COMMUNITY PRACTICES

Best practices for how families have participated in the HWIS community and what to consider. This is not a contract, it's just documentation of common ways of doing things. Please see the HWIS Family Guide for guidelines from the school.

Birthday treats

If you'd like to send treats to school to celebrate your child's birthday:

• Coordinate with your homeroom teacher first and make sure it doesn't interfere with teaching time.

• HudsonWay is a nut-free campus. Check with other parents in your WhatsApp homeroom group about allergies and dietary restrictions. Some parents like to bring substitute treats for their kids so they don't miss out.

• High-sugar treats make classrooms hard to manage and instruction difficult to maintain. Suggestions include fruit and savory snacks.

• No goodie bags please.

HWIS Family Guide: "Birthday treats must be store-bought, portioned appropriately for children and individually packaged so that ingredient labels can be reviewed for food allergies. Homemade treats may not be shared at school."

Holiday parties

If you'd like to organize a party in class for any holiday:

• Coordinate with your homeroom teacher first and make sure it doesn't interfere with teaching time.

• Consider the work and financial load you're asking of other families and make activities like gift- or card-giving optional.

• Consider how to make activities inclusive of all students, e.g. gifts and cards.

• HudsonWay is a nut-free campus. Check with other parents in your WhatsApp homeroom group about allergies and dietary restrictions. Some parents like to bring substitute treats for their kids so they don't miss out. 

• High-sugar treats make classrooms hard to manage and teaching difficult to maintain. Suggestions include fruit and savory snacks.

• No goodie bags please.

If you are a homeroom parent, you are not required to organize holiday parties and there is no HWISPA budget for it this year.

Gifts to teachers and staff

HWISPA provides monetary gifts twice a year to all teachers and staff members on behalf of all families, in December and June. It is part of your dues.

If you would like to collect money from your homeroom or class in support of your teacher(s), such as for a life event or celebration:

• • Consider non-monetary gifts, such as cards, flowers, etc.

  • Consider assistant teachers and non-homeroom teachers.

  • Make giving optional for all families.

  • Keep the gifting anonymous and gift the sum as a pooled gift.

  • For gifts over $500, please let the school know.

If you are a homeroom parent, it is entirely optional to organize gifts or celebrations for teachers. See the HWIS Family Guide.