Dear Incoming Kindergarten Parents,
We are always looking for class parents at Washington School! Please see below a detailed list of your role and responsibilities.
If you are interested in signing up, please fill out your 2012/2013 volunteer sheets or email Melissa Goetz at [email protected]
1. Class Parent role and responsibilities
2. Notice to parents to introduce yourselves and collect money
3. Party signup sheet to be used at Back to School Night
4. Reminder notice to parents who signed up to contribute to class parties (to use prior to parties)
5. PSO Frequently Asked Questions
6. Important Phone Numbers
7. Class Parent List
8. Information on Food Allergies
We hope that you will find your experience as Class Parent to be fun and rewarding!
Sincerely yours,
The PSO Board.
Melissa Goetz, Co-President – [email protected] Sue Blackfeld, Co-President – [email protected] Brenda Moderacki, Secretary- [email protected] Donna Hanson, Treasurer – [email protected] Debbie Levy, Co-Cultural Enrichment – [email protected] Jen Montalbano, Co-Cultural Enrichment – [email protected] Class Parent Roles and Responsibilities
First Two Weeks of School (Sept. 6-21)
Schedule a meeting with the teacher to discuss the upcoming year and decide how many parties there will be.
Distribute class parent letter to families to introduce yourselves as Class Parents.
Back to School Night – October 2, 2012
We recommend that the class parents set up a table in the classroom.
1. Remind parents to send in their PSO dues, class party dues, and fundraiser basket donation to the PSO Treasurer. (You need the party dues for your parties, so strongly remind them to send it in if they haven’t already.)
2. Ask parents to sign-up for class party contributions. Use Class Party Contributions Sign-Up Sheet.
3. Ask parents to identify any food allergies that their children have.
Throughout the Year
Managing Money and Record-Keeping
The PSO Treasurer will provide you with the class party dues that were collected at the beginning of the year. As class parents, you will need to manage this money for the class parties for the entire school year. Figure out how many parties you will have (see Class Parties section below) and divide your money by the number of parties to know how much you can spend on each party. Use the class party contributions to minimize costs (see collection sheet for Back to School Night.)
Class Trips
One of the perks of being a Class parent is that you are invited to attend class trips! They are fun and your child will love having you there. If you are not able to attend a class trip, please arrange for another parent to attend in your place. Siblings are not permitted to attend class trips. We have included on the Class Party Contribution Sign-up Sheet, a spot for parents to contribute snacks and drinks for class trips.
Class Parties
It is up to the teacher and class parents to determine when and how to have class parties. Please coordinate with your teacher at the beginning of the school year, and well in advance of each party so that all details are agreed upon. Class Parents organize the party, including food, who’s bringing what, volunteers to help, and activities. Request parents to sign up for class party contributions at Back to School Night and remind them in advance of each party. (Sample sign-up sheet and reminder notice are enclosed in Class Parent folder.) Remember to plan at the beginning of the year how you will divide up the class party money for all the parties throughout the year so that you have enough funds for all the parties you plan. Typical (but not required – it is up to you and the teacher) parties for the different grade levels are:
K-2: Halloween, December Holidays, Valentine’s Day, Year-end
3-5: Halloween, December Holidays, Year-end
For the Fifth Grade, the year-end party is a “Moving Up Celebration.” Money for this is raised through fundraisers coordinated by the Fifth Grade Team. As a Grade 5 Class Parent you are not responsible for the planning of this event unless you choose to be on the Fifth Grade Team as well.
A few notes to remember:
1. Before planning any parties, discuss with the teacher the date and time, the type of party they prefer, your role and the teacher’s role at the party, length of the party, snacks, and activities.
2. We suggest that you avoid combining classes for parties, unless ALL class parents agree in the beginning of the year, and agree on who contributes what, and roles each class parent will play.
3. Communicate with other class parents in your grade at the beginning of the year to share ideas and perhaps buy in bulk (e.g. Oriental Trading).
4. Be very careful about food allergies in your class. If a child has a food allergy, please speak with the parent in advance to make sure the snacks are ok, and get approval by the parent. See handout on Children with Food Allergies for more information. The School Nurse is also a resource if you have questions about food allergies.
Committee
As a class parent, you will be required to sign up for at least 1 committee in addition to their role as class parent. Please mark your Volunteer Sheet with your choice(s) and return your sheet to the school or via email to [email protected].
Spring Fundraiser Basket
The PSO holds its major fundraiser each spring. One of the ways that this fundraiser makes money is through a “Tricky Tray Raffle.” Each class contributes a theme basket to this event. The PSO Treasurer will provide you with cash after all the checks have been collected. As class parents, you will use the money from the parents to create a basket based on a particular theme. (For example, themes in the past have included gardening, beach accessories, cooking, books sports, etc.) This is a fun way to be creative and contribute to the school. Note: they are called “baskets” but many of them do not include an actual basket. It’s up to you!
Teacher Gifts
It is up to the class parents to decide if they want to collect money for teacher gifts (December and end of year). Many parents feel that this is the best way to provide a nice gift for the teacher (instead of a bunch of little gifts), and it makes it a little easier for the parents. It is completely up to you whether you want to do this or not. If you decide to collect money for the class gifts you can do it at the beginning of the year or during the year. Whatever works for you!
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!