Room Parent

Volunteering in your child's classroom is a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. You get to know them in a new way, watch them grow, meet their friends, and make a difference in your child's classroom. And, you get the chance to help the teacher so they can focus on your child's education. Recruit other parents to assist in class with you, it's great to have others to bounce ideas off with. You play an active and important role in your child's classroom. Your child's teacher greatly appreciates your assistance.

The key to being an effective Room Parent is communication: communication with the teacher to understand his/her needs and communication with parents where you coordinate filling the teachers needs.

If you would like to volunteer to be a Room Parent, please contact the FFO Volunteer Coordinator.

Download a copy of Room Parent List.

Steps

1. Ask the teacher if they need parents to help in the classroom. See Ways to Help & RoomParent Teacher Survey.doc

   See the list of class parties and events you will be asked to organize below.

2.   Send a newsletter to the parents informing them who the room parents are and how they can assist. This is also a great time to ask each family for donation towards Holiday and End of the year teacher gift. See Room Parent 1st Newsletter.doc or .pdf

3. Create a class directory for convenience of arranging play dates, parties, etc. This list is to be shared only with students in class.

4. Create a parent contact spreadsheet which is useful for recording donations and parent volunteers available for activities, parties, etc. See Room Parent Party Planner.xls

5. Send out a flyer or e-mail informing parents how they can help, upcoming parties or events, and allow them to sign-up to help.

    Get together with your team of room parents and brainstorm on activities and food menu for the party. When requesting for food donations, include a list of children's allergies in your communication to the parents. This will help parents prepare for in-class snacks for celebrations and events.

6. If you are considering a holiday gift and/or an end of the year gift for your child’s teacher and need gift ideas, please consult the CV Staff Favorite Things binder in the Administration Office.

   Inform the parents how much was collected, spent, and type of gift bought for the teacher. Include a card with every student's signature, both student's and teachers really appreciate. See Room Parent Party Planner.xls

** See attached files below of sample templates that you may use for guidance. Feel free to change the content of the templates to fit the needs of your class.**

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Ways to Help

There are so many different ways to give teachers more time to focus on teaching by assisting them in some of the administrative functions. If you wish to assist beyond the classroom parties and events, please consult your child’s teacher on how you may be able to support in the following:

1. Field Trips - chaperone, driver

2. Monthly Calendar – make and copy

3. Scholastic Books – organize orders and distribution

4. Typing

5. Update classroom bulletin board

6. Going Home Note – distribute to parents

7. For Kindergarten & 1^st Grade:

Organize volunteer parents via a calendar for activities center
Assist students during math class
Sharpen pencils
Tear out sheets from Math Books
Organize Friday folders

Parties & Events

As a room parent, there are four classroom parties and two events that you and your co-room parents will be asked to organize. Please consult with the teacher regarding the date and time, and ideas for activities and food. All snacks must follow the district's nutrition guidelines.

The teachers really appreciate your help in cleaning up after each party. Remember to take plenty of party pictures for the yearbook.

Class parties and events:

1. Halloween Party – Plan activities, healthy food, etc.

2. Holiday Party – Plan activities, healthy food, etc.

3. Valentines Party – Healthy food

4. End of the Year Party – Healthy food

5. Spring Carnival & Silent Auction – Classroom theme basket (basket theme is chosen by the teacher from a list provided by the Silent Auction Committee)

6. Teacher Appreciation - Bring a dish for teacher lunch

Ideas where to purchase party activities/items:

1. Oriental Trading Co. - Log on to Box Tops for Education and Oriental Trading Co. will donate 4% of your total purchase made online that originate through the Box Tops Marketplace. To ensure that Canyon View Elementary School earns cash every time you shop online, be sure to always start at the Box Tops Marketplace and login before shopping.

2. Michaels - Save 40% on an item. Look for Michael's Sunday paper insert or subscribe on-line at www.michaels.com.

3. Jo-Anns - Save 40% on an item. Look for Jo-Anns Sunday paper insert or subscribe on-line at www.joann.com.