Surprising huh? Well, I am having my daughter baptized this weekend, and met with some members of the church and priest last week. The topic of where I was going to send my eldest child (3 in May) came up. I mentioned that he had a PA, and we would prefer the Catholic School but I haven't spoken to them about food allergies and what their policies are.
Apparently they already are PA and have been for a few years. Each year they send home a list of "safe" foods for kids to bring in for parties, snacks, etc *and* they monitor lunches.
I can't begin to believe this. I thought for sure I would have to have a battle with them, but it seems that they are in the clear. Oh, and the entire school is Peanut free, not just particular classrooms, with a full time nurse on staff.
What's the name of the school? I'm in Lake County and DS will be starting soon.
Thanks!!
Anne
I was impressed also. Maybe schools are finally 'getting it' around here. When I inquired at preschools in the NW burbs of Chicago this spring, all of them were peanut free and had a list of 'safe' snack foods. Even the evangenical United Methodist in Arlington Heights.
Quote:Originally posted by patrick's mom:
[b]What's the name of the school? I'm in Lake County and DS will be starting soon.
Thanks!!
Anne[/b]
St. Tars. It is on the NW side of Chicago on Ardmore (Ardmore and Milwaukee). Might be a hike for you the if you are interested in Catholic schooling for your child, I believe that you have to work with the Diociese and the school.
St. Tars went PS/Free a few years back. And they brought in a full time nurse bc one of the students has to carry an epi pen for mold, he is that allergic. Again, totally surprised and very happy to hear this. I thought for sure that my children would have to attend the public school in the area. Now at least we have options.
Quote:Originally posted by Driving Me Nutty:
[b]I was impressed also. Maybe schools are finally 'getting it' around here. When I inquired at preschools in the NW burbs of Chicago this spring, all of them were peanut free and had a list of 'safe' snack foods. Even the evangenical United Methodist in Arlington Heights. [/b]
My findings were the opposite. Most places said, "oh sure we are peanut safe" but just walking in there, I knew they weren't. For example on home run center told me that they would be very careful, and that they only cook their own food, but no joke, my husband finds a wrapper for a Little Debbie NutterButter bar amongst the toys that my son was playing with. So we left. Another place kept saying that they were very allery aware and they don't allow strawberries. She kept emphazing strawberries. I don't give a rat's patootie about strawberries. I was talking nuts. And she said that the parents were responsible for bringing in snacks and rotate. I was not comfortable with this, and I just didn't get that feeling that we were on the same page in terms of communication.
The place that my son is at now, is Peanut Safe, and the director said that after she had to personally administer 2 epis at the old center that she worked due to nut allergies, that when she opened her own place that she would be PS. Oh, and she opened a new branch in Arlington Heights if you are interested. Its called Stepping Stones and Erin Flannagan is the Director/owner. They are a preschool, taking kids at 3 and potty trained.
Quote:Originally posted by CorinneM1:
[b] Another place kept saying that they were very allery aware and they don't allow strawberries. She kept emphazing strawberries. I don't give a rat's patootie about strawberries. I was talking nuts.
[/b]
Hmmmmmmm. Could you elaborate? Did you feel this was an indication she would take [i]another[/i] food allergy seriously?
Quote:Originally posted by MommaBear:
[b] Hmmmmmmm. Could you elaborate? Did you feel this was an indication she would take [i]another[/i] food allergy seriously?
[/b]
I think that she understood food allergies to a degree, but when I mentioned peanut allergy, she kept going on about strawberries and how the snacks were not to have any strawberries. When I asked her how she monitored the snacks, she said that she made sure that they didn't have strawberries. Which didn't exactly answer my question. When I asked her if they had any kids allergic to peanuts, she said no, but they didn't have any kids that were allergic to strawberries either, but this was just a policy that they put in place.
So, I think that she understood food allergies to a degree, but just not to the degree that I was comfortable with. I just felt "off" with her and that we were doing a "who's on first" type of conversation.
Quote:Originally posted by CorinneM1:
[b] Oh, and she opened a new branch in Arlington Heights if you are interested. Its called Stepping Stones and Erin Flannagan is the Director/owner.
[/b]
Thanks, I'll give her a call also!
I had planned on making visits to the place we had registered her at for fall preschool. I guess it is never too early to check on that and make sure they [b] are[/b]what they [b] say [/b]they are.
[This message has been edited by Driving Me Nutty (edited April 08, 2004).]