FAQs

Have a question?  Check out answers to questions we've already received.  If you still have a question, please contact us.

Q: May Classroom Volunteers bring toddlers along with them to volunteer in the classroom?

A: No, unfortunately, for liability reasons, toddlers and small children are not able to join parents at school for volunteering.  Everyone is welcome to volunteer from home by doing prep work for crafts and projects.

Q: May a parent put together a WhatsApp or Facebook group for the class?  

• Room Reps should communicate mainly by email, unless a parent lacks computer access and prefers phone contact.

• Room Reps may not share contact information or add parents directly to any chat/group.

• Chats/groups may be created or moderated by another parent/guardian.

• Room Reps may invite parents to join by email and may share the organizer’s contact info.

• If a parent wants to join but lacks Facebook/WhatsApp, the organizer would need to be willing to accommodate (e.g., by sharing a phone number or relaying info by phone). 

Q: I have emailed my teacher repeatedly, but have not heard back. What should I do?  

A: Double-check the email address. If you have the correct information and the teacher is still not responding, please let the Room Rep Coordinator know.

Staff Favorites FAQ

See KMES/PTA Gifting Policy in the Handbook

Q: If a teacher's name isn't listed on the Staff Favorites page, does it mean they opted not to share their favorites?

A. The survey link was shared during the PTA breakfast and sent out to the classroom teachers by the Room Rep Coordinator. You can ask the teacher to either fill out the form or simply share their favorite restaurants, shops, and anything they’re comfortable passing along to other parents. You can also ask if they have an Amazon Wish List for classroom items. 

Q: What are the important days to keep track of? Birthdays, Winter Holidays Season, Teacher Appreciation week?

A: Up to you. You may send out the "Teacher Favorites" on the teacher's birthday, before the Winter Holiday season in November, and again during Teacher Appreciation week. One year, the teacher was getting married, and a Room Rep asked the parents to provide a quote from their children about what makes a successful marriage and compiled it into a funny card/keepsake for the teacher--i.e., "Always pick up the clothes on the floor of your closet."

Q: Is there any cap on gift card amount per FCPS policy?

A. A family should not give a teacher gifts totalling more than $100, cumulative, per calendar year.

Q: Since Room Reps can't handle money or coordinate a joint gift card, does it mean that everyone is on their own?

A. Room Reps may only solicit participation for free gifts - like a card with all the children’s fingerprints. At the end-of-year party, we usually give the teacher a classroom book signed by all the children. 

Q: How are the gift cards typically delivered to teachers, especially those in specialized subjects like music and PE?

A. For parents who may be giving gift cards or notes of appreciation to all of their child's Specials Teachers (i.e., Art, Music, P.E., etc.), you may put the gift card in an envelope with the teacher's name on it and ask the Administrative Assistants in the Main Office at KMES to put the cards in the teacher's mailbox. If you are providing some other small memento of appreciation, you may have your child deliver it to the teacher.

Q: At the Winter Holidays and during Teacher Appreciation Week, should I send out the Staff Favorites link, or should I only send information relating to the specific teachers, i.e., their Art, Music, P.E. teacher, etc.?

A.  Please share the Staff Favorites link. Some students work with Instructional Assistants, Special Education teachers, or Guidance Counselors, so we want to provide information for all staff who completed the survey. You may also include the specific Specials teachers your class sees.

Grades 4-6 students attend Specials in different groups due to Band and Strings.

Homeroom Teacher: ...

Art: Ms. Krest or Ms. Ehlers

Music: Ms. Boyars or Ms. Zargarpur

PE: Mr. Pleasants and Ms. Pease

Library: Mr. Rigsby

Guidance Counselor: Ms. Yost or Ms. Ashurst

Please see the link for Special Education teachers, Instructional Assistants, and other specialists, your child may work with at school this year