Allergy Alerts
Severe Nut Allergies
Several of our students have severe nut (peanut and tree nut) allergies. It is critical for parents to refrain from sending snack and lunch items with these ingredients. Please make sure you read product labels carefully before sending items to school. These allergies are life threatening. This includes products created to look and taste like peanut butter such as WOW butter. It is gratifying to the families to know that SCPS has a parent community who cares about everyone’s health and safety.
If peanut butter or even the tiniest amount of peanut or any type of nut enters their bodies (through their eyes, nose, or mouth), they could experience very strong reactions. Their faces may swell or break out in hives, or their throats may swell and tighten. Without immediate medical treatment they could die within minutes.
It has been suggested that the best way to provide a safe environment for our students would be to enlist the support of all of you to try and make our school as much as possible a “peanut and nut-free environment”. This means that each student entering our school is asked to bring snacks and lunches free of any peanuts or other nuts including sesame. Though it sounds simple, it not only means no peanut butter sandwiches or peanut butter cookies, it means you should also read the labels of other foods to ensure they do not contain traces of peanuts/nuts/sesame seeds and sesame oil. Our concern is for foods where peanut or nuts might be a hidden ingredient and where cross contamination can occur. If your child has peanut butter for breakfast, please make sure that his/her face and hands are cleaned with soap and water before coming to school. Please have your child brush their teeth after eating breakfast.
We realize this request poses an inconvenience for parents when packing your child’s snack and lunch, however, we wish to express sincere appreciation for your support and understanding. This is a potentially life-threatening allergy. It is gratifying to the families to know that there is a group of parents who care about their children’s health and safety.
We may also have students in the school with allergies to animals. Before bringing pets to school, please call and make arrangements with your child’s teacher.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the school.