Room Parents

Sign up here to be a Room Parent or read on for more information

What is a Room Parent?

Room Parents are the official liaisons connecting teachers, families, and the PTO. As a Room Parent, you may be asked to recruit other parents to chaperone field trips, help plan class and grade level events, assist teachers in preparing materials, or help with teacher appreciation. Some Room Parents opt to have a Co-Room Parent to help share the work. Some teachers may want a lot of help (or very little); asking your teachers or talking to previous Room Parents are good ways to learn what’s expected of you as a Room Parent. 

What would my responsibilities be?

Different teachers have different needs — and your responsibilities may vary from grade to grade. But all Room Parents share some things in common: a desire to pitch in, good organizational and communication skills, and the time, energy, and enthusiasm for helping out in a hands-on way. 

Here are some things you may be asked to do: 

• Help the teacher and PTO communicate with families - This includes identifying multilingual families and families who may not speak or read English, and making sure that families without access to email also get communications by text/hard copy. 

• Plan & organize class and grade level events  - In addition to school wide events, individual classes or grade levels host their own events. As a Room Parent, you’ll reach out for volunteers, send out reminders about upcoming events, meetings, and field trips.  You will also coordinate with other Room Parents at your grade level to organize gatherings for families in the same grade, once in the fall and once in the spring.

• Recruit other parent volunteers - You don’t have to go it alone! Finding a Co-Room Parent or delegating specific tasks to other class parents can make things easier. One parent can be in charge of organizing events, another in charge of class communication. 

• Reach out to teachers - Regular check-ins are a good way to keep everyone in the loop, and find out how you can best support your teachers throughout the year as their needs change. 

• Help the Community Support Committee organize teacher appreciations - We love our teachers and staff — and want them to feel appreciated. Room Parents may be asked to help drop off food and other appreciations to school, especially during Teacher Appreciation Week.

• Act as a resource for new families - When new students start at Longfellow, Room Parents should reach out to them to answer any questions and make them feel welcome in our community. 

• Try to attend monthly PTO meetings & schoolwide activities  - This is the best way to stay up-to-date on bigger picture issues that class parents may ask you about — and help the school as a whole! 

Getting Started

So you’ve volunteered to be a Room Parent.  Now what? 

• If you haven't already, fill out this form or contact mainelongfellowpto@gmail.com 

• Reach out to your teacher at the start of the year.  See if they prefer to email, meet in person, or talk on the phone.  These are a few important questions to ask: 

  • • Contact information: How do the teachers prefer to be contacted by you and other class parents? 

    • How can you best support the class? With communication, organizing events, getting chaperones for field trips, prepping materials for class activities, etc. 

    • What ongoing volunteer support needs are there? Weekly readers, art prep, making copies, snacks, supplies, lunch supervisors, etc. 

    • What events should you plan for? Field trips, open-house, assemblies, presentations, etc. 

    • Food allergy considerations? Please consider both student and teacher allergies. 

• Set up and use a group email list, but make sure all families receive communications — and that families not connected to the Internet or on email get a text or hardcopy. 

• Consider sharing your email with teachers before sending out, to see if there’s anything they’d like you to adjust or include.