Allergies

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In the Durham District School Board, we are committed to ensuring the safety of all students.

  1. Sabrina’s Law requires that all district school boards have procedures and training in place to protect students at risk of anaphylaxis.  Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and can cause death.  Triggers for anaphylaxis may include such things as food (e.g. peanuts, tree nuts). 
  2. Our goal is to eliminate preventable serious reactions and death due to anaphylaxis and to reduce the risk of exposure for students at risk of anaphylaxis to potential allergens.
  3. Schools within the DDSB can be considered “Allergy Aware” and not “Allergy Safe” as one cannot guarantee that the school environment is 100% allergen free.  Where possible the learning environment should be free from any trace of the allergen.
  4. We strongly recommend that all schools exercise due caution and refrain from allowing soy bean butter and other similar peanut-free spreads (e.g. “WOW” soy butter) into schools.  The risk is that these types of products look, smell and taste like real peanut butter.  It is difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish these products from real peanut butter which makes it difficult for school administrators to control for a “peanut safe” environment.  As alternatives, other peanut-free spreads that don’t look, smell and taste like peanut butter can be used as part of a nutritious lunch (e.g. hummus, low fat ricotta cheese, vegetable purees, bean dips, guacamole).
  5. Sabrina’s Law requires that all district school boards have procedures and training in place to protect students at risk of anaphylaxis.  Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and can cause death.  Triggers for anaphylaxis may include such things as food (e.g. peanuts, tree nuts). 
  6. Our goal is to eliminate preventable serious reactions and death due to anaphylaxis and to reduce the risk of exposure for students at risk of anaphylaxis to potential allergens.
  7. Schools within the DDSB can be considered “Allergy Aware” and not “Allergy Safe” as one cannot guarantee that the school environment is 100% allergen free.  Where possible the learning environment should be free from any trace of the allergen.
  8. We strongly recommend that all schools exercise due caution and refrain from allowing soy bean butter and other similar peanut-free spreads (e.g. “WOW” soy butter) into schools.  The risk is that these types of products look, smell and taste like real peanut butter.  It is difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish these products from real peanut butter which makes it difficult for school administrators to control for a “peanut safe” environment.  As alternatives, other peanut-free spreads that don’t look, smell and taste like peanut butter can be used as part of a nutritious lunch (e.g. hummus, low fat ricotta cheese, vegetable purees, bean dips, guacamole).

School allergy information

Sunset Heights P.S. is a safe and healthy environment. Our school has implemented guidelines and policies that we ask all parents, students, and staff to review carefully. 

Some school community members are highly sensitive and cannot be in direct contact with the foods listed below.  This includes being in the same lunch or classroom.  To help ensure every child is safe, please do not send the following items for snack/lunch:

  • Peanuts
  • Nuts
  • Treenuts
  • Cashews
  • Sesame seeds
  • Shellfish
  • Eggs

Scent Aware

Please be scent-aware.  Some members of our school community have extreme sensitivities to certain smells and scents. Please refrain from wearing excessive cologne or perfume/body sprays/lotions when entering our school.