The new wellness policy is leaving a sour taste with several Howard County parents, as schools enforce it differently.
“We?re hearing some complaints from parents, and we want to understand why cupcakes can?t come in for birthdays,” county PTA Council President Mary Jane Barbato-Grauso said. “We also want to see some consistency with the policy. Some schools allow the cupcakes and others don?t.”
The policy, which went into effect during the current school year, encourages schools to limit activities that involve food to once a month.
Breads, cakes, cookies and brownies prepared in private homes and unlicensed facilities must not be cream-filled and are allowed after the last lunch period.
Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School in Ellicott City holds birthday celebrations once a month for students, said Diane Mikulis, vice chairwoman of the school board and a parent of a fourth-grader at the school.
“Once a month, we have a birthday bash, and the teachers decide what?s appropriate. We?ve had things like apple slices and caramel,” she said.
Manor Woods Elementary School in Ellicott City has asked parents to stop bringing in the cupcakes for birthdays, according to a letter sent home to parents.
Northfield Elementary School in Ellicott City and Manor Woods encouraged parents to bring in pencils or stickers for the children.
Parents can also donate a book to the school?s media center to honor a child, Northfield Principal Steve Meconi said.
“We are, during Halloween, allowing some treats, but we?re also suggesting that parents bring in healthy snacks,” he said.
Schools spokeswomanPatti Caplan said the school system planned to send out information clarifying the policy.
In the Carroll County public schools, cupcakes are allowed in some schools, but not in others in order to protect children who have allergies, school spokeswoman Carey Gaddis said.
“We?re also encouraging teachers and staff, who have rewarded students with food in the past, to find something else,” she said.
