Food Policy

FOOD FROM HOME

Due to the risk of food borne illnesses, specifically Hepatitis A, the county health departments strongly discourage homemade foods being served in the school setting. For students' birthdays and other occasions, we ask that parents provide only store bought treats. Please note we are a "nut-free campus." Occasionally there will be a classroom activity that involves students preparing foods under the supervision of a teacher. Teachers are instructed regarding safe food handling procedures.

FOOD ALLERGY POLICY

OES recognizes that food allergies, in some instances, may be severe and even occasionally life-threatening. The foods most likely to cause allergic reactions are peanuts, tree nuts, dairy products, eggs, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish. Although most food allergies produce symptoms that are uncomfortable, persons with allergies to the above-listed foods can suffer more serious consequences. OES has created this policy to reduce the likelihood of severe allergic reactions of students with known food allergies while at school.

  • Parents may submit written protocols for students with allergies. These protocols should be designed to avoid exposure to foods to which the student is allergic. The School Nurse will work with parents to implement reasonable protocols submitted by parents.
  • Information pertaining to a student's allergies will be shared with faculty and staff who have contact with the student, but otherwise will be kept as confidential as possible.
  • OES will provide anaphylaxis certification opportunities for faculty, staff, and coaches.
  • OES will keep epinephrine on campus and in field trip first aid kits for treatment of an anaphylactic response.
  • OES will strive to instruct staff and faculty to recognize symptoms of an allergic reaction and to respond appropriately as necessary.
  • OES will work with its contracted Food Service Agency to provide food in the dining hall that all students may enjoy. In the case of a student with multiple or unusual allergies, however, OES may require the student/family to provide lunch and snacks to ensure the student's safety.
  • Peanut allergies are among the most common. Accordingly, OES will attempt to avoid service of food with peanuts or peanut products during the school day.
  • OES will work with the contracted Food Service Agency to reduce the likelihood that peanuts, tree nuts, or nut oil products are served during normal hours.
  • The contracted Food Service Agency may choose, at its discretion, appropriate vendors for food, but will not use foods that specifically list nut or peanut products on the ingredient label. (Parents and students may obtain lists of ingredients for any food served by contacting the Food Service Director.)
  • OES will not sell nut products in school-sanctioned permanent student stores (e.g. the Upper School student store, or the Middle School student store).
  • OES will request that parents not send snacks to school that contain peanuts, tree nuts, or nut oil products, and that parents send fruit or vegetable snacks or snacks that are store bought and have ingredient labels.
  • OES will attempt to avoid serving food with nuts, but cannot guarantee that products with nuts will never be present at OES. Likewise, OES cannot monitor products sold at athletic events or special student sales, products brought for potlucks or celebrations, or served on off-campus trips. Therefore, persons with severe food allergies must carefully monitor their food in these situations.

PARENT/STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY

  • Parents of students with allergies may submit to the School Nurse protocols designed to avoid exposure to certain foods.
  • Parents of students with life-threatening allergies must provide OES with emergency medications and a written medical treatment protocol for their student for addressing allergy-related events. The School Nurse will maintain the medication and information.
  • Parents are responsible to educate their child about managing his/her allergy at school, including, but not limited to, identifying safe foods by reviewing the weekly lunch menu together, and contacting the Food Service Director for ingredient listings.
  • If parents are uncertain about possible exposure to allergy-causing foods, they should provide meals or treats for their student.
  • Parents of students with severe food allergies or multiple food allergies may be required to provide meals or snacks for their children.
  • If a parent of a Lower School student is concerned about peanut allergies or multiple food allergies, the parent may provide their child's teacher with a supply of safe snacks to reduce the likelihood of accidental exposure.

OES cannot guarantee that a student will never experience an allergy-related event while at school. OES is committed to student safety, and therefore has created this policy to reduce the risk that children with allergies will have an allergy-related event.

Upper School