Child Nutrition

Washington State law requires all public schools to support students with severe food allergies by implementing measures to ensure their safety during the school day.

A food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly reacts to a food protein. When the allergen is consumed, the body may release chemicals such as histamine, causing an allergic reaction. Symptoms can range from mild, such as rashes, hives, itching, and swelling, to severe, including difficulty breathing, wheezing, or loss of consciousness. In some cases, food allergies can be life threatening. Medications are used to manage symptoms after a reaction occurs.

Our procedures significantly reduce the distribution of food from staff to students and the sharing of food between students. The following summarizes our district’s  Food Allergy procedures:

• During the first month of each school year, principals and nurses will train staff about allergen threats and related issues.
• The principal will inform parents/guardians if there is a student with life-threatening allergies in their child’s school and the measures taken to protect the affected student(s).
• There will be no routine distribution of food in the classroom. On rare occasions, food may be used to enhance and enrich educational experiences for students. Approval for the occasional use of food must be obtained prior to the activity.

These procedures are intended to more effectively protect our students with serious food allergies. Thank you for you cooperation and support in this endeavor. Please call 360-383-9200 or your school nurse if you have concerns or thoughts on this change.

As part of our commitment to student health and well-being, we want to remind families of the process for requesting special dietary accommodations.

USDA Child Nutrition Programs ensure that all students have access to healthy meals, including those with disabilities that require special diets. A disability is defined as a condition that substantially limits a major life activity and may include food allergies or digestive conditions. Personal or religious food preferences do not qualify under this definition.

To request dietary accommodations, please complete the required form linked below. The form must be filled out and signed by your child’s health care provider, clearly outlining the specific dietary needs. Once completed, return the form to the Administrative Assistant at your child’s school.

If you have not yet informed your child’s school nurse about their food allergy or digestive condition, please do so as soon as possible. Our nurses play a critical role in supporting student health and ensuring that Child Nutrition staff are informed and prepared to provide appropriate accommodations.

Because dietary needs may change over time, we ask that you submit an updated form signed by your health care provider whenever there are any changes, whether new, discontinued, or modified restrictions. Please coordinate these updates through your school nurse.

Thank you for trusting us with your child’s education and well-being. We appreciate your partnership in helping us maintain a safe and supportive environment for all students.

• Request for Special Dietary AccommoDations
• Request for Special Dietary Accommodations - Spanish

• District Scoreboard

• Civil Rights Complaint Procedure and Form 2023

• Nutrition and Physical Fitness Policy 6700

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider

• USDA Nondiscrimination Statement (Spanish
• USDA Nondiscrimination Statement (Russian)

• Request for Student Food/Beverage Use