Cc At School

[Roda]

I'm sure this subject has come up many times so sorry in advance. I believe that my son may be getting some CC at school. He is in kindergarden and everyday they have a snack. I have safe snacks for him at school so that is not the problem. I think he may be getting cc'd in his classroom. They have group seating (I so disagree with for many reasons) and four to five children sit at a table. The other children at his table eat wheat/gluten containing products as does every other child in the room. I told the teacher about the table needing wiped down after the kids eat their snack but according to my son it isn't getting done. Also after snack and during, the other children are touching him and don't wash after. I realize that the teacher probably is time conscious. Also I discussed with her before Christmas the need for him to wash with soap and water before he goes to lunch. Instead they are using hand sanitizer which I also told her was great for germs but won't get gluten residue off his hands. So here are my questions How do I address this with his teacher again? Is it too much to ask for the other children to wash after snack? I'ts obvious that the table needs wiped down after snack but should all be wiped down every day? Periodically they rearrange seating so he will be moved to another table. I also realize that they can't guarantee that he won't have some exposure but I think with some extra planning it can be reduced. At lunch they have him sit at the allergy table (mostly kids that are peanut allergic) so as for peanut contamination they keep it very clean, but I'm sure he is sitting with kids that consume gluten. I have told him to not touch others food and not let the other kids touch his. So I guess I need some more advice on what to do. I do believe that he may be one of the only children in the school with celiac.

[Mizzo]

I'm sure this subject has come up many times so sorry in advance. I believe that my son may be getting some CC at school. He is in kindergarden and everyday they have a snack. I have safe snacks for him at school so that is not the problem. I think he may be getting cc'd in his classroom. They have group seating (I so disagree with for many reasons) and four to five children sit at a table. The other children at his table eat wheat/gluten containing products as does every other child in the room. I told the teacher about the table needing wiped down after the kids eat their snack but according to my son it isn't getting done. Also after snack and during, the other children are touching him and don't wash after. I realize that the teacher probably is time conscious. Also I discussed with her before Christmas the need for him to wash with soap and water before he goes to lunch. Instead they are using hand sanitizer which I also told her was great for germs but won't get gluten residue off his hands. So here are my questions How do I address this with his teacher again? Is it too much to ask for the other children to wash after snack? I'ts obvious that the table needs wiped down after snack but should all be wiped down every day? Periodically they rearrange seating so he will be moved to another table. I also realize that they can't guarantee that he won't have some exposure but I think with some extra planning it can be reduced. At lunch they have him sit at the allergy table (mostly kids that are peanut allergic) so as for peanut contamination they keep it very clean, but I'm sure he is sitting with kids that consume gluten. I have told him to not touch others food and not let the other kids touch his. So I guess I need some more advice on what to do. I do believe that he may be one of the only children in the school with celiac.

I just posted this for someone else

For the teacher:

A tip, have you child moved to an end seat in her group if they are set up desk to desk or at tables. This immediately reduces the risk of contamination by 50% without segregating them.

All kids sitting next to and across from her must also be told to wash after snack, lunch and arts and crafts.

Make sure the washing of the table/desk does not mean pushing the crumbs towards her area, but away from it.

all these things really add up to safety.

At this age the kids can learn to say no to foods but are too young to be responsible for anything more. The teacher needs to be addressed and given some safety guidelines.

Your child will not be her/his last student with Celiac, ask them to considering it good training for the future.

Hand sanitizer does nothing for peanut allergy or egg allergy both of which have anyphalactic responses. The very least they should do is use wipes of some kind.

It is not too much to ask for this, our childrens safety is what's important.

Write up a list of needs, set up a meeeting with the teacher and offer help by supplying wipes or gluten-free playdoh etc.. whatever you can do

If all else fails, supply a desk mat for your childs area. This can be brought home for you to clean everyday.

[Roda]

I just posted this for someone else

For the teacher:

A tip, have you child moved to an end seat in her group if they are set up desk to desk or at tables. This immediately reduces the risk of contamination by 50% without segregating them.

All kids sitting next to and across from her must also be told to wash after snack, lunch and arts and crafts.

Make sure the washing of the table/desk does not mean pushing the crumbs towards her area, but away from it.

all these things really add up to safety.

At this age the kids can learn to say no to foods but are too young to be responsible for anything more. The teacher needs to be addressed and given some safety guidelines.

Your child will not be her/his last student with Celiac, ask them to considering it good training for the future.

Hand sanitizer does nothing for peanut allergy or egg allergy both of which have anyphalactic responses. The very least they should do is use wipes of some kind.

It is not too much to ask for this, our childrens safety is what's important.

Write up a list of needs, set up a meeeting with the teacher and offer help by supplying wipes or gluten-free playdoh etc.. whatever you can do

If all else fails, supply a desk mat for your childs area. This can be brought home for you to clean everyday.

All good tips/advice. The tables are round so wiping them is just going to be a must! I originally had to go through the school nurse (who knew very little about celiac) so she could address the needs of my son. I guess I will need to set up another appointment with her. I had given her handouts and suggested website for information for school personell but don't know if they bothered to look it up. He does not have an official diagnosis but does have a signed note from the allergist to avoid gluten/wheat products so I think that they would have to accomidate him even with that documentation.

[domesticactivist]

It sounds like they might be thinking if they don't see a reaction it must be ok. I would call the meeting with the nurse, teacher, teacher's assistant, and maybe the principal, too. I'd do an actual presentation, in person, about the actual damage to the small intestine that even undetectable levels can cause, and that these are not germs, they require actual washing (and the rags/sponges/etc need to be washed or replaced after being used with gluten as well).

If my child showed signs of being glutened, I'd not send him the next day, and tell the teacher it was because of having been glutened, and to please be more careful or you'll have to take further action.

They need to take this seriously. Little kids share toys in kindy. ALL the kids need to wash their hands. It's a good habit, which they should be instilling, anyway. Nasty sanitizer products aren't good for the kids anyway. Learning to have good hygiene is part of kindergarten curriculum anyway, it makes sense that after you have educated the teacher, they could set aside some class time to specifically work with the kids on learning how to reduce cross contamination for all allergies. Maybe you could lead an age-appropriate activity for the kids, as a parent helper.

I'm lucky that my kids aren't in school. I know that homeschooling is not a choice that will work for every family, but in my community it has been amazing, and I know several families who are actually homeschooling because try as they might, the schools just couldn't accommodate their children's allergies. It might be an option worth looking into.

I don't know what's available in your area, but another option might be a smaller school or co-op where there is more flexibility and more attention given to each child's needs.

[Roda]

I think the presentation is a great idea. I just don't think the nurse conveyed enough information. I'm going to call today and set something up. It is a really good school, according to some in the city, to be the best elementary school, so I don't think it is a matter of that they won't accomidate just still uneducatated. I knew of one child in my oldest son's class (before I was diagnosed) who was not to have wheat but she participated in all the activities with gluten. I remember making biscuits with the class one day and she was playing with the dough. Her avoidence was lifted the next year so that was that. I just don't want that to happen to my kid!

[Mizzo]

I think the presentation is a great idea. I just don't think the nurse conveyed enough information. I'm going to call today and set something up. It is a really good school, according to some in the city, to be the best elementary school, so I don't think it is a matter of that they won't accomidate just still uneducatated. I knew of one child in my oldest son's class (before I was diagnosed) who was not to have wheat but she participated in all the activities with gluten. I remember making biscuits with the class one day and she was playing with the dough. Her avoidence was lifted the next year so that was that. I just don't want that to happen to my kid!

The presentation is an excellent idea. Include providing handouts and example hidden gluten ingredients sheets to give them a understanding that's it's just not wheat as so many people think. Our school has a lot of PTO driven events which have snacks/food. I provided them a iist of gluten-free snacks that can be bought at local grocers for those events. I also provide gluten-free snacks for special events.

My teacher and nurse went way too far getting involved and decided to do a classroom gluten free gingerbread man holiday project. Long story short, It failed and yes the kids were disappointed, they got to enjoy the decoration toppings only. While concentrating on the gluten free aspect they forgot the egg allergy kid and he had to be excluded from the project. ughh!!!!!

So Insist on being involved in everything.

[Roda]

I talked briefly with the school nurse this morning. She is going to find out what soap they use. I requested that his table be wiped down after snack (it is wiped down at the end of the day so in the morning until snack it should be fine). I also requested at the very least, the children sharing a table with him wash after snack also. She was pretty on it and brought up something that hadn't occured to me. She said all the kids should wash after snack/lunch since they share computers in the room or at the very least have the keyboard and mouse wiped off before he uses it. She is also going to talk to the substitue art teacher today since the regular one is out for awhile. So we will see. As for parties, I plan on being there, or his daddy, for each one so we can watch out for cc. At the Christmas party there was a fruit tray and I requested I set some out ahead of time for him since I was afraid it would be cc'd from the other mom and kids after touching the donut holes and chocolate chip cookies. Glad I did since the other mom was going from one thing to another. He has been extremely moody yesterday and today, which he hasn't been while on break, and the only thing different is he is back at school. Boy, I'm not looking forward to March for his gluten challenge. Also how should I handle it with school during his gluten challenge? If they are making all these accomidations for him now, I don't want to screw it up during his challenge since he will be going back gluten free after. Should I just continue as is at school and just feed him gluten at home?

[Roda]

Well we are in a full blown upset tonight and he also hit his brother with a metal handle. So not good! This too shall pass...I hope

[domesticactivist]

I'd definitely have the school keep up their efforts to stay gluten-free during the challenge. Is there any way you can do it when school is out, since behavior is part of the problem?

[Roda]

I'd definitely have the school keep up their efforts to stay gluten-free during the challenge. Is there any way you can do it when school is out, since behavior is part of the problem?

That's what I was thinking about keeping it up at school. I may move it up to spring break so we don't have to worry about school. Funny thing is he isn't acting out at school at all yet. He doesn't want his teacher to know about how he is acting. I don't forsee us having to do it long. I think we will have our answer within a few days to a week. I don't plan on taking 2-3 months to get the formal diagnosis. I'm hoping that the diagnosis will come based on his blood work and his reaction to the diet. Regardless he will go back gluten free.

[seezee]

Is it a public school? You may want to think about an individual health plan or 504 plan. We had terrible problems last year with our private school in making sure that the classroom desks were cleaned. We ended up leaving and so far this year things have gone extremely well. An internet search for 'celiac 504' leads to lots of resources. My daughter is now in grade 6 so is mostly able to manage it on her own, but she really doesn't want to have to eat or try to do school work on a crumb covered table.

Open Original Shared Link

[Roda]

Yes it is a public school. I don't know if I would be allowed to do a 504 plan for him since we don't have an official dx (yet). We do have a signed paper from the allergist office for him to avoid wheat/gluten ingredients because of suspected celiac disease. Would that be enough? His mood has leveled so much this weekend. I almost don't want to send him back but I have to.

[seezee]

I think if it is affecting his ability to focus on school than it's OK for you to insist that the accommodations he requires be in place. If that means a 504 then that's what it means.

My daughter was diagnosed about a year and a half ago and at first I felt really uncomfortable demanding/insisting. I am a pretty polite, soft-spoken person, but teachers can be busy with a million other things and having a legal document and something in writing will help them to put this closer to the top.

The website from Children's hospital has lots of information and the allergist should be able to help. I think people are kind of used to taking an anaphylactic allergy very seriously. The damage that gluten can cause is also really serious, but it's hard for a lot of people to really get that. Where we go they have a clinical social worker who is works with the GI dept. and she helps families deal with this. There are also lots of food allergy websites that have information on 504 plans. You might start by trying to create a written care plan with the school nurse that the principal and teacher sign. I think there's a blank one here or you can write your own.

Open Original Shared Link

What you are asking for isn't a great deal and it's not too much.

FYI -- I live in Massachusetts and the state DOE has food allergy policies. In a way celiac is tricky since it doesn't always qualify as an "allergy" so the letter might be all you need. It may also protect other kids because chances are your son isn't the only one who has some type of food sensitivity.

www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/allergy.pdf

as does our city

www.cpsd.us/web/PubInfo/Food_Allergy_Admin_Procedures.pdf

Not sure where you are but I think a lot of states and cities have similar ones?

[weluvgators]

We have had to push for gluten free classrooms for our children. Our pediatrician sent a letter stating that they have suspected gluten intolerance and should be provided a gluten free classroom at this time. We have since had a more strongly worded letter from our dermatologist saying they have gluten intolerance and must have a gluten free classroom. We continue to pursue getting a letter from some of our other doctors. It has been a long, slow struggle to make progress, and working with two kids with similar conditions at the same time has helped move things along much more quickly for the second child (her sister's horrific history with gluten exposure in the classroom helped significantly as well!).

With the letter that you do have (or a more specific one for the conditions that you think your child requires - like a gluten-free classroom environment), you take the doctor signed letter to the school office and tell them that you want a 504 evaluation for your child. That got the school to at least pursue Individual Health Care Plans for our kids. And our older one having anaphylactic reactions to wheat exposure in the past makes it easier for us to insist on more "allergy" based provisions. We like the templates provided at the Illinois State Board of Education site, but our school is struggling to get fully on board.

So even with all of that, they still sent my kids home with a conventional cookie at the holiday party - MERRY CHRISTMAS, eh?? Like what are my kids supposed to think of that?? Anyway, I share your frustration. My kids eat at individual desks, and even that was not sufficient for managing their symptoms. Our oldest has even had to remove herself from the cafeteria, but I believe that she suffered serious harm from the slow, lackadazical approach that we took last year (her allergies actually complicated things then because they wanted to more severely restrict her diet in her original recommendations).

Good luck!

[suziq0805]

I'm sure this subject has come up many times so sorry in advance. I believe that my son may be getting some CC at school. He is in kindergarden and everyday they have a snack. I have safe snacks for him at school so that is not the problem. I think he may be getting cc'd in his classroom. They have group seating (I so disagree with for many reasons) and four to five children sit at a table. The other children at his table eat wheat/gluten containing products as does every other child in the room. I told the teacher about the table needing wiped down after the kids eat their snack but according to my son it isn't getting done. Also after snack and during, the other children are touching him and don't wash after. I realize that the teacher probably is time conscious. Also I discussed with her before Christmas the need for him to wash with soap and water before he goes to lunch. Instead they are using hand sanitizer which I also told her was great for germs but won't get gluten residue off his hands. So here are my questions How do I address this with his teacher again? Is it too much to ask for the other children to wash after snack? I'ts obvious that the table needs wiped down after snack but should all be wiped down every day? Periodically they rearrange seating so he will be moved to another table. I also realize that they can't guarantee that he won't have some exposure but I think with some extra planning it can be reduced. At lunch they have him sit at the allergy table (mostly kids that are peanut allergic) so as for peanut contamination they keep it very clean, but I'm sure he is sitting with kids that consume gluten. I have told him to not touch others food and not let the other kids touch his. So I guess I need some more advice on what to do. I do believe that he may be one of the only children in the school with celiac.

I am an elementary teacher so hopefully I can offer some help! I would say speak with the teacher again- if you haven't already. Make sure she realizes the importance of your requests. Keeping up with a room full of little ones isn't easy and if she's not aware damamge can happen to your child that's not visible she may think she's doing everything right. Also maybe try something like..."I know your day is very busy and I can't imagine keeping up with a room full of little kids every day so please know that my requests are in no way an attempt to add even more to your daily things to do, but come from what is medically necessary for my child". Sometimes teachers just get a bit overwhelmed with things to do and if she realizes the importance hopefully she will accommodate everything. Type out what they need to do for your child. Speak with the principal also. Maybe the principal would be willing to send a memo to the entire staff briefly explaining celiac and the nonvisible effects of eating gluten so that every staff member is aware. Your child will be in several classrooms throughout the day (art, music, PE, computer, lunchroom, and our school has students in upper grade levels be kindergarten "buddies" where they help with reading or crafts and such). Making sure the entire staff is on board would be awesome. Every year my school sends out a list of students with medical issues so that all staff can be aware. Students with severe medical issues (allergies that need an epi pen or seizures) we sometimes discuss at staff meeting so that teachers that have duty in the lunch room or recess know this too. Also see if there can be a note added to her substitute folder. Teachers usually have a sub. folder (a folder of info for the classroom that is ready to go for whenever a teacher is gone). A note in here would be wonderful so that if she gets ill overnight and does not have lesson plans written in advance then there will be a note in that folder so any substitute can be aware of what needs to be done for your child during the day. I would almost insist on this because even the best principal or secretary can forget to mention it to a substitute or may be at a meeting or sick themselves and not able to share the info with substitutes.

[Roda]

Well good news is that all snacks for the whole class are going to be gluten free and I saw the list and everything is fine. It was pretty challenging for the teacher to find things for the snack list that were gluten free for my son and peanut free for a few other kids. The clean up etc was taking too much away from her instructional time so this is how she is going to do it now. Makes me happy, but don't know about the other parents... oh well, I'm sure the peanut allergy people can relate anyway.