School charity fund creates snack snafu
‘Frozen Fridays’ treats program divides parents over financial and health concerns
A charitable initiative at a Toronto elementary school has some students and parents feeling left out in the cold.
“Frozen Fridays” is an idea started by teachers and students at Yorkview Public School. Students donate a minimum of $10 and in return receive four frozen treats, one each Friday during June.
The funds are to be devoted to charitable causes, such as Nepal relief and autism research.
Some parents say the initiative has backfired and, rather than inspiring a charitable spirit, it has separated classes between students who can afford the treats and those who cannot.
“Lots of parents paid because they felt pressured,” said Georgia Nitescu, whose daughter is in Grade1at the school. “They said, ‘I cannot do this to my child. I don’t want my child to just sit there and watch.’ ”
According to Nitescu, the frozen treats have prompted jealousy and peer pressure, dividing classmates.
She adds that it’s not only the students who are being driven apart, but their parents as well.
Some parents say the treats are fine, but others disagree based on financial or health concerns.
“Now the school is divided, now parents are yelling at each other, and it’s a very negative atmosphere,” Nitescu said.
Margaret Gronska, a family doctor who has a child in Grade1at the school said she was “shocked” by the idea of asking for a minimum donation, but with her daughter’s feelings on the line she didn’t feel she had a choice.
“When I started speaking with my daughter about why I disagree with this, she said, ‘What if I’m the only one not eating a popsicle in the class? Everybody is going to laugh at me,’ ” she said. “You give your child $10 to avoid shame.”
But Gronska’s main concern with the treats isn’t the price tag. As a doctor she’s upset about another, longer lasting cost: student health.
“On the first Friday they were giving out those Jumbo Freezies. They have 26 grams of sugar — that’s six and a half teaspoons of sugar,” she said. “They’re putting children’s health at risk for the sake of raising money, and to me that’s just ludicrous.”
The TDSB School Food and Beverage Policy is based on provincial standards. It specifically lists frozen snacks, including ice cream sandwiches, Freezies and Popsicles as “foods not permitted for sale.”
Yorkview principal Robert Radovski was unavailable for comment despite numerous calls and a visit by the Star.
Instead, Shari Schwartz-Maltz, a spokeswoman for the school board, spoke on behalf of the school. When asked about “Frozen Fridays,” she said that 75 per cent of the families at the school, “the vast majority,” are participating and that the initiative was cleared by the school’s parent council.
Schwartz-Maltz said that any kids who feel left out because of financial reasons could phone the principal and accommodations would be made.
She added that every school does fundraisers such as pizza and hotdog days. As for health concerns and the fact that the frozen snacks are prohibited according to the Food and Beverage Policy, she said: “It’s the summer, it’s a treat.”
Nitescu said parents have contacted the principal and school superintendent, Linda Curtis, numerous times and proposed alternatives, such as providing healthy snacks such as watermelon instead, and bringing alternative snacks for the other kids who aren’t participating and may feel left out.
School administrators have listened to parental concerns but has not made any changes.
With one “Frozen Friday” left, Nitescu said, there’s still time for change.
“We feel that when treats are promoted in an environment with young kids, like a school, it’s not kind to exclude a child from the treat, it doesn’t matter what the reason.”