Attendance Line: 403-777-6250  ext. 1

It is important that you call the school if your child is going to be absent or arriving late.  

Illness

To keep our building safe and healthy, please use the COVID Self-Screening tool daily before school.  If your child has any COVID symptoms, please keep them at home and call 811 for further direction. If your child becomes ill during the school day, we will contact you and you will be expected to arrange for your child to be picked promptly.

Accidents & Injuries

In the event of an accident, several courses of action may be taken depending upon the seriousness of the incident.

• Scrapes and scratches, or any injury that can be treated with ice and cleaning with soap and water and a band-aid will be dealt with at the school.
• In the case of sprains, severe cuts, or contusions, home will be notified immediately to decide what actions should be taken.
• In the case of open and or heavily bleeding wounds, broken bones, unconsciousness, etc. the school will call an ambulance and parents immediately. 
• Accident insurance is provided upon request and forms are sent home in September.

Medication

Parents or guardians requesting school assistance with their child’s medical needs are required to complete the following forms.

Student Health Emergency Response Protocol Form

• This form is to be used when there is a student health issue requiring attention. This includes when there is a request to administer medication. 

Student Health Plan

This form is to be:

• completed if a physical or medical condition may affect the student’s attendance at school
• completed if medication is to be taken at school
• reviewed and updated annually or sooner if there is a change in the student’s health concern or school registration.

Allergies

We are committed to providing a safe environment that is inclusive for all children. A number of our students have a potentially life-threatening allergy to peanut and tree nuts. Parents of children with allergies must fill out appropriate forms (also available through the office) and ensure the school has the necessary medication on-hand should a reaction occur. Staff is trained annually in the administration of an Epipen. 

What is Anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is the medical term for allergic shock. An allergic reaction to peanuts and nuts can be any or all of the following:

• tingling in the mouth
• hives
• itching
• flushed face, and body
• swelling of eyes, lips, face, and tongue
• tightness in the throat, mouth, and chest
• difficulty breathing and swallowing
• wheezing, coughing, choking
• vomiting and stomach upset
• dizziness and unsteadiness
• loss of consciousness
• coma, and
• death

Some individuals can react to ingesting traces of peanuts or other substances.  Some will even react to touching nuts or peanuts, or even a surface they have been in contact with.

What’s So Special About Peanut Butter?

The particular problems with peanut butter come from its popularity with children and its sticky texture.  While young children with allergies quickly learn how to avoid it, peanut butter may easily get left behind on desks, door handles, etc.

Why Not Just Ban Peanut Products at School?

The Calgary Board of Education policy reflects the fact that trying to ban peanuts, nuts and related products from schools is unrealistic. It would be impossible to demand or guarantee compliance. Even with complete co-operation, it’s too easy to make a mistake, given the wide range of affected foods. A ban could give staff, parents, other students, and most importantly the allergic child, a false sense of security. It is important we work with these children to learn to be responsible in a world that is not peanut free.

What is the School Doing?

At Belfast School, children with identified severe allergies are known to our staff.  Families have ensured that medications are on site, and staff have been trained to recognize symptoms and administer medication.Parents are asked to avoid peanuts and tree nuts for classroom snacks.  When students eat lunch in classrooms all desks are wiped down before classes resume.

At Belfast, student awareness is critical.  Our students know the potential health risk nut products may have for some students.  Most families avoid bringing nut products in their school lunches out of consideration for others, and to minimize the risk for young children learning to deal with a life threatening allergy.

We ask students that do bring peanut butter or other nut products to school.

If peanut butter or other nut products are brought to school, students should let their lunchroom supervisor and their teacher know about the food to ensure that hands and all contacted surfaces are thoroughly cleaned. If students are exposed to allergens they must immediately wash their hands and the surfaces they have touched. School staff will ensure that this occurs to the best of their ability. Teachers, supervisors and facility operators may not be aware that students have brought food with allergens to school or that students have been exposed to them.

Keeping kids safe at lunch     

Each situation is unique. Parents are required to fill out and and submit Student Health Form and/or Student Health Emergency Protocol Form and to consult with school staff about their child's  needs.   School staff will consult with parents to create individualized plans for students with severe allergies. 

The current allergy list includes: peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, milk, eggs, kiwi.