Letter to Teacher

[JaneS]

Anyone else writing an allergy letter? This is mine today. DS is in the second grade. Last year was the worst yet as far as food treats, it was very frustrating. It's so weird, I never had any food in class when I went to school and never knew anyone with a fa!!

Dear Mrs. _________,

Please do not give ______ ___________ any food, drink or treat unless I send it in with him.

In addition to his anaphylactic food allergies (peanuts, tree nuts and sesame) he has other food intolerances (wheat, most fruits, etc.) that can cause physical and digestive symptoms. He can only eat food from home.

Please share this information with any other teachers who may reward ______ with food of any kind, including gum. I heard that children in another class received gum yesterday.

I would greatly appreciate it if you give me at least a day’s notice when you are going to have a party or other event with food so that I can provide a special substitute for him.

There have been instances in the past where his class has enjoyed a spur of the moment treat, or food served that was related to a learning topic, and _______ could not join in. He has felt very left out. I would ask that you consider eliminating these food treats from the curriculum.

I would like to talk with you briefly about this information. Please call me at your convenience at _____________.

Thank you very much for your kind attention. ______ is so looking forward to being in your class!

Sincerely,

[chlobo]

Food has been big at my DDs school too. Luckily, some FA moms that came before me successfully lobbied to get the food out of the classroom for grades k-5. I think they maybe have 2 or 3 food related events that are planned weeks in advance. Very refreshing.

[kjbrown92]

I'm so glad that DS is in the middle school now where there aren't any more birthday parties, and no holiday parties either that I know of.

Of course DD2 has started Kindergarten, and orientation was a "popsicle party". They tried to hand her one, and she turned around to me. I whipped her safe one out of my pocketbook and handed it to her. The teacher said "allergies?" I said "multiple food intolerances" and she said she'd check the form from the nurse. I gave her a bag of Yummy Earth lollipops with DD2's name on it to use for treats if she absolutely had to give her something (as in, everyone else was getting something), and she said that all birthday parties had to send ingredient lists to the school nurse 24 hours ahead, so that people could be notified (that didn't always happen last year though). I did ask her to call me if she had any questions. And she's only a substitute for the first 4 weeks before the real teacher gets there (out on maternity leave) so then I'll have to break in another one. Maybe if I wrote the letter, then I wouldn't have to do it twice....

[mama1803]

My ds is also in second grade and is allergic to peanuts (we avoid tree nuts as well). He wears an Epi around his waist always. Every year I write a letter to the teacher which I hand deliver on orientation day, which is always a few days before the actual start of school. I paste on a picture of ds and his teachers keep it prominently posted right by their desk. In the event of a subsititute, all the info they need to know about ds (and they know him by sight because of the picture) is right there.

I also provide treats that are kept in the classroom to be used in the event of a classroom celebration for which I don't have advance notice. They are stored in the teacher's desk in a bag that contains the same instructions/warnings as the letter. Surf sweets has a line of nut free gummy worms/bears and jelly beans in really small packages and Enjoy life has some nut free chocolate bars that ds likes. Last school year there were about 5 occasions where parents brought in treats for their child's birthday and ds got one of his special treats. For holiday celebrations I volunteer to make something for the entire class so that ds can have the same food as his classmates.

This year in music class the second graders are focusing on the harmonica--another worry as I really am uncomfortable with the idea of ds putting his mouth on a shared instrument. I am currently trying to get in touch with the music teacher to find out if one can be set aside for use by ds only, or perhaps I'll have to provide one for his use only.

The worries never end!!!! I keep waiting for the day when I can relax and feel assured that ds is safe, but I'm starting to think that with an anaphylatic FA that is an impossible dream.

[LauraLoo]

Ana. tree nut and peanut allergies here - I should be having a meeting with the principal, teacher and specials teachers on the first day of school, if not before. I spoke briefly about it with the teacher last night at orientation since *no where* on the forms I filled out did it ask about medical issues. Pretty sure that form will be coming home during the first week sometime. Anywhooo....I'm lucky because ds' new teacher has dealt with airborne ana. allergies before, and we're not in that boat, and ds is 9 and is demonstrating very good sense when it comes to suspect food - he just won't eat it. However, the teacher told me that they have not had epi's be kept in the classroom before or on the child. But she didn't say "can't" just "haven't." . The office is a good 3 min. run from her class one way, so I'm hoping that they'll allow a pen in class, gym and office or, preferably, on him. Wish me luck!

And for the pp -- when ds was younger, I gave his teacher a box of "special" treats just in case a surprise b-day or event and we didn't receive advance notification. We also provided him with daily snacks as well.

[LauraLoo]

Jane -- I really like that letter! Wish I had had it about 4 years ago!

[mama1803]

Originally Posted by LauraLoo

However, the teacher told me that they have not had epi's be kept in the classroom before or on the child. But she didn't say "can't" just "haven't." . The office is a good 3 min. run from her class one way, so I'm hoping that they'll allow a pen in class, gym and office or, preferably, on him. Wish me luck!

Our county has a pretty detailed food allergy action plan that states that students who have an Epi should have those on their person at all times. Yet when we registered ds for kindergarten the school nurse seemed a bit surprised when we told her that ds wears his around his waist--it seems that the other kids with Epi-pens (there are a few dozen in a school population of almost 900 students) keep theirs in the nurses office. We got our allergist to sign a paper stating that ds absolutely had to have his Epi on his person at all times due to the severity of his allergy. We get a new form signed by the allergist at the start of every school year and submit it to the nurse. The school has never fought us on the issue and ds wears his Epi always.

So perhaps something from your doctor would help to convince the school to allow him to carry his own Epi.

Good luck!

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by mama1803

So perhaps something from your doctor would help to convince the school to allow him to carry his own Epi.

Good luck!

This is usually the case when it comes to emergency things like Epi pens or inhalers. If you have a doctor's note saying it's an absolute MUST you should be fine. I'd recommend having the child carry one on their person (in their bag or something) when they get older and are changing classes (Jr. High and High School) just because you run into those well meaning teachers that won't believe them if they say they have a note.

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by mama1803

This year in music class the second graders are focusing on the harmonica--another worry as I really am uncomfortable with the idea of ds putting his mouth on a shared instrument. I am currently trying to get in touch with the music teacher to find out if one can be set aside for use by ds only, or perhaps I'll have to provide one for his use only.

The worries never end!!!! I keep waiting for the day when I can relax and feel assured that ds is safe, but I'm starting to think that with an anaphylatic FA that is an impossible dream.

Crikey, I think they are doing recorders this year. UGH. Time for another note to teacher....

We are hearing lots of interesting info from DS's new pediatric chiropractor. Apparently IgE blood levels come way down after several months of adjustments. I'll be sure to let you know. I'll never give up dreaming!!!!! to everyone here.

[LauraLoo]

JaneS -- don't forget computer lab, if that's done in your school.

Thanks to mamafish's post, I found out today by doing a bit of sleuthing, that our state dept. of education has ennacted legislation that allows, and can not deny, students to self-possess medication (inhalers, epi-pens) if permitted by parent and physician. This can only be revoked if a child misuses the medication after a consultation with the parents/guardians. Talked to pediatrician, he's more than glad to provide permission. There was nothing about allowing self-possession on the medication administration form, and when I inquired about allowing ds to self-possess school said no.

This legislation also requires medication administration training by a medical health official (nurse, dr., physician assistant) to all school employees, and I have a right to review the documenation that school personnel have completed the in-service training and one-on-one training is to be provided for staff that are responsible for administrating medication by injection. *I still have not be able to determine if anyone in this school has been formally trained on administering epi-pens.*

So......I've printed off the legislation (which was ennacted almost 11 years ago!), plan to make a little trip to the school tomorrow and let them know that my pediatrician will be adding a little clause to their medication form allowing ds to carry his epi-pen, request the in-service training documentation, and hopefully I won't have to make a stink if there is no formal training documentation. Given how little info. I've been able to retrieve, I'm more than a bit worried about the situation.

Just wanted to share this info, in case it is helpful to someone else and request that some good vibes are sent our way.