Latest News from the Room
Parent Committee
Questions?:
email: chufcut@bridgeport.edu kimhulme@sbcglobal.net
08/29/2009
Welcome to a new school year! We would like to take the opportunity of
introducing ourselves as the Room Parent committee at Orange Avenue this year.
We are honored to be working closely with the PTA, teachers, and parents. Soon
you will be receiving more detailed information about volunteering at your
classroom as well as a Parent Volunteer Form. We are planning, thru the PTA
news letter, to facilitate guidelines and helpful hints that will assist you
in organizing your classroom activities. As room parents play an integral part
in helping communicate with teachers and parents during the school year, we
are looking forward to a great collaboration among us, teachers, and room
parents.
We have been with Orange Avenue for 4 to 5 years. We have served as room
parents, head of several school activities, and are active members of the PTA.
We understand that parent involvement is important to the success of our
children and are here to encourage and help with it. Feel free to email us
with any questions.
Carmen Hufcut, Co-Chairperson
email: chufcut@bridgeport.edu
Kim Hulme, Co-Chairperson
878-8181
email: kimhulme@sbcglobal.net
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INTRODUCTION
Congratulations
and thank you for volunteering to become a room parent coordinator. Your
service as a “Head Room Parent” is a great step in getting involved in your
child’s school life. We
hope this handbook offers information, guidelines and helpful hints that will
assist you in organizing your classroom activities and PTA events. Each class
has a Head Room Parent, room parent volunteers and contributors. In the event
of Co-Head Room Parents, only one person will serve as the primary contact to
the school administration and the parents. This will have to be decided by the
Co-Head Room Parents and the teacher.
HEAD ROOM PARENT
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Serves as a liaison between
the teacher and other room parents, organizes classroom volunteers for
activities such as; classroom parties and PTA sponsored events.
• Maintains the classroom
activity fund (no more than $5 per child is collected from the parents by the
Room Parent Committee) for party supplies.
• Provides and schedules
volunteers to run class parties and activities through the year.
• Ensures that each classroom
party is planned and staffed with enough volunteers, crafts, goodies and
games.
PLEASE NOTE: If a classroom has
Co-Head Room parents, you may want to divide up the parties between the two of
you so you each get a chance to organize and run a party or parties.
ROOM PARENT RESPONSIBLITIES
• Volunteers their available
time to assist Head Room Parent with special classroom activities.
CONTRIBUTOR RESPONSIBILITES
·
Volunteers to donate
items as needed for various classroom parties and/or events.
GUIDELINES
1. Meet the teacher.
Set up a time to talk with the
teacher. Provide your teacher with the “Teacher Party Checklist”
(sample provided) to be completed. This will help you to find out:
• What parties and classroom
events you will be responsible to plan.
• What /how many activities
and/or crafts you should prepare.
•
What food the teacher prefers (please make sure to find out about ANY food
allergies, should you have any questions please clarify with the parent).
•
Give your teacher an opportunity to express his/her expectations.
• Share any ideas you may have
for the upcoming year.
• Ask if younger siblings are
welcome.
·
Ask how many parents the
teacher would prefer at parties.
REMEMBER:
Keep the teacher’s wishes
always in mind, after all it is her/his classroom and they know what works
best for their classrooms. Maintaining an open line and consistent
communication with your teacher throughout the year is the key to success. Ask
what will be the best way of communication, phone call, emails, etc.
2. Send introductory letter to
classroom parents. (Sample provided)
·
In this letter, introduce
yourself and explain your role and what possible activities will
be
held throughout the year.
3. A
“party letter” should be sent out to all classroom parents prior to each event.
**THE CLASSROOM TEACHER MUST
APPROVE ALL OUTGOING LETTERS.**
·
The letter should include
a request for arts, crafts, games, and party supplies.
·
It should inform the
classroom parents of specific dates, times and needed food donations.
·
This communication can be
via phone, letter, or email. However,
please remember if you do not receive an email address for each family, you
must send home a paper copy in the child’s orange folder.
·
Do not be disappointed if
all of the room parents are not available to participate in all of the
activities.
·
It is not necessary for
all room parents to be present at every event.
·
Do not be afraid to
delegate among your room parents (i.e., baking, supplies, etc.).
·
It is always helpful to
provide a reminder note, email, or call to the volunteers, just prior to the
event.
GENERAL POLICIES
1. For the safety of the Orange
Avenue children, you must wear a Visitor’s badge and sign in and out at the
reception desk, when visiting the school.
2. Monetary
contributions for teacher gifts: many classes like to do a collection for a
teacher gift at the holiday and the end of the year.
These should always be
voluntary and at the individual family’s discretion.
If you choose to do a
collection, please make sure to phrase it as “a suggested donation of up to
$5 per child”.
This way we are sensitive to all Orange
Avenue families. Remember also that the class gifts are to be presented to the
teacher from the entire
class. Make sure everyone
signs the card.
3. You may be a Head Room Parent
for only one class at a time, but you can be a room parent for multiple
classes.
4. Refer to the “Teacher Party
Checklist” when planning your budget for the school year;
it should include the
purchase of crafts and activities.
If you ever have any questions,
comments, ideas or concerns regarding parties, procedures etc. call or email
us. We
are glad to help!
Kim Hulme
K, 1st and 2nd
grade chairperson
878-8181
kimhulme@sbcglobal.net
Carmen Hufcut
3rd, 4th
and 5 grade chairperson
676-9913
chufcut@bridgeport.edu
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SAMPLE
– PARTY LETTER
Dear
Parents,
The
Holidays are almost here and the Holiday Class Party will be on Tuesday,
December 22nd at
2:00 p.m. The
party will include games, snacks, stories and a craft.
We
need five parent volunteers for the party (for safety purposes Ms. Mancini
would prefer that no siblings be at the party).
If
you are interested in being a volunteer, please contact me as soon as
possible; the first 5 people who respond will be selected as the volunteers.
Listed
below are the items needed for the party:
·
(18)
juice boxes
·
(18)
small kid safe water bottles
·
(18)
cupcakes
·
(18)
candy canes
·
fruit
·
Holiday
plates, napkins, & tablecloth
·
Holiday
treat bags
·
Holiday
items for treat bags
·
Holiday
Stickers
Please
email me at kellikupson@yahoo.com
or call me at 876-7880 with the item(s) you are willing to donate for the
party. I
look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks
for your help and support!
Happy
Holidays!
Kelli
Kupson
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SAMPLE
– INTRODUCTION LETTER
Dear
Parents,
We
would like to introduce ourselves as the Co-Head Room Parents for Ms.
Mancini’s Kindergarten class this school year.
My
name is Kelli Kupson and I am the Head Parent.
I
have three children; Hannah,
the eldest, is
in Kindergarten, Andrew attends Preschool and Sarah is five months old.
My
name is Rose Rodrigues and I am the Co-Head Room Parent.
I
also serve on the PTA Board here at Orange Avenue.
I
have three children. Matthew
is in second grade, James is in Kindergarten, and Mary Elena attends Preschool.
We
will be contacting you throughout the school year via phone and/or email to
let you know about upcoming class activities or parties and asking for help
with contributions, crafts, games, and ideas.
Our
goal is to coordinate the parties so that they are fun and healthy for the
children and at the same time have room parents and contributors help out,
when their schedules allow. Since
there will be parties throughout the year, there will be an opportunity for
all parents who volunteered to help out at one time or another.
We
welcome any questions or suggestions you may have so please feel free to
contact us.
Please
remember our classroom has children with food allergies.
PLEASE
check with either Ms. Mancini or one of us BEFORE sending food not on a class
activity or party list so we can keep all of our children safe this year!
Sincerely,
Kelli
Kupson
876-7880
or jeffnkelli@att.net
Rose
Rodrigues
877-8170
or rose5396@sbcglobal.net
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SAMPLE
– COMBINATION INTRODUCTION/PARTYLETTER FOR GRADES 3 - 5
Dear
Parents,
I
would like to introduce myself as the Head Room Parent for Ms. Smith’s third
grade class this school year.
My
name is Kelli Kupson and I am the Head Parent.
I
also serve on the PTA Board here at Orange Avenue.
I
have three children. Hannah
is in second grade, Andrew is in Ms. Mancini’s class, and Sarah is two and ½
years old.
I
will be contacting you throughout the school year via phone and/or email to
let you know about upcoming class activities or parties and asking for help
with contributions, crafts, games, and ideas.
My
goal is to coordinate the parties so that they are fun and healthy for the
children and at the same time have room parents and contributors help out,
when their schedules allow. Since
there will be parties throughout the year, there will be an opportunity for
all parents who volunteered to help out at one time or another.
I
welcome any questions or suggestions you may have so please feel free to
contact me.
Our
first celebration will be Friday, October 30th at 2:00 p.m.
This
will include games, snacks, and a craft.
I
need four parent volunteers for the party (for safety purposes Ms. Smith would
prefer that no siblings be at the party).
If
you are interested in being a volunteer, please contact me as soon as possible.
Listed
below are the donations we need for the party:
·
fruit
·
pretzels
·
festive
paper plates & napkins
·
Cookies
OR cupcakes
·
juice
boxes
·
small
water bottles
If
you are able to contribute any of these items, please call or email me.
Remember,
our class has children with food allergies, please check with either Ms. Smith
or me BEFORE sending food not on this list so we can keep our children safe!
Happy
Fall,
Kelli
Kupson
876-7880
or kellikupson@yahoo.com
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SAMPLE –
COMBINATION INTRODUCTION/PARTY LETTERS FOR GRADES K – 2
Dear
Parents,
I
would like to introduce myself as the Head Room Parent for Ms. Mancini’s
Kindergarten class this school year.
My
name is Kelli Kupson and I am the Head Parent.
I
also serve on the PTA Board here at Orange Avenue.
I
have three children. Hannah
is in second grade, Andrew is in Ms. Mancini’s class, and Sarah is two and ½
years old.
I
will be contacting you throughout the school year via phone and/or email to
let you know about upcoming class activities or parties and asking for help
with contributions, crafts, games, and ideas.
My
goal is to coordinate the parties so that they are fun and healthy for the
children and at the same time have room parents and contributors help out,
when their schedules allow. Since
there will be parties throughout the year, there will be an opportunity for
all parents who volunteered to help out at one time or another.
I
welcome any questions or suggestions you may have so please feel free to
contact me.
Our
first celebration will be Friday, October 30th at 1:30 p.m.
This
will include a Character Day Parade across the street to the Rehabilitation
Center and then games, snacks, and a craft back in the classroom.
I
need four parent volunteers for the party (for safety purposes Ms. Mancini
would prefer that no siblings be at the party).
If
you are interested in being a volunteer, please contact me as soon as possible.
Listed
below are the donations we need for the party:
·
fruit
·
pretzels
·
stickers
or treats for goody bags
·
Holiday
candy
·
Festive
paper plates & napkins
·
Cookies
OR cupcakes
·
juice
boxes
·
small
water bottles
If
you are able to contribute any of these items, please call or email me.
Remember,
our class has children with food allergies, please check with either Ms.
Mancini or me BEFORE sending food not on this list so we can keep our children
safe!
Happy
Fall,
Kelli
Kupson
876-7880
or kellikupson@yahoo.com
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