Allergies

We want to ensure that your child receives the best care possible while at school. We take allergies, food safety, and student health very seriously. We cannot guarantee a nut, milk or “allergen-free” environment, but we do have an “allergen aware” policy. Your child is less likely to be exposed to allergens at school when we work together to create a management plan for your child.

Allergy Aware Policy

Unfortunately, your school cannot guarantee a nut, milk or “allergen-free” environment. The risk of exposure is always present. Instead, we have an “allergy aware” policy, which empowers everyone. Children with allergies become aware of what they can and cannot eat, and school staff are alert and careful about each student’s allergies.

How You Can Help

Submit Allergy Forms

Ask your child’s provider to complete the Food Allergy Form (FAF). Once you fill out a Food Allergy Form, and it is reviewed by our food nutrition director and school nurse, your child’s allergy will be noted in our point of sale system.  All paperwork must be updated yearly and all doctor’s orders must be current within one year.  We will not accept outdated forms more than a year old. 

While we accept forms on a rolling basis, we recommend submitting it to your school by June 1, 2023.

Bring Medicine to School

Once you've submitted the Food Allergy Form, be sure to bring your child’s prescribed allergy medicine to school. Medicine must be:

• labeled,
• unopened,
• and in its original container.

Work with Your School Nurse

• Meet with the school nurse as early as possible to develop your child’s Allergy Response Plan and decide what foods your child can eat from the cafeteria.
  • Review the school lunch menu.
• Give the school nurse a list of foods or ingredients that your child needs to avoid.
• Let your school nurse know if your child also has asthma. Allergic reactions may be worse in children who have both allergies and asthma.
• Make sure your emergency contact information is up to date.

Teach Your Child

• About their allergy so they know which foods to avoid.
• Not to trade food with other students. Your child also should not eat anything offered at school without knowing what is in it.
• How to use an epi-pen by him/herself—if it’s age-appropriate for them to do so. Remind them to carry the epi-pen at all times.

Allergy Response Plan

Your school nurse will work with you and your child’s healthcare provider to create an allergy response plan for your child. In the case of a severe allergic reaction, your child will immediately be given his/her prescribed medicine by trained school staff or a nurse. School staff will call 911 and contact you and your child’s health care provider.

Attentive and Prepared School Staff

Your nurse will train school staff members to enact your child’s allergy response plan in an emergency.

• They will know your child’s warning signs for an allergic emergency, and will be able to give your child the epi-pen if the school nurse is unavailable.
• Your school will ensure that students with food allergies are included in all school activities.
• Your school will consider allergy prevention strategies, such as:
  • allergy aware seating during meals and snacks in the cafeteria and classroom
  • food-free zones
  • avoiding the use of allergens in class projects, celebrations and snacks.

Allergen Accommodations at the Point of Service

If a request is made at the point of service by a student or para-professional/teacher/school nurse (on student’s behalf), it will be honored by RVISD Child Nutrition staff within reason. 

• Example: No cheese on fish sandwich or no bun with burger 

RVISD Child Nutrition staff is not responsible for tracking or monitoring students with food sensitivities and allergies.

Find out more at our Health Services page.