Taylor Road Families,

This year, we will once again be implementing our building-wide policy regarding birthday celebrations, however due to COVID-19: We can NOT allow ANY treats/items to be brought in at this time.  If unauthorized treats or trinkets are sent in, unfortunately we will have to send them back home unopened.  We also will be holding any deliveries such as flowers, balloons, etc…in the front office until dismissal. After careful consideration and gathering feedback from various parties we have determined this to be necessary for the safety of all our students. Some of the considerations are:

Safety: With 1 in 13 of children having at least one food allergy, anyone serving food

to children needs to be aware of food allergies and the potential for a life-threatening

allergic reaction. More than 15% of school-aged children with food allergies have had

an allergic reaction at school. These reactions range from mild to severe and even

fatal. The safety of all students is one of TRE’s top priorities.

 

Inclusion: Sending in a food treat to the classroom to celebrate can exclude those

children who have food allergies, diabetes or other dietary restrictions. It also can exclude children who come from families facing financial hardships who are unable to afford to send in items for a special celebration. 

 

Loss of instructional time: Although staff will continue to find creative ways of celebrating birthdays/special events with students, it is important to protect the instructional day so that it is not spent on cutting cake, cleaning up messes and dealing with hurt feelings.

 

We also ask that if students intend to hand out party invitations at school that they only do so if they plan to give one to every student in the class. If that is not their intention, they will need to make other arrangements to invite friends. 

 

Please know that we are not trying to take the fun out of birthdays. Classroom teachers will continue to recognize children on their special day in special ways.

We trust that you understand how deeply important it is to respect and adhere to these guidelines. The safety of all our students is our utmost priority and we appreciate your cooperation and understanding. Thank you for your continued partnership!