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.

Orange / Citrus

The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. In light of this commitment, we are reaching out to inform you that we have a new member in our school community attending our school in the 2024/205 school year who is anaphylactic to oranges. Additionally, we continue to have staff and students who have scent allergies to all citrus - this includes oranges. 

Our overarching objective is to prevent any avoidable severe reactions or tragic incidents caused by anaphylaxis. We aim to minimize the risk of exposure for students and staff with anaphylactic allergies. 

To ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in our school, we kindly request that students refrain from bringing oranges or products/scents containing oranges (real or artificial) into the building. We understand that this may present challenges when packing healthy snacks for your children, but it is imperative that we work together to maintain a safe learning environment for all.  

Our school is dedicated to maintaining an allergen-aware environment to protect every learner.  These allergies are serious and life-threatening.  

Your understanding of the potential risks associated with cross-contamination and that our entire school premises are designated as allergen-aware is crucial to the safety and well-being of our entire school community. 

We appreciate your understanding in this matter. Your support is essential in helping us create a safe and inclusive space for everyone at Sunset Heights Public School. 

Thank you for your thoughtfulness and cooperation in addressing this important matter. 

Additionally, body sprays, body mists, or any aerosol products are not to be used at school. Many contain citrus and/or orange, or other ingredients that can trigger an allergic reaction.