Birthday Celebrations & Nutrition Policies

We love birthdays at Redwood Shores Elementary! In the past couple of years, we implemented a NO FOOD BIRTHDAY celebration policy.  RSES has a large number of students with nut and other food allergies. We encourage parents to consider participating in non-food celebrations. Parents are encouraged to communicate directly with their child's teacher about how to celebrate. You might send a favorite book to read aloud to the class on your child's special day, or provide any small, low-cost non-food item to celebrate. 

DISTRICT UPDATED WELLNESS AND NUTRITION POLICIES

In April, 2014, BRSSD updated a number of Wellness and Nutrition related policies.  All district policies can be viewed through the School Board tab but our Wellness and Nutrition policies can also be viewed here.

• 3550 - BP - Food Service/Child Nutrition Program - new

• 3550 - AR - Food Service/Child Nutrition Program - new

• 3553 - BP - Free and Reduced Price Meals - revision

• 3553 - AR - Free and Reduced Price Meals - revision

• 3554 - BP - Other Food Sales - revision

• 3554 - AR - Other Food Sales - new

• 3555 - BP - Nutrition Program Compliance - new

• 5030 - BP - Student Wellness - revision

* Note - BP = Board Policy, AR = Administrative Regulations

The Superintendent or designee shall encourage school organizations to use healthy food items and/ or non-food items for fundraising purposes. He/she also shall strongly encourage school staff to avoid the use of non-nutritious foods as a reward for students' academic performance, accomplishments, or classroom behavior. (cf. 1230 - School-Connected Organizations) School staff shall strongly encourage parents/guardians or other volunteers to support the district's nutrition education program by considering nutritional quality and limiting foods or beverages that do not meet nutritional standards when selecting snacks which they may donate for occasional class parties or birthday celebrations. Schools are encouraged to adopt a No-Food Birthdays policy. Class parties or celebrations that include food shall be held after the lunch period when possible. School staff shall strongly discourage students from sharing their foods or beverages with one another during meal or snack times, due to concerns about allergies and other restrictions on some children's diets.