No more cupcake parties: School district bans birthday treats

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EDMONDS -- The longtime tradition of a parent bringing juice and sweets to the classroom to celebrate a young one's birthday has been banned in one local school district, with the cupcakes shelved in lieu of  non-edible treats.

The Edmond's School District's Wellness Committee recently banned edible treats in classroom parities, with birthdays and other parties slated to be celebrated with "non-food treats and favors to students."

Instead, food can only be served at three classroom celebrations per year, and must relate to either seasonal, cultural or curriculum oriented activities.

Also, due to the prevalence of students with severe food allergies, foods with nuts or tree nuts are strongly discouraged.

Parties after school hours are not regulated by the new rules.

According to the Everett Herald, the decision was based on nutritional factors and economics. First, it's not healthy for a "cupcake party" to be thrown for every student on their birthday, DJ Jakala, the spokeswoman for the Edmonds School District, told the Herald.

"We're not just talking about one cupcake a year, we're talking about 25 cupcakes a year," she told the Herald. She encouraged parents to bring small trinkets, such as erasers origami favors, instead.

Also, not all families can afford to send treats to school for a birthday celebration, leading those students without the means to feel slightly left out.