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For decades. students. teachers and parents have relied on sell- ing sweet treats to raise money for school initiatives. student field trips and cq‘uipmem. ’ llowcver. with the province mandati a new school menu this year that imits the fat. sugat and sodium that can be sold at schools. many elementary and high schools are searching for alternatives to the traditional sweet treat table to raise funds. \brlt Region District School Board health and physical educa- tkm Curriculum cimshhant Char- When it comes to fundraising, many York Region schools are leav- ing the bake sale behind. New rules lead ' to schools searching for new fundraising ideas Stuart Scott Public School student lulinnna Kagam bites into to one of her treats as fellow cupcake dub manbm Iayla Babcock ( from left), Sheridan Kerr. Katie Mari; hian Lunn, Maia Schnale and Maddie Bell look on. Schools balk at using bake sales for fundraising BY TERESA LAICIIPOID tlhlchfardfi’yrmgxom \‘I F I} mianwnsald Schoolsaeemtobeembracmg some at holding non-bake bake salestosaymeydonidobakcsalcs anymom “Afl little things that are timely thmughout the year." Ms MacPher- Stoufivilie’s Summitvicw Pubw lic School stopped bake sales last year afler a parent of a child with a nut allergy raised conccms over what was being sold. principal lane MacPhemm said. * Instead. the school opted to sell a vatiety of items m raise money. 111eschoolalso‘heldawmterfnix andbasketmme. » Eachclassroomwasgiwnabas- "We couldn’t absolutely for sure say them were no nut products in the things we were selling,” she These included poinsetiias, pumpkinsgihscaldsandgift cards with children'san on them. 89999;..fleliiaz » “Theysecmtobemeivedquite well.’MsM3cphersonsaid. Another Stbuflvifle school. Glad Par-k Public SChOOL still hosts cup- cakelsales fouror fivctimes a year. The music department of Bay,- vlew Secondary School in Rich- mond Hill had to change its tra- ditional fundraiser lava live and Pie because the administration reminded organizers that home- madeplesftomlocalfgmtsand hot chocolate could no longer be sold as they didn't fit the healthy food choices ket theme and children brought in items to fill them. Theschool's mafia! fundraiser, hmr. is food sales Every other Friday, students can buy submarine sande or whole grain piua slices “Ihcy‘re neat. omale and very tasty cupcakes.” principal Terry McElrca said. They have been for a number of years. Mr. McElnea said. The entered: service provided cupcakes to sell that conformed to feinated tea wm provided by Tim Hortons. ’ Despite the menu changes. the event was a sell-out. Other schools still hoid their sales. bu! are opting for healthier choices to ensure they comply with the policy. 111:: Dec. 1 perfonnnncm and fundraiser went ahead. but with modifiedmenu items Schools have 10 days to exempt the-msde from the new menu rules to hoid traditional events, Ms Brown said. ' “Mk art finding a lot of schools aren't using the exemption days and am staying with the spirit of the policy.“ she said. adding most schools. especially elementary. am using the exemptions for cultural night!» While making the transition from bake sales to other fundrajs~ (can. 10-00] cm can be a challenge. she admit- ted most schools are tapping into their smdénts’ creativity and talents to come up with innovative ways to raise funds Many schools are getting the entire student body involved with danc'cathons. rcadathum and mm- mtmity car washes, ' > "This is just the first yea: this has been in play and schools an: still working their way through it." shesfld. . \ Others are Charging for healthy lunch days. hosting silent auctions and selling magazines. gifi wrap- ping and other specialty pn Hum, Al one schnol, students from grades 6. 7 and 8 mm charging 25 cents for hair braids. They muld braid a mm” W'- tiun of hair and put a head .1! the end to raise money for a causv “But I'm sure then: will be mom creative stories to come." -â€" With filafiom Sandra Bolan and Mamm' Berk