children sneak something from their lunch bags. I now pay for Daycare to walk her to school but at least they won't be eating!!

Quote:Originally posted by joeybeth:
[b]our school system has a policy against ANY homebaked goods; even brought from teachers. even though they aren't really on the ball about pa in other ways, i do appreciate this particular policy. i don't think anyone should want their kid eating food from someone else's personal kitchen where there are no health/cleanliness standards (not to mention the PA risks). i do bring my daughter's own foods for parties and today that included a homebaked heart-shaped cookie and our own sprinkles and frosting so she could decorate hers like the other kids were (theirs were bakery bought). however, the school would not allow me to give any other child an item made by me. i am okay with that. i don't want them feeding mine either. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] joey[/b]

Joeybeth, you read my mind. (Scary, huh?) [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] I agree with your comment: "i don't want them feeding mine either." [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img] I also like the "no home-baked goods" policy. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/tongue.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by MommaBear (edited February 15, 2003).]

If your school has a special day and they will be serving home baked treats AND they encourage parent participation then I say go there and be part of the action!

Yes, your child has a right to a safe school but if that is not provided to him you have to be sure he is safe.

You are the only one who is going to be invested 110% in your child's safety. If you can be there then go there. Because if something happens and they don't act appropriately you are the one going home to an empty house, not them.

We live with something so dangerous, every single day. I would never expect a school to take my son's safety as seriously as I would. It is just too risky.

If you are a working parent then this all changes and proper systems have to be set up to ensure his safety.