Newspaper Page Text
August 20, 2008
aBgporter
PAGE 7A
Peanut
August 11, 2008
REVISED
To: Parents of Students at Hubbard Elementary School
Fronu Angela S. Dillon, Principal
Michelle R. Windham, Assistant Principal
Fletcher Johnson, Assistant Principal
This year we have three students who are highly allergic to peanuts and peanut
products. This allergy is so serious that our faculty has been trained to recognize the
symptoms of an allergic reaction and how to use the Epi-Pen, i f necessary. One of these
students is so sensitive: to peanut products that they are aiTected by air bom allergens. We
respectfully request that you not bring any peanuts or peanut products into the school.
Many food products have a derivative of peanuts in them, but these are listed on the
package, if you have any questions, please ted free to contact us at (478) 994-7066.
We appreciate your understanding and support.
This revised letter went out to Hubbard Elementary School parents
on Aug. 11 with the words “peanut-free school” removed.
mother of a 4-K student at
Hubbard, said she's not
happy about it.
"The letter was almost
intimidating," said
Blackwell. Blackwell said
the letter was so strong
that many parents
assumed they were barred
from sending any peanut
products, when that is not
the case. The school sent
home a revised letter on
Aug. 11 which removed the
words a peanut-free zone,
said Blackwell.
An EMT who's treated
patients in allergic shocks,
Blackwell said it's insane
for the school to expect 900
sets of parents to change
their child's diet instead of
requiring the parents of
the three kids with peanut
allergies to be more
responsible for what needs
to be done.
"We have to be reason
able," said Blackwell. For
instance, said Blackwell, if
a students is allergic to
wheat, is the school going
to ban bread? And if one is
allergic to dairy products,
should they ban milk?
Blackwell said she met
with superintendent Dr.
Anthony Pack last week
and he assured her school
officials will not act as the
peanut police, and that
parents can send peanut
products.
Dillon said she's gotten
some calls from parents
upset about the request,
but said the school tries to
explain the reasoning
behind it. She said the no
peanut policy is a request
but is not mandatory.
Abby Sinyard, mother of
Hubbard kindergartner
Lilly Sinyard, agreed some
parents are upset about
the policy because peanut
butter is so popular. But
she said one of her best
friend's kids has a severe
peanut allergy so she
understands. Plus, she
said her daughter prefers a
baloney sandwich every
day.
Hubbard has also set up
peanut free zones in places
like the media center, the
gym, music room and art
room. Dillon says these
areas are much more easi
ly monitored than the cafe
teria.
Students and staff with
severe allergies normally
carry an Epi-Pen with
them, said Dillon, and
teachers whose classes
have children with severe
allergies and school nurses
receive Epi-Pen training
each year.
Dr. Richard Bazemore,
principal at T.G. Scott, said
his school quit offering
peanut products in their
cafeteria last year after a
Suspect
from the front page
will know more about the
severity of his injuries once
the swelling goes down.
The suspect fled toward
Monticello where the
Caprice Classic was recov
ered on the side of Hwy.
83.
The suspect is described
as a black male, about 23-
25 years old, with black
hair and brown eyes,
between 5-foot-8 to 6 feet
tall and weighing between
160-170 pounds.
Maj. Matt Perry of the
Forsyth Police Department
said they have some leads
but don't have a suspect
yet. Perry said he doesn't
think the Aug. 10 shooting
is related to another armed
auto theft of a Chevy
Caprice "box car" at Grits
Cafe on July 10. Suspects
in both cases were said to
be young black males
wearing white T-shirts and
white bandannas. Both
carjackings took place
around 9:30 p.m. on the
10th day of the month.
Perry said he doesn’t think
the cases are gang-related.
Neither case has been
solved.
Perry said some cars are
stolen more often than oth
ers, and the “hot” car
appears to be Chevy
Caprice in Forsyth. In
Macon, said Perry, Hondas
are the most-stolen car.
Perry said owners of Chevy
Caprices should look out
for the surroundings and
be sure to lock their doors.
He said while there's gen
erally less crime in Forsyth
than in Macon, Forsyth is
growing and with that
growth comes more crime.
Meanwhile, family mem
bers have set up an
account at Piedmont Bank
and the Mary Persons
Touchdown Club has set
one up at Monroe County
Bank to raise funds to help
the Glovers recover med
ical fees. The public is
invited to contribute.
If anyone has any infor
mation in the case please
call Forsyth police at 994-
6022 or the Monroe County
Sheriffs Office at 478-994-
7043.
Rally
continued from the front page
the wider community. She said they're sending personal
invitations to all school employees, including custodians
and bus drivers, asking them to attend.
MP head coach Rodney Walker will also speak about
what his faith means to him.
After they're done at the football stadium, organizers
plan to join hands and form a circle around the board
office and pray for the top administrators of the school
system.
On Thursday night, MP will host the annual Gold Rush
pep rally at Pitts Stadium in preparation for Friday's
home opener against Morgan County. The Reporter will
publish its annual football preview in next week’s edi
tion.
continued from the front page
student had a seizure
induced by a peanut aller
gy. He said that has elimi
nated the problem.
"So far what we put in
place seems to be working
pretty good," said
Bazemore.
Bazemore said he hasn't
asked parents not to send
peanut products in kids'
snacks or lunches. But he
said teachers are very
aware which students have
a peanut allergy and they
keep them from getting too
close to any peanut prod
ucts.
As for Blackwell, she
says she still sends peanut
butter sandwiches to
Hubbard with her child.
She noted it's one of the
most nutritious and eco
nomical foods around, and
that’s in many items such
as granola bars and even
things cooked in peanut
oil.
Blackwell said she's stud
ied the issue and said
there's no case of the mere
scent of peanuts causing
dangerous anaphylactic
seizures in children. In
fact, she said even the
Food Allergy and
Anaphylaxis Network does
not recommend a total ban
on peanut products in
schools, but rather working
with individual students
with allergies to ensure
they're not around
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