Accommodations for students with life-threatening allergies are made according to the student’s need and developmental level. An Allergy Action Plan for parent/guardian and healthcare providers to complete is available on the school website. School staff receive education and training regarding allergies.  

Allergies (Elementary)

Cafeteria Protocols

• Food Service Provider Accommodations: Students who need dietary accommodations from the school’s breakfast or lunch program should complete the Medical Statement for Special Dietary Needs form with a health care provider.  The Special Dietary Needs should be returned to the school office. 

• Lunch seating accommodations: Parents may request that their child sit at a table that is designated as “Allergy Aware.” A sign will be placed on the table that states the food(s) that must be avoided (for example, “No dairy or sesame”).

  • “Allergy Aware” means that students with lunches that obviously contain your student’s allergen will be directed to sit somewhere else. Lunch supervisors will attempt to find a classmate who has a lunch that does not contain your student’s allergen(s) to sit at the “allergen aware” table. 

  • The Wauwatosa School District cannot guarantee that the “Allergy Aware” table will be completely free of your student’s allergens as there is no way to know all the ingredients of every food item other students will be eating at the table.

  • “Allergy Aware” tables are recommended only as a temporary measure if your student has not yet learned to only eat food that is free of his/her allergens.

• Lunchroom supervisors: Staff supervising lunch will have access to a list of the child’s food allergies. They will be made aware of the location EPIPENS are kept within the school.

Classroom Protocols

• Classroom Shared Treats: Any food to be shared with the whole class must be pre packaged or prepared in a commercial kitchen and have a complete ingredient label. It must be free of all the allergens present in the classroom. 

• Classroom Activities: Teachers are to avoid planning classroom activities and field trips that involve the child’s allergens.

• Individual snacks: Food bans based on classroom allergies are impossible to enforce and research shows they do not decrease the need for epipens. 

  • Bans of specific foods in the classroom based on allergies will only be considered at the junior kindergarten level while the children learn classroom and school expectations (washing hands before eating, remaining seated during snack time, and not swapping food with classmates). This will only be implemented if the family is completely allergen-free in their home and has an allergy action plan on file. 

Student Health Protocols

• Health Condition Alerts: Parents should update the school about their child’s allergies during online registration each year. If diagnosed after registration, changes in the child’s allergies or emergency plan should be communicated to the school nurse.

• Allergy Emergency Action Plan: It is highly recommended that students with life-threatening allergies complete an allergy action plan detailing the child’s allergens and treatment plan. 

• Epipens: It is recommended that students with life-threatening allergies have a personal epipen at school. The epipens must have a prescription label and match the allergy action plan. The epipens will be returned to the parent/guardian at the end of the school year or upon request. Stock epipens are stored in the office but may not leave school property. 

Allergies (Secondary)

Classroom Protocols

• Classroom Activities: 

  • Secondary teachers have individual conversations with the student to discuss how they will stay safe during activities that involve their allergens. 

    • For example: The culinary class is baking cookies. The recipe includes eggs. A student is allergic to eggs. The teacher will discuss with the student how they will stay safe during the baking process.

Student Health Protocols

• Health Condition Alerts: Parents should update the school about their child’s allergies during online registration each year. If diagnosed after registration, changes in the child’s allergies or emergency plan should be communicated to the school nurse.

• Allergy Emergency Action Plan: It is highly recommended that students with life-threatening allergies complete an allergy action plan detailing the child’s allergens and treatment plan. 

• Epipens: It is recommended that students with life-threatening allergies have a personal epipen at school. The epipens must have a prescription label and match the allergy action plan. The epipens will be returned to the parent/guardian at the end of the school year or upon request. Stock epipens are stored in the office but may not leave school property. 

  • Recommended secondary students start to self-carry. Forgetful students may want to keep a backup in the office. Even when self-carrying, appropriate paperwork must be kept in the office.

  • To self-carry Epipens, appropriate forms must be on file and the student demonstrates readiness.