Classroom parent $$

[hipchickie]

I misspoke- as ours is actually PTO- and it is very successful- I was involved in the cookbook last year and really it wasn't even necessary. We had more than enough for the programs they sponsor. (An after school science Mr. Science is one of them that's GREAT!) So I don't want to be hating on the PTO. I think they say- 3 parties so that all the kids in the school have the same thing.

If they are going to dictate 3 parties, they need to kick in some of this money they are swimming in.

 

[DawnM]

Well, maybe I am vicious, but I would send out an email with everyone's name listed and a $15 next to yours and the other person who donated. It would be more of an invoice type letter.

That is how our scout troop does it and that is how the administration did it when I was a teacher (to show who had turned in grades and who hadn't done it on time or still needed to turn it in!)

Dawn

 

[tinkerbellmichelle]

I can't imagine being asked to donate $15 for class parties. Especially past grade 6. Not saying I wouldn't but it's not the way we do things here. I think we're always being asked for $$ and donations as it is.


I have no problem signing up and saying I'll bring something. Last year my daughter's teacher made a list and you picked something and brought it in. I thought it worked really well.

Good luck collecting the money. We found when collecting money for the teacher gift (Christmas and year end) last year we had to start asking early, give a deadline and then know that even a week after we'd still be getting money.

We do all our class mom correspondence through email/phone. In fact, our school has switched over to doing almost ALL newsletters and correspondence by email this year.

 

[NYCDiane]

I have to tell you, I used to HATE getting those notes from the "class parents" asking for money. At my daughter's old school, there were 19 kids in the class. They would ask for $20 donation for a "teacher gift" from each person. Excuse me?!?!? $380 for a gift???? I don't think so! They would also ask for $5-$10 for EACH party..... NEVER. I wrote back and said I would be more than happy to send in an item but if I'm going to send in $5-$10 for a party ($80- $190 for a class party???) then I want to see receipts for each and every item purchased. (No, I didn't care what they thought of my notes... maybe they should think about what I thought of THEIR notes)

$15 is still a lot of money. If you have 10 kids in the class, that breaks down to $50 per party. $50 for what??? Chips, juice, cake??? (I could easily do that for a group of 10 on probably less than $20) That's probably why you didn't get a response. Even with your disclaimer that the remaining money will go toward a teacher gift doesn't cut it.

 

[SaraJayne]

The way we do it here (through 8th grade) is the teachers have a sign up sheet with everything listed for the party (cookies, soda, crackers, cheese, etc) and then the kids sign up for what they want to bring.

In the younger grades, the kids are assigned what to bring. If your PTO feels the need to dictate who/what/when/where for the parties, they need to kick in the money for it.

 

[gillenkl]

The way we do it here (through 8th grade) is the teachers have a sign up sheet with everything listed for the party (cookies, soda, crackers, cheese, etc) and then the kids sign up for what they want to bring.

In the younger grades, the kids are assigned what to bring.

This is what my child's school does. If parents do a gift it's something they do on their own. I prefer this method.

I learned along time ago when we were at a different school to avoid being the class parent at all cost! One year no one signed up and I felt obligated - I sent home the holiday letter etc... one person gave me $ and I ended up buying the teacher gift on my own from the whole class. Lesson learned.

 

[couponclary]

First, sorry that no one is helping! I used to teach sixth grade, and I found that most often than not, the kids just don't get the message home to the parents. Not sure if the teacher can give you a class directory due to privacy issues, but ask for email addresses if possible and communicate that way directly with the parents. Hopefully the teacher can reinforce and remind the kids to bring in their items, or the party won't happen! One thing that we do is to use Evite for donations. You can make a list of items to be donated and ask each parent to pick something to send in or indicate in their RSVP that they would prefer to send in a donation to help cover party costs (this also works for accountability because everyone can see what/if they are bringing!). When I taught on a 4 class team, we always divided the classes into beverages/paper goods, salty, sweet, fruit/veggies and rotated for each function which class would bring which items, so maybe you could assign kids in the class that way and rotate for the other parties. This works well because you always have some families that can't (or won't participate) so you have enough participating families to balance the non participating AND you have enough choices in each category to meet every budget. Good luck and thanks for stepping up as room mom!

 

[aprilgail2]

I have to tell you, I used to HATE getting those notes from the "class parents" asking for money. Excuse me?!?!? $380 for a gift???? I don't think so! They would also ask for $5-$10 for EACH party..... NEVER. I wrote back and said I would be more than happy to send in an item but if I'm going to send in $5-$10 for a party ($80- $190 for a class party???) then I want to see receipts for each and every item purchased. (No, I didn't care what they thought of my notes... maybe they should think about what I thought of THEIR notes)

$15 is still a lot of money. If you have 10 kids in the class, that breaks down to $50 per party. $50 for what??? Chips, juice, cake??? (I could easily do that for a group of 10 on probably less than $20) That's probably why you didn't get a response. Even with your disclaimer that the remaining money will go toward a teacher gift doesn't cut it.

perhaps you should take on the job as class parent then and run a party for less than 20.00 and see how that works. If you ever asked me as a class parent to produce receipts I would tell you to stick it wher the sun doesn't shine- if you were so concerned then you could take the job of classparent yourself. I spend more money out of pocket for these darn parties--I would be darned if I had some parent demanding receipts!

 

[happygirl]

We don't have party for grades over 4th at our school. What we do in the daughter class. Is the teacher will say we are having a Hoilday party on December 18th, If you want to send snacks or a gift send them on that day. Most of the parents here will send something with the child.

Maybe the parents think that 7th grade is to old for a party

 

[taximomfor4]

dd is in middle school now, in 6th grade. They won't have a party and she and her friends feel "too old" for "silly parties."

I think maybe many families are just overwhelmed with requests for $ right now. I know every few days, one of my 4 kids hands me a paper with either a request for $ (field trip, teacher gift, party contribution) or a list of needed supplies (for Holiday Crafts, gift exchange, whatever). JUST in the past few weeks: 3 x $5 books for gift exchange = $15. Supplies for dd7's holiday craft= $11. Supplies for ds10's craft=$9. Teacher gift~dd7=$5. Teacher gift~ds9=$5. Field Trip dd16=$27. Supplies for dd7's social studies class=$9. Gift exchange for dance school dd7=$5. Gift exchange for dance dd11=$5. So in the past few weeks, Grand Total $91. ($81 of it for kids' public school).

Seriously, I have EVERY penny budgeted right now. I am selling off things to buy a small Christmas for my kids. I am even selling the kids' extra dance supplies to pay dance tuition. We are DEFINITELY month to month right now. There are so many just like us...and I do NOT want to have to tell some other mom at the school all about it. It's embarassing, frustrating, even depressing. My heart sinks with every note we get, asking for more money. For the first time ever, I felt stress when I let each kid take a non-perishable item from our cupboard to donate, to get a ticket to the Halloween party at school.

Perhaps parties will have to shrink. Or even disappear till the economy rights itself. Honestly, I would prefer my kids not have a gift exchange, draw social studies projects, and hand-make a card for the teacher.

 

[Mskanga]

The 3 parties are determined by the "PTA". So all classes are doing the same thing.

Am I the only one that thinks if the PTA determined to have the parties , the PTA should pay for them and not ask parents who are possibly unemployed and having a hard time meeting their own needs ?

 

[cats mom]

Am I the only one that thinks if the PTA determined to have the parties , the PTA should pay for them and not ask parents who are possibly unemployed and having a hard time meeting their own needs ?

I actually don't think the PTA setting some basic party guidelines/themes is a bad idea. Otherwise you get some room parents who don't do parties at all, and others who go all out for every occasion and then some. I think basic consistency within the school is a good thing. Of course like others here, I'm a bit surprised at still having classroom parties by 7th grade.

FWIW, I'd much rather donate a lump sum for all parties, teacher gifts, etc. at the begining of the year and then just volunteer to help as needed the rest of the year but not be nickel and dimed to death.

We were asked to donate $40 - $50 per child for teacher gifts at the begining of the year. A bit excessive IMO, but OK. Except I've also already sent in donations for 2 classroom functions, I have another assignment for next week, and I'm sure more to come after that. Argg!

Good Luck OP, I hope you come up with a workable solution. You're doing a good thing by being involved and helping out!

 

[NYCDiane]

perhaps you should take on the job as class parent then and run a party for less than 20.00 and see how that works. If you ever asked me as a class parent to produce receipts I would tell you to stick it wher the sun doesn't shine- if you were so concerned then you could take the job of classparent yourself. I spend more money out of pocket for these darn parties--I would be darned if I had some parent demanding receipts!

First of all, you can easily do a class party for 10 kids for under $20. Chips are 99 cents a bag, juice (the gallon jug of Hawaiian Punch) is $2, you can buy a box of 12 cupcakes at BJs for $9. You don't need paper plates or cutlery. Napkins are $2/bag. Cups $1 pkg... Add it all up. Even with 5 bags of chips it only comes to $19. Music is free since someone can bring in a radio (although most teachers have them in the classroom anyway) and games are free since kids can bring them to school or you can make up a game to play.

As far as receipts... you're darn straight I want to see a receipt. If you're going to tell me with a straight face that it costs you between $80-$190 for a class (19 kids) party, you better be serving a full meal, including appetizer and dessert. However, most class parties consist of juice, chips, cupcakes and the like. I also don't think any teacher deserves a $380 "gift". That is absolutely absurd which is why I refused to send in the money for that.

If it's costing you money out of your pocket, then you're doing something very wrong.

Oh, and I can't be a "class parent" since I work full time.

 

[hipchickie]

Seriously, I have EVERY penny budgeted right now. I am selling off things to buy a small Christmas for my kids. I am even selling the kids' extra dance supplies to pay dance tuition. We are DEFINITELY month to month right now. There are so many just like us...and I do NOT want to have to tell some other mom at the school all about it. It's embarassing, frustrating, even depressing. My heart sinks with every note we get, asking for more money.

I started to type out something similar to this, but erased it. This past thanksgiving was the first time we were assigned what to bring, instead of offering. My heart literally sank when I saw it was something I had to buy (drinks) instead of something I could make.

 

[mnasf]

I agree with response #2. I asked for $20 none of which would cover year end teacher gifts. I got 28 out of 28 of my 5th graders class by sending out reminders two or three times. In my Kindergartener's class I got about 16 of 18. For the party this week, I'd say that yourself and one other parent have contributed to the 3 class parties. So for those who haven't contributed, sending in something would be good.

I was "volunteered" to be class mom for my daughter's 7th grade class. There are only 10 kids in the class. I asked for $15 for the 3 parties that they will have - or you could volunteer to donate stuff instead- Any extra $$ would go towards a year end present for the teacher.

I heard from and got $ from 1 parent. ONE!
Resent request.

Still nothing.

So now I have $30 (mine and the other parents money) to plan 3 parties with.
First party is next week- holiday brunch. I am so ticked that I will be buying stuff for this party for kids whose families can't be bothered to send in $$.
Now really I know times are hard for some people- and then just send me a note offering to help at the party- or donate a dozen donuts- or make some hot chocolate?

UGH!
What do you do when you get such little response. I feel like saying Parties cancelled due to lack of interest- but that just punishes the kids.

 

[mnasf]

I started to type out something similar to this, but erased it. This past thanksgiving was the first time we were assigned what to bring, instead of offering. My heart literally sank when I saw it was something I had to buy (drinks) instead of something I could make.

That is sad. I don't like to be told what to bring for anything. Everyone has their favorite things. When I plan school parties, parents can sign up for games or crafts or to run a center if they prefer that to baking. And for those buying stuff, we reimburse them with any funds collected. It's too bad you couldn't sign up for what you wanted.

 

[aprilgail2]

First of all, you can easily do a class party for 10 kids for under $20. Chips are 99 cents a bag, juice (the gallon jug of Hawaiian Punch) is $2, you can buy a box of 12 cupcakes at BJs for $9. You don't need paper plates or cutlery. Napkins are $2/bag. Cups $1 pkg... Add it all up. Even with 5 bags of chips it only comes to $19. Music is free since someone can bring in a radio (although most teachers have them in the classroom anyway) and games are free since kids can bring them to school or you can make up a game to play.

As far as receipts... you're darn straight I want to see a receipt. If you're going to tell me with a straight face that it costs you between $80-$190 for a class (19 kids) party, you better be serving a full meal, including appetizer and dessert. However, most class parties consist of juice, chips, cupcakes and the like. I also don't think any teacher deserves a $380 "gift". That is absolutely absurd which is why I refused to send in the money for that.

If it's costing you money out of your pocket, then you're doing something very wrong.

Oh, and I can't be a "class parent" since I work full time.

I work full time too yet I am class parent- I save my personal days from work to take off during the class parties. As far as a gallon jug of hawaiian punch- not allowed at our school- to much sugar- we can have that half veggie half fruit juice but only if they are in juice box form- everything has to be individually wrapped. Cupcakes---nope--to much sugar and not individually wrapped. If we get the baked chips thats ok BUT they have to be in individual bags- no one big bag for the whole class to share...we MUST provide 2 fruit platters at each party (22 kids per class) according to Board of Ed rules....19.99 each- we can NOT buy the fruit at home to slice it up--has to be prepackaged in a platter...AND---we have to bring it to school early and have the cafeteria ladys divide it up into individual cups for each child. So just the frui alone is 40.00!! We do play a game but the school wants each class to have a craft to do also--even at 1.00 a craft that comes to 22.00- so craft and fruit is 42.00...then the chips in individual bags, the juice boxes and anything else you get--very easy to spend 80.00 a party.
I do agree with not making everyone give the teacher a gift though- we give her a 25.00 gift card on our own for the holidays and another fo rthe end of school.

 

[mamalle]

wow is this public school

Im so glad ours is not like that.. I sent in what I can for everything the kids do in school. as they get older its get less and less to tell you the truth... Im sending in a gift for ds's gift exchange ($10) and his gift bag party. everyone is supposed to send in something and the teacher will place the items in the bag for the kids. The kids voted on what type of party they wanted so thats it for his party. dd is having peewee for lunch at a tune of $5.00 per kid. Guess the room mom is picking it up. she hates chinese so I will send in her lunch for that party. she is supposed to buy a $5.00 gift for the exchange. we are no invited as years prior and that makes me sad but they are growing up and I do what I can. Im sure there are alot of room mother stories about who contributes, how much it is, etc.. but thats just the way it goes.. I think it is worse as the economy is so shaky and everyone is doing what the can. Its still the thought that counts and its nice there are parents out there that go out of their way to help their children's classrooms..

 

[happygirl]

I work full time too yet I am class parent- I save my personal days from work to take off during the class parties. As far as a gallon jug of hawaiian punch- not allowed at our school- to much sugar- we can have that half veggie half fruit juice but only if they are in juice box form- everything has to be individually wrapped. Cupcakes---nope--to much sugar and not individually wrapped. If we get the baked chips thats ok BUT they have to be in individual bags- no one big bag for the whole class to share...we MUST provide 2 fruit platters at each party (22 kids per class) according to Board of Ed rules....19.99 each- we can NOT buy the fruit at home to slice it up--has to be prepackaged in a platter...AND---we have to bring it to school early and have the cafeteria ladys divide it up into individual cups for each child. So just the frui alone is 40.00!! We do play a game but the school wants each class to have a craft to do also--even at 1.00 a craft that comes to 22.00- so craft and fruit is 42.00...then the chips in individual bags, the juice boxes and anything else you get--very easy to spend 80.00 a party.
I do agree with not making everyone give the teacher a gift though- we give her a 25.00 gift card on our own for the holidays and another fo rthe end of school.

That the Board of Education rules or that your school board rules? My daugheter can't have anything homemade, I can guarntee you I can find snacks much cheaper then what you do? Why not get bannas that would be cheaper or even frozen fruit and You can go to Aldi's and get a huge bag of individual chips for like 4.00 dollars.

 

[NYCDiane]

I work full time too yet I am class parent- I save my personal days from work to take off during the class parties. As far as a gallon jug of hawaiian punch- not allowed at our school- to much sugar- we can have that half veggie half fruit juice but only if they are in juice box form- everything has to be individually wrapped. Cupcakes---nope--to much sugar and not individually wrapped. If we get the baked chips thats ok BUT they have to be in individual bags- no one big bag for the whole class to share...we MUST provide 2 fruit platters at each party (22 kids per class) according to Board of Ed rules....19.99 each- we can NOT buy the fruit at home to slice it up--has to be prepackaged in a platter...AND---we have to bring it to school early and have the cafeteria ladys divide it up into individual cups for each child. So just the frui alone is 40.00!! We do play a game but the school wants each class to have a craft to do also--even at 1.00 a craft that comes to 22.00- so craft and fruit is 42.00...then the chips in individual bags, the juice boxes and anything else you get--very easy to spend 80.00 a party.
I do agree with not making everyone give the teacher a gift though- we give her a 25.00 gift card on our own for the holidays and another fo rthe end of school.

Sounds to me like your school doesn't need to have class parties with those insane restrictions. Where do you live that they make these kinds of rules??? Do you REALLY expect parents to chip in for expensive fruit platters, individual bags of chips, individual bottles of water, etc??? Give me a break. I wouldn't even bother with something this absurd.

I'd rather save my personal/sick days for days when I'm sick or my child is sick or I have an emergency of some sort. I can't afford to use my time for a class party and then have to lose a day's pay later down the road if something comes up and I don't have time available.