ROOM PARENT MEETING
Thank you for volunteering!
You are making a difference in your child’s school experience.
Responsibilities
· Collect party money from your class.
· Oversee planning and running of classroom parties. Delegate tasks to parents who are on the Room Parent Committee.
· Coordinate recognition and/or gift for teacher’s birthday.
· Provide Popsicles for class after the Raccoon Run on October 4, 2013.
· Help the yearbook committee to ensure that each class has adequate photos for the yearbook.
· Coordinate flowers for the teacher(s) for grade level musical performances.
· Help celebrate your teacher during Teacher Appreciation Days…March 18-20, 2013.
Special Responsibilities by Grade Level:
· First Grade Room Parents (as a group) plan a Polar Express Holiday Party.
· Third Grade Room Parents help teachers organize the 50’s Sock Hop.
· Fifth Grade Room Parents organize the Holiday Brunch at the Clubhouse in December.
· Sixth Grade Room Parents organize the pool party at the Clubhouse in May. Continuation is at the end of May and a 6th grade memory book is put together. Talk to the teachers about setting up a committee for these all-important events. Sixth grade parties are usually held as a grade in the cafeteria. Make sure to do a building use
form ASAP.
Plan of Action
· Introduce yourselves to the teacher and discuss your teacher’s preferences.
o Verify class list with teacher. Ask about any allergies.
o Ask about class party traditions that should be considered (1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th grade special parties). Some higher grade teachers like to do parties as a grade.
o Ask the Teacher for a parent email list. Some teachers will not provide it because it is considered private information.
· Send out “Party Money” request forms. It is an excellent “visual reminder” to send an envelope home in the Friday folder so that parents can return the money in this. Ask parents to include their email on the returned envelope. Have checks made out to one room parent, who will keep track of expenses. Save all receipts!
· Consider asking for a few extra dollars to be included in the check so that you do not need to go back again and ask for money for teacher appreciation.
· Send out “Reminder” forms one time only. Some families may not pay.
· Money collected is for classroom parties only. It should not be used for birthday gifts for the teachers. If you have leftover money, consider a special snack or pizza party for the last week of school.
· Use Office Depot for copies. Make sure to tell them that you are part of the GRE PTA in order to get the special GRE PTA pricing. You are not required to pay tax. At Office Depot, their tax-free account number for GRE PTA is 12206779.
· Plan Parties--Halloween Party on Thursday , October 31, 2013 at 8:30am and Holiday Season Party on Friday, December 20, 2013 at 1:45….
o Meet with teachers before each party to discuss plans. Some teachers want to be more involved than others. Parties usually consist of food and drink (donated by parents or purchased with party money), a game or activity, and a craft related to the party theme. Run it past the teacher for approval. Familyfun.com has party and craft ideas. Steve Spangler’s website also has great scientific ideas.
o Send out a party request for needed items either through email or send party request forms home in the Friday folders.
o Signupgenius.com is an excellent resource for party planning. Parents sign up for their specific item and a reminder email is sent out a few days before the event.
o Assign the items needed to the parents that offered to help.
o If you need to use the cafeteria or gym for a party (3rd grade for Sock Hop, 6th grade parties), please check with the office first and fill out building request form.
· Recognize teacher’s birthday as you see appropriate.
· Bring flowers for grade level musical performances. Coordinate with the other room parents in your grade...2nd grade is 11/8/13…Kindergarten is 12/5/13…6th grade is 12/11/13…3rd grade is 2/12/14…4th grade is 2/28/14…1st grade is 4/30/14…
5th grade is 5/9/14.
· Help the yearbook committee to make sure that each class has adequate photos for the yearbook.
· Coordinate Teacher Appreciation Days…March 17, 18, 19, 2014… Ideas include…
o Coffee, a small snack, or lunch
o Buy a vase and have each child bring a flower to create a bouquet
o Each child brings a piece of fruit or a favorite type of candy
o A mini-album where each child fills out a page….examples include… “Teacher X makes me feel like a star when…” “If Teacher X were an animal, they would be a…”
o The hospitality committee will provide a special lunch during Teacher Appreciation Days on Monday, March 17, 2014. There will also be a breakfast on that Wednesday, March 19, 2014.
o You can collect money for an additional gift.
o Don’t forget to thank the Teacher Aides, (Paraprofessionals), also!
THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!