Information about Birthdays and Celebrations from our Principal

Below is a message from our principal Dr. Bettesworth. Please read her message about birthdays and celebrations!

Birthdays and Celebrations

As you are aware, Captain John Palliser is a healthy foods and “allergen aware” school. This awareness helps to establish a safer learning environment for students with mild and severe allergies. It also helps us model healthy eating practices for our students. At CJP, we have some students with severe allergies to food and non-food items. In order to continue ensuring a healthy, safe, and inclusive environment for all students, we ask you to reconsider sending food treats for birthdays and other celebrations to school. I am asking you to help me emphasize the fun over the food in a celebration. To that end, we will not be using food to celebrate birthdays.

I appreciate that birthdays and other holidays are important to every child and they like to celebrate with their classmates. However, sending in a food treat to the classroom can pose a huge risk to the health and safety of students. It can also exclude those children who have severe food allergies, diabetes, or other dietary restrictions.

The CBE also recognizes the importance of students making safe, healthy choices at school and at home. In their ‘Healthy Eating’ statement, the CBE explains,

“Food rewards and treats are often used to give recognition to children and youth because they are quick and easy. However, rewarding children with treats may contradict the healthy eating lessons in the classroom. It can also encourage children to eat outside of regular meal or snack times when they are not even hungry. Many sweet treats can be harmful to children’s dental health and may teach them that food rewards are ‘better’ than regular foods. Recognition in the form of non-food items is recommended.”

There are many alternatives to food treats for your child’s birthday celebration at school, below are some suggestions:

1.    Party favours - bouncy balls, matchbox cars, erasers, tops, magnifying glasses, notepads, balloons, whistles, bubbles, etc). You can get these at a party supply store, dollar store, or on dollar shelves at stores like Wal-Mart and Michaels.

2.    Buy a book as a donation from your child to the class library. He/she can also read it aloud to the class!

3.    Buy something for the classroom (games, music, a craft, plant, etc).

4.    Send an autograph book to school. Have the teacher ask each student to write something nice about the birthday child. The birthday kid gets to take the book home at the end of the day.

5.    Send in supplies and directions for a simple craft for the kids to do instead of eating a snack. It is a bonus if the parent comes in to help with the craft J . Please keep in mind we value our instructional time. This should be a simple craft and this should be done in consultation with the teacher.

6.    Arrange for the kids to play a game instead of eating a snack. If you don’t have any ideas, talk to your child’s teacher. They are likely to know what the kids will enjoy and what will work well in the classroom setting. Again, it is a bonus if the parent comes in to play games with the kids J

7.    Bring in something that all the students can sign as a birthday treat for the birthday child (shirt/sweatshirt, tote bag, autograph stuffed animal, pillow case, etc).

8.    Ask the teacher if you can have a ‘show and tell’ time for your child on his/her birthday. They can make a poster, bring in some of their favourite things, bring pictures, etc.

9.      Send in your child’s favourite appropriate dance song (on a CD or MP3 file) and have the whole class have a mini-dance party!

Thank you for your continued support in our efforts to maintain a healthy and safe learning environment for all students.