Food Allergies Information

Dietary Accomodations and Food Allergy Information

At Ferndale School District, we are committed to providing safe, nutritious meals for every student. USDA Child Nutrition Programs support students with disabilities who require meal modifications. A disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. This may include certain food allergies, digestive conditions, or other medical conditions. Personal food preferences or religious dietary preferences are not considered disabilities under USDA regulations.

If your student requires a dietary accommodation, please complete the attached Request for Dietary Accommodation form and return it to your school's main office or school nurse. The form must be completed and signed by your child's licensed health care provider and should clearly describe the dietary accommodations your child requires. This information allows our Child Nutrition staff to safely prepare meals that meet your child's medical needs.

If you have not already informed your child's school nurse of your child's food allergy or medical condition, please do so as soon as possible. Our school nurses work closely with the Child Nutrition Department to ensure appropriate dietary accommodations are in place, and that staff who need this information are informed so they can help keep your child safe.

We understand that your child's dietary needs may change over time. If your child requires a new or updated dietary accommodation, please submit a new Request for Dietary Accommodation form completed and signed by your child's licensed health care provider. If your child's dietary accommodation is no longer needed, please notify your school nurse in writing so we can discontinue the accommodation.

Food Allergy Information

Washington State law requires public schools to implement procedures to help protect students with life-threatening food allergies while they are at school.

A food allergy occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly reacts to a food protein. Exposure to the allergen can trigger an allergic reaction ranging from mild symptoms, such as hives, itching, rash, or swelling, to severe symptoms including difficulty breathing, wheezing, or loss of consciousness. In some cases, a food allergy can result in a life-threatening reaction requiring immediate medical attention.

To help provide a safe learning environment for all students, Ferndale School District has implemented the following procedures:

• During the first month of each school year, principals and school nurses provide staff training on life-threatening allergies, recognizing allergic reactions, emergency response procedures, and allergy awareness.
• Parents and guardians will be notified if there is a student with a life-threatening allergy in their child's school when appropriate, along with information about measures being taken to help protect affected students.
• Routine distribution of food in classrooms is discouraged. On limited occasions when food is used to support classroom instruction or special activities, prior approval must be obtained in accordance with district procedures.
• Staff work to minimize food sharing among students and follow district procedures designed to reduce the risk of accidental allergen exposure.

These procedures are intended to help create a safer environment for students with serious food allergies while allowing all students to participate fully in school activities.

Thank you for partnering with us to support your child's health, safety, and well-being. If you have questions about dietary accommodations or food allergy procedures, please contact your school nurse or the Ferndale School District Child Nutrition Department at 360-383-9340.