Birthdays
Communicate your plans with the classroom teacher prior to bringing or sending anything to school to avoid disappointment/surprises.
We love to celebrate students' birthdays. As always we will resume celebrating birthdays at the Morning Meeting and end of the day announcements. We also add students' names to a special main hallway birthday bulletin board too!
We are encouraging all families to choose a non-food treat this year for celebrating birthdays. We ask that families use the money that would be used on a food treat to honor their child by purchasing a book to be donated to the classroom library or an indoor recess game or activity for the classroom. The birthday student will get to sign the book and a "donated by" (with birthdate) label will be included in the inside cover to show it was donated in his/her honor. The child or teacher will read the book to the class or a favorite part, if it is a chapter book.
This will be a healthy win-win for our school, as it will increase our classroom libraries and indoor recess activities, as well as eliminate wasting food that is not eaten. In years past, we have thrown away a lot of uneaten cupcakes and other treats! Most importantly, it also will be a wonderful way to show respect to our students who are challenged with severe food allergies.
In order to eliminate hurt feelings, students are not allowed to bring party invitations unless the student plans to distribute to entire class or all members of same gender (for example: all boys or all girls). Our office staff will not be permitted to give out other student’s addresses and phone numbers.
We also will not be able to have a "birthday party" at school. Parties should take place at home. However, the teachers will celebrate your child on his/her birthday. We are encouraging students to choose non-food treats to celebrate their birthday at school, so that every child may participate, even those with food allergies.
Do not plan for mascots/characters to visit the school, order balloons, flowers, stuffed animals, goodie bags, or other items that can be a distraction to the school day. Save these exciting party accessories for special home celebrations!
JRES parents should communicate this policy to all adults listed on the Emergency Card.
School Parties and After Hour Events
We have 3 class parties each year in all grade levels: Fall (Oct. 31), Winter (last school day in December), and on Valentine's Day (Feb. 14).
We have many students with food allergies. For the safety of these students, we will only allow pre-packaged items, with the ingredients listed, to be brought into the school for parties.
After hour events where parents are accompanying and monitoring their children will be the exception to this rule.