so i went on a tour to BS and saw the food. IT doesn’t look that bad, some actually looks quite pleasing. The tour guide told me that that one of the boarders doesn’t even eat the food at all since he is from Isreal and only likes his food. I am pescetarian (no meat except fish and whatnot) and i want to know if your experiences are different. What snacks should i bring?
Food is pretty good at BS but eating from the same kitchen everyday can get monotonous, whether BS, college, the workplace cafeteria.
As far as what to bring, unless you have some treats you crave that are only available locally to you, don’t sweat it. Most schools have grocery stores close by or school stores on campus that sell snacks. I do recommend an Amazon Prime membership and you can always order all kinds of stuff from them with 2 day delivery. And the package slip will clear the cobwebs out of your mailbox.
Anyone have experience with food allergies in boarding school (ie, peanut/nut allergies)?
For students, do you know kids that have food allergies? Do you see food with nuts at meals?
Thanks!
They will accommodate a child with a food allergy on and off campus. For example- at off campus athletic events parents ( who bring food to a regatta or something ) are informed via email ( in big bold print ) that there’s an allergy. They haven’t lost anyone yet ( I’m not being flip it’s the truth) … and I’ve known kids with severe food allergies and others with very unique and strict dietary needs.
I remember during the first week of school a new Third Former turned to K2 in line and said : I heard the Chefs here were trained at the Culinary Institute!
K2 ( placing his hand on the new student’s shoulder ) : Yes, but did they graduate?
And- you gotta love how they trot out the cupcake trolley during Revisit Day or Parents Weekend. Now you know why everyone seems so happy. 
If I had to identify one meal my kids loved - it has to be Breakfast for Dinner. It’s really hard to screw up breakfast…
My daughter is allergic to soy, some raw fruits, and does not eat dairy and they are very accommodating. The dining hall employees are even very aware of her allergy and they will tell her if she should not eat something (or won’t serve it to her). There are always many options, even down to milk - cow milk, soy milk, almond milk etc.
@dutch2274 @PhotographerMom Thank you! This calms my fears significantly, about my food allergic son (nut allergy). My other worry is the remoteness of schools to the hospital. Any thoughts on that? Thinking about Mercersburg and Blair.
@sunnyschool Oh yes, I do! my daughter actually found out she was allergic to soy at school. They administered epi pen and she ended up being transported. I asked her after if the were “panicking” at all, and she said not at all, there were 2-3 staff members with her and they all wanted to do the injection; my daughter did not have epi pen at time. They were on phone with nurse. She said it was all calm and they are used to dealing with it. Someone rode in ambulance with her too.
Though I am not anaphylactic, I noticed that Hotchkiss had emergency epi pens under every fire alarm (that I saw). This appeared to me as a large step towards being allergy-conscious
@sunnyschool - I would call the Health Center at both schools and ask that question.
@dutch2274 that is great! (Some public schools won’t send a staff member with the child in ambulance, even little kids!). I’m relieved they handled it so well.
@zeebee619 That’s good protocol by Hotchkiss! Thanks for sharing that!
@PhotographerMom - I had been afraid to mention the allergy until he is admitted - but do you think i can call the Health Center anonymously?
@sunnyschool You didn’t ask me, but as a medical professional and a parent of a child (GoatKid2) with special health needs, I will offer my unsolicited advice. I would make sure to ask these questions while identifying myself and BEFORE my child is admitted. If the school is not equipped to deal with his special health needs, or is not willing to deal with his health needs, I don’t want him at that school, admitted or not. It’s just not safe. Sorry for butting in…
Some schools - SPS is one - have a nutritionist on staff who can be a good resource for dietary and allergy concerns.
@GoatMama Correct…but I’d like to see whether he gets in or not on his merits.
For Mercersburg, there are hospitals in Hagerstown, MD and Chambersburg. And neither Mercersburg nor Blair would reject your kid based on allergies or hold it against you for inquiring. 
Our day student just texted a picture of her lunch and her dad, in from out of state, claimed, “coming right over!” and he did!!!