Room Parent Info 2017-2018
Thank you for volunteering to be a Room Parent for your child's classroom. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of your child’s school experience. Room Parents work with the classroom teacher to facilitate and coordinate extra classroom activities.
Communication is key to being an effective Room Parent:
· Communicate with the teacher to understand his/her needs.
· Communicate with the parents so they can volunteer to help meet those needs.
Encourage all parents to be involved in our Tinc Road School community.
Thank you for your willingness to partner with your child's teacher this year. You may contact the Room Parent Coordinator for any help or with concerns:
Coordinator: Dina Miller
Telephone: 973 927-4490
Email:
Tinc Road School 973 927 2203 Ext 4 Office
24 Tinc Road 973 927 2203 Ext 1 Attendance
Flanders, NJ 07836 973 927 2203 Ext 5 Nurse
Guidelines for ALL classroom volunteers
· Information or observations about individual children are to be kept strictly confidential. It is an important obligation to protect each student’s right to privacy. Discuss any specific problems or questions that arise only with that student’s teacher.
· It is the Lead Room Parent’s responsibility to schedule a meeting with the teacher. Conversely, any group of room parents should use the Lead Room Parent as the liaison with the teacher.
· No correspondence may be sent out without prior approval from the teacher or principal.
· When you call parents for volunteer help, go through the class list in rotation. Try to offer opportunities to all parents equally.
· If you are expected to volunteer, but cannot be present, please arrange a substitute. If you cannot find someone to fill your position, please notify your child's teacher and the Lead Room Parent in advance.
· Please make arrangements for your pre-school children. Younger children should not be brought to school during classroom volunteer time.
· A Room Parent’s role does not encompass answering personnel or academic questions. Please refer these subjects to the teacher or principal.
· When you are in the classroom you are there to assist the teacher. You are not there to speak to the teacher about your individual child. If you need to speak to the teacher about your child please arrange for a conference at another time.
LEAD ROOM PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Fall:
Set up a meeting with your teacher to discuss needs for the classroom.
· Lead Parent will set up a schedule of parties with other room parents and teacher
· Discuss dates and times for parties.
· Determine needs for party snacks, beverages, paper products, party favors, craft supplies, allergies, etc.
· Determine if the teacher wants assistance with any other classroom activities.
During your meeting, give your teacher the opportunity to tell you how he/she works best with a Room Parent. Some teachers have very specific plans they wish to implement; others appreciate a Room Parent to take the initiative and plan activities within certain given guidelines.
Shortly after meeting with the teacher:
· Meet with any remaining room parents to review teacher’s needs.
· Draft a letter to parents to introduce yourselves and provide information on volunteer activities coming up (sample attached).
· Have the teacher approve letters prior to distribution.
· Once approved, make copies of letter and place in the teacher’s mailbox for distribution to the children in class.
LEAD ROOM PARENT - ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibilities to be delegated:
· Please notify teacher in advance which volunteers are coming in for a specific event or activity.
· Class Parties - Contact parents to fill all volunteer/supply needs. Send a reminder letter to parents one week prior to event indicating what they have signed up for as a reminder for them.
· Assign a room parent to take pictures of students during class parties or class activities for the yearbook.
· Room Parents may be requested to attend field trips and/or field day
· Teacher Gifts (Suggestion) – Twice a year (Winter Holidays and End of the Year), the Lead Room Parent will send home letters to give parents an opportunity to contribute to group teacher gifts. It is the Lead Room Parent’s responsibility to collect money and keep accounting of the room’s total. It is the Lead Room Parent’s responsibility to purchase any gifts.
· Contact new parents as they move in. Introduce yourself as the Lead Room Parent and as a contact for classroom information, opportunities to participate in the class, etc. Send home Classroom Welcome Letter.
Room Parent Coordinator Responsibilities
Be available to answer questions from Room Parents (provide telephone number and/or email address to all Room Parents).
September:
· When volunteer sheets return, collate Room Parent volunteer names.
o Prepare final list of Room Parents and phone numbers for distribution.
· Schedule Room Parent Meeting for early Fall
o Book room for meeting
o Notify volunteers of their position by e-mail and advise of meeting date
o Prepare copies for hand-out at meeting (Room Parent Handbook and attachments).
· Help moderate Room Parent Meeting
· If no one volunteers in advance to be the Lead Room Parent, the room parents should decide among themselves who the lead will be and then notify the Room Parent Coordinator who the group has selected as Lead. A Lead Room Parent must be selected.
Room Parent Handbook