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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, January 21, 2016 | 28 education We invite you to visit Dearcroft Montessori's beautiful campus for our annual OIS Winter Open House on Saturday, Jan. 23 from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Join us to learn more about how a Montessori education can benefit your child We live in dynamic and volatile times. The buzzword it would seem is adapt. Keep up or be left behind. Today, successful people tend to be fearless, innovative, collaborative and resourceful. Those who have learned to connect the dots. Education has increasingly become a field of teaching life skills beyond the three Rs. We'll always need our reading, writing and arithmetic but beyond that we need to be worldly, capable of identifying new trends, open to new ideas and skilled and confident enough to act quickly. Due to its unique ability to identify and nurture individual special advertising feature Dearcroft: Canada's leader in Managing allergic reactions at school elementary experiential education strengths, a Montessori education does a remarkable job of creating graduates who go on to change the world. The founders of Google, Amazon and Wikipedia are fine examples of innovative, creative and fearless entrepreneurs who started their academic journey in Montessori classrooms. They never stopped learning and they continue to push boundaries, creating exciting new paradigms within their chosen fields. Their business cultures are outstanding examples of meaningful change, and as individuals they have emerged as world ambassadors of inspired leadership. A global movement in education, Montessori was originally established in Italy over a century ago by Dr. Maria Montessori. Since its inception, Montessori has become a popular choice in Canada. In fact, one of our country's longest serving Montessori schools is here in Oakville. Dearcroft, the third oldest independent school in our community and the original Montessori program in Oakville, has produced outstanding graduates since 1968. As pioneers in our country's Montessori movement and family owned for nearly half a century, we have remained true to the core values of Dr. Montessori's remarkable vision. We have outstanding staff members who are consistent, reliable and caring. We offer a dynamic and exciting curriculum. Also home to award -winning Expedition Education and West Wind Jr. High, our toddler to Grade 8 school community is warm and inviting. Contact Dearcroft Montessori at 905-844-2114 or info@dearcroft-montessori.com. By Robert Ridge Whether eating in the lunchroom or playing team sports, navigating food allergies at school can sometimes be hard for kids. Symptoms of a food-allergy reaction can range from a mild, itchy rash to a rapidly progressing, potentially deadly attack called anaphylaxis (which involves a dangerous drop in blood pressure and swelling inside the throat)--and there's no way to predict the severity. The allergens most apt to cause these reactions are insect stings, latex and foods (peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, etc.). Food allergies in kids are a bigger problem today than ever before, having become more common, longer lasting and more severe. Approximately 2.5 million Canadians are allergic to at least one food. The incidence is highest among young children, with close to six percent affected by a food allergy, according to Food Allergy Canada. What can you do to protect your severely allergic child at school? There's been growing awareness of the seriousness of severe allergies. For example, the Ontario government passed Sabrina's Law in 2005, which makes it mandatory for the province's publicly funded schools to have programs in place to protect kids at risk of anaphylaxis. It mandates that staff receive training in recognizing the symptoms and dealing with emergencies. Education is not a race.... It's a lifelong journey with friends Saturday January 23 10am - 2pm OPEN HOUSE Your Natural Choice Since 1968 Dearcroft Montessori School 1167 Lakeshore Rd. E. Oakville, Ontario L6J 1L3 (905) 844-2114 Toddler to Grade 8 www.dearcroft-montessori.com · www.westwindms.com Here are some tips to keep allergic children safe at school: 1. Maintain a constant line of communication with the school. You should inform school staff of your child's diagnosis and its cause. Many of them may be experienced in dealing with children who have allergies, however, it is still important to talk to them about the unique circumstances of your child's condition. Take the time to explain the primary triggers, how long a reaction takes to come on, how to deal with the reaction, how to calm your child and any other variables which you have discovered from parenting your child through a reaction. And remember to communicate with all potential caregivers - bus drivers, after-school program employees, athletic coaches, and babysitters all need to understand the proper protocol to follow to keep your child safe. 2. Have an Allergy Action Plan. When a child is having an allergic reaction, every second counts. An Allergy Action Plan helps ensure that teachers, the school nurse, and administrators immediately know what to do in case your child has an allergic reaction. Your child's Allergy Action Plan should cover all settings in which the child spends significant time during the school day. 3. Provide medication. If your child requires allergy medication -- such as an antihistamine, inhaler, or epinephrine auto-injector -- find out where the medication will be stored. When kept at school, auto-injectors must be in a safe but unlocked location. As soon as is ageappropriate, students should carry autoinjectors themselves. All school personnel must know where to find the allergic student's auto-injector. When you send medication to school, make sure it's properly labeled, that it hasn't expired, and that your child, school nurse and his teachers know how and when to use it. 4. Educate your child. Children with allergies should learn what they're allergic to and understand the fact that they can have an allergic reaction if exposed to these triggers. Kids with food allergies should know what foods are safe and unsafe for them, and to never share food with friends or eat anything if they're not sure what's in it. If your kids are still young, you can play games to help them learn about potential allergens at school. 5. Enroll your child in a program like MedicAlert. In panic mode, school staff may not remember all the details about your child's condition. A MedicAlert bracelet, which is supported by a 24/7 emergency hotline, allows school staff and paramedics to quickly identify your child's allergies and medical history to make informed decisions about how to care for him or her during an emergency. In times of crisis, a MedicAlert ID, backed by your child's personalized electronic health record can help speak for your kid when he or she can't. MedicAlert will even contact a loved one, keeping them up-todate about the medical emergency. The peace of mind it brings is priceless. Arm your kids and teachers with the allergy smarts to minimize their risks in a world that will never be completely free of potential hazards. This will ensure that your kids leave the nest equipped to face challenges on their own. Robert Ridge is the President and CEO of MedicAlert Foundation Canada, the largest membership-based registered charity in Canada and leading provider of emergency medical information services to Canadians.