The York Catholic District School Board continues to help protect anaphylactic students, students with life threatening allergies. Protecting anaphylactic students from exposure to life threatening substances creates a major challenge to all elementary schools. As outlined in the policy, parents are asked to inform the school of such allergies and are required to fill in S15 and S15a forms which are available in the office. Each form must have a passport size picture attached so that the student is easily identifiable to staff. Parents are also asked to ensure that students for whom Epi-pens are prescribed have two Epi-pens at school. One must be worn by the student in a fanny pack at all times, which includes on the bus, on excursions, and all other school related activities/sports and the other must be stored in the school for emergency use only. Following are some of the proactive strategies we continue to implement at St. Mark to help keep all our students safe.
- Maintaining our “allergy safe” school environment via food restrictions, students will be informed of an reminded that they are not to share food – no food sharing rules. the school environment includes entire school grounds, buses and other modes of transportation, school trips, before/after school/weekend programs, and school sanctioned events involving pupils.
- Prohibiting food outdoors to minimize exposure to insects (i.e. wasps, bees, etc.).
- Communicating regularly to the entire school community that we are an “allergen safe” school and posting of “allergy safe” signs throughout the school.
- Taking special precautions around holidays and special celebrations, by planning activities that are not food oriented. Parents may send in small birthday tokens such as pencils or book marks etc. Please do not send in cakes, cupcakes or other edible treats!
- Special communication and instructions will be given to individual classrooms where students with allergies are enrolled regarding allergens in that classroom and through the classroom to the community regarding specific allergens.
- Continuing to ensure that all products sold through the school for fundraising or otherwise are peanut/nut safe.
- Ensuring that permit holders, visitors and all staff are aware of these precautions.