Called The School Because They Were Doing Paper Mache

[holiday16]

and talked with the art teacher. I was very surprised to learn that according to the teacher they are not permitted to have any art supplies that contain any food products. I don't know if this is district policy, state or what, but it's a relief that it's one less thing I need to worry about.

Anyone else find this is the case with their schools? The paper mache is def. gluten free. She gave me the brand and I double checked. She also said they just had inspectors in the week before making sure none of the supplies contained food products.

[kbtoyssni]

I don't think it's common, but it's awesome your school does that!

[buffettbride]

That is awesome! I wish I could keep my son's school from using Cheerios, et. al. in projects. They used oatmeal for a project at Christmastime (reindeer feed or something) and I about panicked!

He doesn't have gluten problems, but his sister does and I hate bringing that stuff into the house!

[feedmykids]

That's Awesome! Can you find out if it is a state , district, or school policy? Our school needs to do this!

[tweetykl]

That is awesome of that school district. My school district does not care and would never be that aware without a major lawsuit.

[holiday16]

I should add that I believe it's only in the art room that this applies because I remember when my kids were younger they did the same reindeer food thing with oatmeal and my son just finished a science project he said they used bread crumbs for. He only went gluten-free last week so thankfully his project was before then.

I asked at our GI appt. the other day if it was a state thing and he said no so it must be district policy. This district is really good though. We've had some situations where anywhere else we would have had to set up IEP's, but I've had several health care workers say that won't be an issue because of the district we're in. One even said anywhere else it would be a problem, but with this school system you'll be fine.

It also helps alot that the elementary school they go to is the smallest one with only 200 kids so pretty much everyone that needs to know realizes they can't have gluten. We had one day last year where my dd forgot her lunch and the school could not get hold of me so they called my dh. The policy is if you don't have lunch you get a PB&J no exceptions. Obviously she could not have that so after going over the options they figured out she coud have the chef salad. The secretary lent her the money she needed because you're not allowed to charge and we payed her back. I'm so glad they went to so much trouble for her and got it worked out. After that I started giving her emergency food bars as a backup and this year her teacher was keeping a frozen gluten-free meal in the fridge in the teachers lounge for her until unfortunately the fridge went out.

I will say that I think my daughter being so careful has helped quite a bit with the awareness. She asks everyone that gives her anything about the ingredients. When I called the art teacher she told me that dd had already asked about the paper mache ingredients and checked them with the teacher. Her only weakness is candy where the ingredients are really obvious like wheat or barley )

[jayhawkmom]

Wow. I want to send my daughter to YOUR kiddos school!!!!

She's in kindergarten and her classroom is peanut/tree nut free. (she's the allergic one) However, the other kinder classes made peanut butter birdhouses. The other kids in her class felt "cheated" because they didn't get to make them. *sigh*

WHY oh WHY must they use food.... all the time? Seriously, where are you located? I want to move!

[holiday16]

Wow. I want to send my daughter to YOUR kiddos school!!!!

She's in kindergarten and her classroom is peanut/tree nut free. (she's the allergic one) However, the other kinder classes made peanut butter birdhouses. The other kids in her class felt "cheated" because they didn't get to make them. *sigh*

WHY oh WHY must they use food.... all the time? Seriously, where are you located? I want to move!

Well, hope you like Ohio, LOL! I have not had problems with the school, but now that I have two that are gluten free we'll see what happens. My dd is saying that they don't use food for any projects anymore so I'll have to ask about that the next time I'm at her school because I know my son said they used bread in Science so I don't think that's quite right. I think it's just art supplies themselves. Church has been pretty easy as well since they are very sensitive to food allergies and if there is a snack she can't have they will go to the kitchen and get her fruit. My mothers church is a little more difficult. They were making pizzas last night so we passed on taking her. She's already being exposed to something at school we need to figure out and the last thing I need right now is to make it worse!

It drives me crazy though that if they forget their lunch they are not allowed to charge and the only option is a PB&J. With allergies and everything else you'd think there would be another option. That may be something I could bring up with the food service that if you have allergies they make an exception...