Our school will provide:
A peanut and tree nut-free classroom.
A nut-free table in the cafeteria.
A classroom program to educate the entire class about food safety in the classroom. During the discussion, we talk about the ways that students can help to keep their classroom safe. We do not single out anyone or mention names unless the allergic child chooses to share during the discussion. Children are also instructed to tell an adult if they see another student in distress or feeling ill.
Staff training on allergic reaction symptoms and administration of the EpiPen.
A written Emergency Care Plan – updated yearly
Notification of school staff and your child’s bus driver of your child’s allergy each fall or immediately after diagnosis.
The four food safety rules in our school district are:
Do not share food.
For those in nut-free classrooms, save all nut products for the cafeteria.
Wash hands after eating nut & peanut products.
Do not eat on the bus.
Parents are required to provide:
The signed documents entitled “Anaphylaxis Treatment Plan and Physician Order Form” and “Parental Consent For Administration of EpiPen”. It is necessary to renew these yearly. These can be found in the drop down menu titled Medication Forms or by using the link at the bottom of this page.
2. The medications referenced in the Emergency Care Plan delivered to the school nurse at the start of each school year or immediately after diagnosis. These medications must also be replaced after use or before their expiration date.
3. All food to be eaten in the classroom must be from home. If the student is going to buy school lunch, the parents should contact the cafeteria staff to check ingredients on the label each time that lunch is purchased. The cafeteria staff can be reached at 978-649-7281. In addition, the cafeteria staff asks that you fill out a lunch form each time the child buys lunch to document that you have deemed the food to be safe for your child to eat. See the sample note at at the bottom of the page.
4. A box of safe snacks to be kept in the classroom which will be used by the allergic child when there is a classroom party or if a snack is forgotten.
5. Notify the nurse immediately of any changes to the Emergency Care Plan or any allergic episodes.
6. Accompany your child on field trips whenever possible. In the absence of the parent on a field trip, the child must be in the teacher’s group. The teacher is the only one on a field trip who may administer the EpiPen if the parent is not present. (We have a waiver from the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health allowing the teacher to administer the EpiPen in the absence of the school nurse on a field trip.)
For more information on food allergies, we recommend:
The Food Allergy Network website @ www.foodallergy.org.
Dr. Pistiner at Children's Hospital in Boston " Explaining Food Allergies to Kids" video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjZkPYQGUIw
Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time with questions or suggestions.