Allergy Statement
Fort Mill School District places a priority on providing a safe environment for all students. Food allergies are becoming increasingly common among students in our District and throughout the nation. While some allergic reactions are mild, many students have severe food allergies and experience life threatening reactions when exposed to specific allergens. In some cases, this reaction occurs through contact or airborne exposure, even when the allergen is not ingested.
The health and safety of our students is a top priority, especially when working with students who have a life-threatening medical condition. We appreciate your support of the following safeguards to limit their exposure to these risky foods:
- Encourage all students to wash hands with soap and water before and after eating. Hand sanitizers and water alone do not fully remove allergens.
- Remind students to not share food with others.
- When preparing your child’s snacks for consumption in the classroom, we encourage you to check food labels and send in alternative food items to reduce exposure to the allergens listed above. For example, there are several alternative butters that can be used in place of peanut butter (e.g., Sunbutter, which is made from sunflower seeds).
- Per District policy, all food items brought to school for group consumption by students must be commercially prepared (store bought) and have labels that clearly state the ingredients. If you need help identifying treats that are safe for all students who will be partake in the celebration, please contact your school nurse.
- For celebrations, please consider non-food alternatives. This is a good idea not just because of food allergies, but also due to the growing issue of childhood obesity.
Please refer to the factsheet for tips on how to read food labels. We appreciate your awareness, understanding and cooperation in working toward keeping our students safe.
Please contact your child’s school nurse if you have any questions or concerns.