How much are you asked to contribute for the class fund?

[Anonymous]

I'm curious. The amount we've been asked to contribue is up this year and I'm curious what other elementary schools in Fairfax are doing.

Both classes (we have two kids in elementary school in Fairfax county), asked for $25 per student for the class fund. The fund covers parties in the room and any leftover is used for end of year gift for the teacher. For our classes this would equate to a budget of upwards of $500. This seems excessive.

What's the fund for your elementary class?

[Anonymous]

We do not have a fund like this in our FCPS ES. Our preschool does this, but not the ES.

[Anonymous]

I have a child in kindergarten at an FCPS and we were asked to contribute $20. I didn't have a problem with it.

[Anonymous]

$5.00 and/or volunteer in class.

[Anonymous]

We don't have a fund at our FCPS ES. What ES has a fund, OP? Our school just asks parents to volunteer items as needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't have a fund at our FCPS ES. What ES has a fund, OP? Our school just asks parents to volunteer items as needed.

I am 10:18 and we are at Flint Hill in Vienna. The fund covers expenses for the class parties (since those are run by the parents) and a small gift for the teachers at Christmas. This is in addition to volunteering.

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP, we've been at two different elementary schools in Fairfax and both have asked for class contributions for a fund which (as an earlier poster stated) covers class parties and the end-of-the-year gift for the teacher. I also know, from speaking with other parents this is not unusual, but they did think the request of $25 was steep.

[Anonymous]

Last year we were asked for $25. I had never heard of a class fund before and I thought it was a bit much.

This year we have been asked for $35, which I think is just ridiculous.
Not only do they ask, but they email and send notes home repeatedly until you send it in.

I would much rather send in cookies or whatever is needed for a class party, and buy the teacher my own gift.

The PTA is also asking for $125 per family.

It highly offends me.
Because although we can afford it, I am sure there are families who can't...and I can't imagine how awful it must be to be hounded for money repeatedly when you are broke.

[Anonymous]

We have kids at 2 different schools. One school asked for $25 for class fund (and I think a separate donation for teacher gifts) and the school PTA asked for $125 per family.

The other school didn't ask for anything for a class fund but did ask for $25 for the year because the teachers buy the snack for the class (kindergarten). The PTA at that school sells stuff, etc. ad does not ask for a per family donation.

Frankly, I prefer the way the first school does it. The $125 donation is easier than selling (really buying) the crap and all of the money goes to the school. I can see the some (probably many in our base school, which does NOT do it) could not afford it, but it is voluntary. I just don;t want to buy a bunch of junk I don;t need to support eh school. I'd rather give directly (although I guess I could just write them a check at the beginning of the year and explain that -- I'm sure they'd take the money).

[Anonymous]

My DS is in K and we were asked to donate $5 for class parties and $2 per month for snacks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last year we were asked for $25. I had never heard of a class fund before and I thought it was a bit much.

This year we have been asked for $35, which I think is just ridiculous.
Not only do they ask, but they email and send notes home repeatedly until you send it in.

I would much rather send in cookies or whatever is needed for a class party, and buy the teacher my own gift.

The PTA is also asking for $125 per family.

It highly offends me.
Because although we can afford it, I am sure there are families who can't...and I can't imagine how awful it must be to be hounded for money repeatedly when you are broke.

OP here again. And yes, we are one of those families on a tight budget (I was laid off earlier this year) and they asked for the money right before Christmas which is not good timing. I probably wouldn't have noticed it as much if they had asked for the money in October. But $50 in December is hard. And you are right, they keep asking.