Food Allergy Awareness

Put in place an administrative “procedure” that eliminates/controls outside food for classroom celebrations, such as birthday and holiday parties.

• Replace celebratory food with alternative festivities; for example:
  • Provide a special guest book to be signed by classmates in honor of the birthday girl/boy
  • Announce birthdays over the school’s PA system during morning announcements
  • Create a craft or small art project
  • Supply “safe” allergy-free food, provided by the Food Services Department
• Communicate with families about procedural changes

Help educate students about food allergies, including how to be safe, how they impact lives and how to help a friend in need.

• Host informal peer discussions/presentations between younger students and their older peers who have food allergies
• Host at least one educational assembly per year at Scotchtown Avenue and Goshen Intermediate
• Host a Food Allergy Awareness Week with numerous activities, including but not limited to:
  • Invite guest readers to read food allergy-related stories
  • Teach students to effectively read food labels
  • Teach proper hand washing
  • Show educational, food allergy-related videos
  • Host a poster contest
• Create age-appropriate posters to hang around Scotchtown Avenue and Goshen Intermediate for awareness

Help educate staff about food allergies and how they can help keep students safe.

• Host trainings for substitutes during orientations
• Provide resources for teachers to use at their discretion

Help educate parents about food allergies and how they can help keep students safe.

• Reinforce food allergy policies during parent orientations
• Revise form letters to communicate and remind parents about food allergy policies
• Develop/provide educational materials for parents to raise awareness
• Use SchoolMessenger e-mails to effectively communicate with parents throughout the school year

• Utilize PTOs for outreach
• Review concessions for fundraisers
• Contact Pupil Personnel Services Department regarding severe food allergies
• Contact school nurse/building administrator regarding changes in health issues