Moorestown Restricts Birthday Sweets in Classrooms

Moorestown elementary schools have decided to go sweets-free for students’ birthdays in order to avoid health concerns created by the sugary snacks.

Roberts Elementary School sent a letter to parents earlier this month explaining that, as of Dec. 1, students will no longer be allowed to bring in cupcakes, cookies or “cookie cakes” for birthday celebrations in the classroom.

The letter, which was supplied to Patch by a Roberts parent, explains the new guidelines are meant to “give parents peace of mind that their children will not be given foods of minimal nutritional value while at school, or be exposed to possible life-threatening allergens, as well as allow teachers to focus on educating students that are healthy and ready to learn.”

Acting Superintendent Lynn Shugars said identical guidelines have already been imposed at South Valley and Baker elementary schools. She said the change was partly sparked by an incident at Baker, in which a student ate a snack brought in by another student and had an allergic reaction.

But in a broader sense, Shugars said, the new guidelines are about encouraging an overall healthier school experience. The schools are “held to certain standards in our cafeterias,” she said, so it seemed natural to extend that responsibility to the classroom.

“We found the first couple weeks of school were a revolving door of cakes and all kinds of treats,” she said. “The overall issue is getting the focus off of food.”

Shugars said the feedback principals have received from parents thus far has been mostly positive.

“It’s sort of a ‘bah humbug,’ I guess,” she acknowledged. “But I think (parents) understand our reasons for it.”

Though students will no longer be allowed to distribute sweets, the Roberts letter explains that the school will still celebrate birthdays as follows:

• Students celebrating a birthday will have their names announced each morning and come to the principal’s office to receive their special birthday book.
• Students will have their name and birthday displayed on the main lobby monitor.
• Each grade level will decide how they would like to celebrate birthdays and communicate that information to parents.

Students will still be permitted to eat sweets on an individual basis with their lunch or during a snack break.