Room Parents

roomparent Thank you for volunteering to be a Robert Frost Room Parent! The teachers, students, and the PTA appreciate your work. Below you will find our procedures and suggestions that will help make your job successful. Also, you may download this information here.

For any Event, Remember these Guidelines:
When sending letters home via hard copy they must be approved by Ms. Berka (please allow for 2+ days). You may use the directory to email parents (should come out in October). Never turn down volunteers. You can always use extra hands! Use the Room Parent Fund: Each classroom has $75 for the year ($25 per party). Utilize these funds before asking for a ton of donations!!! As parents, we are constantly being asked for money and so the PTA board has budgeted money to offset the cost of the classroom parties. ASK for help! You do not need to do it alone AND people often expect to be asked. Sometimes people want to help but they are afraid to put themselves out there as well. Utilizing online sign-ups is an easy and great way to organize! The PTA has used SignUp Genius for many events. Volunteer spot also has a sign up and room parent portal. Need ideas? The Internet is full of them–you can spend hours just checking out the Pinterest website and TeachersPayTeachers has MANY free games and ideas and you don’t have to be a teacher to use it!

For any Event, Remember these Guidelines:

When sending letters home via hard copy they must be approved by Ms. Berka (please allow for 2+ days).
You may use the directory to email parents (should come out in October).
Never turn down volunteers. You can always use extra hands!
Use the Room Parent Fund: Each classroom has $75 for the year ($25 per party). Utilize these funds before asking for a ton of donations!!! As parents, we are constantly being asked for money and so the PTA board has budgeted money to offset the cost of the classroom parties.
ASK for help! You do not need to do it alone AND people often expect to be asked. Sometimes people want to help but they are afraid to put themselves out there as well. Utilizing online sign-ups is an easy and great way to organize! The PTA has used SignUp Genius for many events. Volunteer spot also has a sign up and room parent portal.
Need ideas? The Internet is full of them–you can spend hours just checking out the Pinterest website and TeachersPayTeachers has MANY free games and ideas and you don’t have to be a teacher to use it!

Room Parents are Responsible for the Overall Coordination of:
Fall Party (Monday, October 31^st, 2:30 PM): Please keep with a fall theme as much as possible. Students will participate in a costume parade around the school. Parents are invited to attend and take pictures. Winter Party (Wednesday, December 21^st, 2:45 PM): Please avoid references to holidays and instead focus on the winter season. Valentine’s Day Party (Tuesday, February 14^th, 2:45 PM): Hearts, love, cupid, pink, and red…you get it! Talk with the teacher because some like to pass out Valentine’s cards during the party–some do it before. End of the Year Party: This is not a “school-wide” event, but you may ask the teacher if they’d like a mini-celebration or if you have any funds left over, think about popsicles for Field Day.

Room Parents are Responsible for the Overall Coordination of:

Fall Party (Monday, October 31^st, 2:30 PM): Please keep with a fall theme as much as possible. Students will participate in a costume parade around the school. Parents are invited to attend and take pictures.
Winter Party (Wednesday, December 21^st, 2:45 PM): Please avoid references to holidays and instead focus on the winter season.
Valentine’s Day Party (Tuesday, February 14^th, 2:45 PM): Hearts, love, cupid, pink, and red…you get it! Talk with the teacher because some like to pass out Valentine’s cards during the party–some do it before.
End of the Year Party: This is not a “school-wide” event, but you may ask the teacher if they’d like a mini-celebration or if you have any funds left over, think about popsicles for Field Day.

Classroom Parties:

Scheduled from 2:45-3:15 PM (EXCEPTION: the fall party will begin at 2:30 PM because of the “costume parade” but the individual celebration will still begin at 2:45 PM). Only 30 minutes of activities–should be finished by the 1^st bell at 3:15 pm…often times this is a craft, game, and possible snack (see attached ideas). If the room parents decide to have food…communicate with the teacher! There are food allergies in MOST classes!!! Some classes are “food free” so PLEASE check! Drinks: Westerville City Schools has a contract with PepsiCo. All soda or water purchased with allocated room parent funds needs to be Pepsi products (includes Aquafina water). Better yet…offer a pitcher of water–it’s free!! Latex: Please avoid balloons unless they are latex free.

Classroom Parties:

Scheduled from 2:45-3:15 PM (EXCEPTION: the fall party will begin at 2:30 PM because of the “costume parade” but the individual celebration will still begin at 2:45 PM).
Only 30 minutes of activities–should be finished by the 1^st bell at 3:15 pm…often times this is a craft, game, and possible snack (see attached ideas).
If the room parents decide to have food…communicate with the teacher! There are food allergies in MOST classes!!! Some classes are “food free” so PLEASE check!
Drinks: Westerville City Schools has a contract with PepsiCo. All soda or water purchased with allocated room parent funds needs to be Pepsi products (includes Aquafina water). Better yet…offer a pitcher of water–it’s free!!
Latex: Please avoid balloons unless they are latex free.

Room Parent PTA Funds:
The PTA has budgeted $75 per classroom (not party) for miscellaneous expenses. For reimbursement: Completely fill out a green reimbursement form Attach appropriate receipt(s) Put in treasurer’s mailbox (white cubby above the sign-in desk)–Megan Anzur PLEASE NOTE: we cannot reimburse for tax…if you have a large purchase that will be taxed you may contact Megan or Angie to borrow a “tax exempt” card

Room Parent PTA Funds:

The PTA has budgeted $75 per classroom (not party) for miscellaneous expenses. For reimbursement:

Completely fill out a green reimbursement form
Attach appropriate receipt(s)
Put in treasurer’s mailbox (white cubby above the sign-in desk)–Megan Anzur
PLEASE NOTE: we cannot reimburse for tax…if you have a large purchase that will be taxed you may contact Megan or Angie to borrow a “tax exempt” card

Holiday and/or End-of-the-Year Class Gift for the Teacher:
You cannot use designated “room parent funds” to purchase a class gift for the teacher. You may ask families if they would like to contribute to a class gift for the teacher. Please see the “All About Me” survey located in the folder for some great ideas!

Teacher Appreciation Week (the first full week in May):
	Help make your teacher’s week special: You may wish to organize little treats for your teacher. These treats can even be free items like a note from the student or a flower from your garden (see sample letter). Lunches in the Teacher’s Lounge: We will organize a lunch each day during teacher appreciation week. We may reach out to Room Parents to help bring in requested items and/or recruit additional volunteers. Always remember to double or triple your recipe!!!

Teacher Appreciation Week (the first full week in May):

Help make your teacher’s week special: You may wish to organize little treats for your teacher. These treats can even be free items like a note from the student or a flower from your garden (see sample letter).
Lunches in the Teacher’s Lounge: We will organize a lunch each day during teacher appreciation week. We may reach out to Room Parents to help bring in requested items and/or recruit additional volunteers. Always remember to double or triple your recipe!!!

Other Ways You Can Make a Positive Impact as a Room Parent:
Report your volunteer hours! Shopping, planning and party day all count toward volunteer hours. Please report them each month. See volunteer log in folder or email your hours directly to Kelly Wesolowski at klwesolowski@yahoo.com. Support PTA programs and events throughout the year! Come to the PTA meetings: We only hold 3 throughout the year…September, January, and May! Have fun and work with all of the volunteers! Remember we are here for the kids and we need to be good role models.

Other Ways You Can Make a Positive Impact as a Room Parent:

Report your volunteer hours! Shopping, planning and party day all count toward volunteer hours. Please report them each month. See volunteer log in folder or email your hours directly to Kelly Wesolowski at klwesolowski@yahoo.com.
Support PTA programs and events throughout the year!
Come to the PTA meetings: We only hold 3 throughout the year…September, January, and May!
Have fun and work with all of the volunteers! Remember we are here for the kids and we need to be good role models.