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Schools

D-64 Bans Sweet Birthday Treats

Will review policy on food at class parties next fall

The Park Ridge-Niles Elementary District 64 school board updated its policies to forbid students from bringing in sweet treats to celebrate their birthdays at the June 25 school board meeting, but did not take action on a proposal to ban sweets at classroom holiday parties.

Earlier:

District 64 Superintendent Philip Bender said the board would revisit the policy on class parties again this fall, after Parent-Teacher Organizations and other parents have the opportunity to weigh in on it.

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“We understand that this is summer and a lot of people might not be available,” Bender said.

The board did not have similar concerns about banning birthday treats because that has been the practice in District 64 schools for the past several years, and the change simply brings the policy in line with the practice.

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Many schools ask parents not to send treats in on their children’s birthdays because the district does not always know what ingredients are in them. Some children have food allergies that can be life-threatening, while other students have diabetes and must adhere to a strict diet.

“We have no way of knowing whether they have any peanut substances,” Bender said, naming one of the most common allergens. “Most parents, if they have a healthy child, may not understand how serious these allergies can be.”

Also, he said, the district has a wellness policy that enourages healthy eating.

In terms of class parties, Bender said, the idea is to remove the emphasis on food.

“We want to change the mindset of how we look at parties,” he said. “We want it to be a fun, activity-type event. It doesn’t always have to revolve around foodstuffs.”

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