Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??

[Anonymous]

I've seen it done where they charge $5 for 2 slices of pizza, if you don't pay, your kid doesn't get it. You then say if there is a hardship, email you and the kid will be given free pizza, with nobody knowing money wasn't given, BUT if they don't contact you the kid will NOT get pizza. That way you don't discriminate against those with financial issues. The money can cover some snacks at the party, teacher gifts, etc. For party decor, reuse what you have, have your kids make stuff-paper snowmen and snowflakes, hearts or whatever, but don't waste money. Have parents donate treats and beverages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't want my kid to eat Dominos or whatever crap you're feeding them.

So, its ok for you to feed them crap, but not have it 1-4 times a year at school. Many kids don't go to parties so for them, its important.

Wait -

Are you saying that eating pizza is important or partying with their friends? A school party doesn't have to involve pizza. Party refreshments could be cookies, chips, popcorn, fruit, etc.

I'm sorry if kids don't go to parties outside of school, but you can't replicate that experience in school. They're two different types of experiences. I agree with the teacher who posted earlier saying that parties should be kept simple. They should be a fun break, not a major disruption.

Growing up, our school had a Halloween carnival in the evening, but nothing during the school day. For Valentines Day, we did a card exchange, but I don't recall any refreshments (if there were any it probably would have been a couple of cookies per kid). For Christmas, we probably had cookies, but I don't really remember. There weren't any games. I mainly remember holidays involving the teachers doing crafts, maybe songs and/or stories with us leading up to the holiday. Sometimes for special occasions they'd show us movies and give us popcorn. While it was nowhere as elaborate as the school parties my kids have had (and theirs never included pizza), it was a fun break from the routine which is what we really wanted. The parties at my kids' school seem to be overly done, very disruptive, and unnecessarily stressful (in some ways even for the kids).

By the time you buy all the snack food, you can buy a few pizza's and be done with it for the same cost. I've done it both ways and the pizza ended up being cheaper vs. a selection of snack food. I think its interesting how many people assume whats what when they are not organizing it. A bag of chips is $4-5 dollars. You need a few bags, so there is the cost of pizza right there.

We had school parties growing up.

Its not about replicating at school vs. not but not all kids have great home lives and this is a highlight for them.

But they don’t need “all the snack food” either. Buy or make 1 treat.

I am a teacher and I am a big believer in celebrating with kids, especially in ways that celebrate them. But there are so many free or super cheap ways you can celebrate with a child, it doesn’t have to be 5 types of food, commercial decorations, and an hour of lost instructional time. A celebration can be sitting in the teacher’s chair, wearing a crown your y classmates made you “in secret” at lunchtime and having your classsmates song you a special birthday song. Or it can be taking your poetry outside and reading it under the trees like a transcendentalist and the starting recess 5 minutes early. One time my class decided they wanted to celebrate something by giving themselves silly names that I was to try and remember to call them for the day. Lots of ways for me to model how to look up things you forgot, and for them to model how to be gracious when some one makes a mistake and calls you Queen Puppy when your name is really Princes Hamster.

If you would like to spend $135 on things to bring more joy to our classroom, ask me and I will tell you I want colored ink so I can print more photos to remember their accomplishments (an awesome decorations, and writing prompts), some thin point washable markets for indoor recess, and enough playing cards for the whole class to play math games. Tell me you want a day when parents can come in and celebrate with the kids, and I will tell you to skip Valentine’s Day (we’ll do something in class) and come to our author’s celebration to hear us read our work (no craft needed, and that $25 cupcake and water menu above sounds perfect).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've seen it done where they charge $5 for 2 slices of pizza, if you don't pay, your kid doesn't get it. You then say if there is a hardship, email you and the kid will be given free pizza, with nobody knowing money wasn't given, BUT if they don't contact you the kid will NOT get pizza. That way you don't discriminate against those with financial issues. The money can cover some snacks at the party, teacher gifts, etc. For party decor, reuse what you have, have your kids make stuff-paper snowmen and snowflakes, hearts or whatever, but don't waste money. Have parents donate treats and beverages.

That is a horrible thing to do to a child to say, parents pay, or you don't eat. And, $5 for 2 slices is way to much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've seen it done where they charge $5 for 2 slices of pizza, if you don't pay, your kid doesn't get it. You then say if there is a hardship, email you and the kid will be given free pizza, with nobody knowing money wasn't given, BUT if they don't contact you the kid will NOT get pizza. That way you don't discriminate against those with financial issues. The money can cover some snacks at the party, teacher gifts, etc. For party decor, reuse what you have, have your kids make stuff-paper snowmen and snowflakes, hearts or whatever, but don't waste money. Have parents donate treats and beverages.

Well that sounds humiliating for the parents who can’t afford it and what about the kids who’s parents just forgot to send in their money on time? Sucks to be them I guess. I can’t see any teacher agreeing to this setup. It’s really not difficult to pull together a party with, say, half of the parents contributing in some way. I’ve done it several times.

[Anonymous]

I am the room parent and we are not allowed to collect money from parents. I sent out a signup yesterway for an upcoming party:

Juice boxes
Sweet treat
Paper plates and napkins

That is it. Parents signed up within 20 minutes to fill the spots. Because it is easy, low cost and they only have to do it once or twice a year. Some parents never sign up. Some parents sign up multiple times. Whatever. Life goes on.

[Anonymous]

I posted earlier about my kids’ FCPS school, which has a pizza party maybe twice a year. They usually do the pizza party for lunch. They send a note saying if your kid can’t or won’t eat pizza, to send in their own lunch. No one has a pizza party in addition to lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't want my kid to eat Dominos or whatever crap you're feeding them.

So, its ok for you to feed them crap, but not have it 1-4 times a year at school. Many kids don't go to parties so for them, its important.

Wait -

Are you saying that eating pizza is important or partying with their friends? A school party doesn't have to involve pizza. Party refreshments could be cookies, chips, popcorn, fruit, etc.

I'm sorry if kids don't go to parties outside of school, but you can't replicate that experience in school. They're two different types of experiences. I agree with the teacher who posted earlier saying that parties should be kept simple. They should be a fun break, not a major disruption.

Growing up, our school had a Halloween carnival in the evening, but nothing during the school day. For Valentines Day, we did a card exchange, but I don't recall any refreshments (if there were any it probably would have been a couple of cookies per kid). For Christmas, we probably had cookies, but I don't really remember. There weren't any games. I mainly remember holidays involving the teachers doing crafts, maybe songs and/or stories with us leading up to the holiday. Sometimes for special occasions they'd show us movies and give us popcorn. While it was nowhere as elaborate as the school parties my kids have had (and theirs never included pizza), it was a fun break from the routine which is what we really wanted. The parties at my kids' school seem to be overly done, very disruptive, and unnecessarily stressful (in some ways even for the kids).

By the time you buy all the snack food, you can buy a few pizza's and be done with it for the same cost. I've done it both ways and the pizza ended up being cheaper vs. a selection of snack food. I think its interesting how many people assume whats what when they are not organizing it. A bag of chips is $4-5 dollars. You need a few bags, so there is the cost of pizza right there.

We had school parties growing up.

Its not about replicating at school vs. not but not all kids have great home lives and this is a highlight for them.

But they don’t need “all the snack food” either. Buy or make 1 treat.

I am a teacher and I am a big believer in celebrating with kids, especially in ways that celebrate them. But there are so many free or super cheap ways you can celebrate with a child, it doesn’t have to be 5 types of food, commercial decorations, and an hour of lost instructional time. A celebration can be sitting in the teacher’s chair, wearing a crown your y classmates made you “in secret” at lunchtime and having your classsmates song you a special birthday song. Or it can be taking your poetry outside and reading it under the trees like a transcendentalist and the starting recess 5 minutes early. One time my class decided they wanted to celebrate something by giving themselves silly names that I was to try and remember to call them for the day. Lots of ways for me to model how to look up things you forgot, and for them to model how to be gracious when some one makes a mistake and calls you Queen Puppy when your name is really Princes Hamster.

If you would like to spend $135 on things to bring more joy to our classroom, ask me and I will tell you I want colored ink so I can print more photos to remember their accomplishments (an awesome decorations, and writing prompts), some thin point washable markets for indoor recess, and enough playing cards for the whole class to play math games. Tell me you want a day when parents can come in and celebrate with the kids, and I will tell you to skip Valentine’s Day (we’ll do something in class) and come to our author’s celebration to hear us read our work (no craft needed, and that $25 cupcake and water menu above sounds perfect).

Many of us already donate extra markers and supplies. One has nothing to do with the other. We ask our teachers what they need and they say nothing. We only know if our kids tell us. But, I've sent in board games, books, cards, etc. (new) and my child tells me they are never used so it gets discouraging buying stuff that just disappears. Our school does not allow homemade treats, which I agree with. Every school is different. We also do not have birthday celebrations. No teachers chair, no crowns, no special lunches and no birthday songs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the room parent and we are not allowed to collect money from parents. I sent out a signup yesterway for an upcoming party:

Juice boxes
Sweet treat
Paper plates and napkins

That is it. Parents signed up within 20 minutes to fill the spots. Because it is easy, low cost and they only have to do it once or twice a year. Some parents never sign up. Some parents sign up multiple times. Whatever. Life goes on.

If you only ask for 3/4 things, you don't give parents enough opportunities to sign up and if some don't check their email during the day or when you send it, the slots are all full. You cannot complain if parents don't sign up if they don't have the chance.

I always put about 10-12 things and then put other. That's usually where I have a parent sign up for pizza or other nicer stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the room parent and we are not allowed to collect money from parents. I sent out a signup yesterway for an upcoming party:

Juice boxes
Sweet treat
Paper plates and napkins

That is it. Parents signed up within 20 minutes to fill the spots. Because it is easy, low cost and they only have to do it once or twice a year. Some parents never sign up. Some parents sign up multiple times. Whatever. Life goes on.

If you only ask for 3/4 things, you don't give parents enough opportunities to sign up and if some don't check their email during the day or when you send it, the slots are all full. You cannot complain if parents don't sign up if they don't have the chance.

I always put about 10-12 things and then put other. That's usually where I have a parent sign up for pizza or other nicer stuff.

What? I am not complaining. The kids don’t need pizza along with other stuff. Too many kids are obese. Cut this out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the room parent and we are not allowed to collect money from parents. I sent out a signup yesterway for an upcoming party:

Juice boxes
Sweet treat
Paper plates and napkins

That is it. Parents signed up within 20 minutes to fill the spots. Because it is easy, low cost and they only have to do it once or twice a year. Some parents never sign up. Some parents sign up multiple times. Whatever. Life goes on.

If you only ask for 3/4 things, you don't give parents enough opportunities to sign up and if some don't check their email during the day or when you send it, the slots are all full. You cannot complain if parents don't sign up if they don't have the chance.

I always put about 10-12 things and then put other. That's usually where I have a parent sign up for pizza or other nicer stuff.

What? I am not complaining. The kids don’t need pizza along with other stuff. Too many kids are obese. Cut this out.

Once at school is not a big deal. If your kid is obese, then something you are doing at home is wrong or some kids are just a bit heavier. Its not your call to make. One slice of pizza vs. a bunch of crap snacks doesn't make a difference. I'm amazed that parents give their kids soda, candy and all kinds of there crap at home and then complain about a slice or so of pizza at school at a 3 time a year party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the room parent and we are not allowed to collect money from parents. I sent out a signup yesterway for an upcoming party:

Juice boxes
Sweet treat
Paper plates and napkins

That is it. Parents signed up within 20 minutes to fill the spots. Because it is easy, low cost and they only have to do it once or twice a year. Some parents never sign up. Some parents sign up multiple times. Whatever. Life goes on.

If you only ask for 3/4 things, you don't give parents enough opportunities to sign up and if some don't check their email during the day or when you send it, the slots are all full. You cannot complain if parents don't sign up if they don't have the chance.

I always put about 10-12 things and then put other. That's usually where I have a parent sign up for pizza or other nicer stuff.

What? I am not complaining. The kids don’t need pizza along with other stuff. Too many kids are obese. Cut this out.

Once at school is not a big deal. If your kid is obese, then something you are doing at home is wrong or some kids are just a bit heavier. Its not your call to make. One slice of pizza vs. a bunch of crap snacks doesn't make a difference. I'm amazed that parents give their kids soda, candy and all kinds of there crap at home and then complain about a slice or so of pizza at school at a 3 time a year party.

No one wants that stuff. Skip all the extra stuff. One small treat and a little celebration. There is no need to spend $135 on pizza and then complain parents don’t want to contribute. No kidding. It is wasteful and gross.

[Anonymous]

Wow this makes me grateful for the pre-K room parents at my child’ds private school. We all pay about $60 at the beginning of the year and the room parents arrange holiday parties (in the mornings, so no pizza) and teacher gifts. Compared to daycare, when I felt like we were constantly being asked to sign up for things, this is easy. I would much rather spend $ once than Bring in items multiple times a school year.

[Anonymous]

I have never heard of what the OP is describing. My son's room parent will send out a sign-up for the 3 class parties per year. You can sign-up to bring in a snack, juice, etc. If you WANT to contribute to a Christmas gift, you can send it money. Ditto for the end of year gift. You don't need to serve pizza at class parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the room parent and we are not allowed to collect money from parents. I sent out a signup yesterway for an upcoming party:

Juice boxes
Sweet treat
Paper plates and napkins

That is it. Parents signed up within 20 minutes to fill the spots. Because it is easy, low cost and they only have to do it once or twice a year. Some parents never sign up. Some parents sign up multiple times. Whatever. Life goes on.

If you only ask for 3/4 things, you don't give parents enough opportunities to sign up and if some don't check their email during the day or when you send it, the slots are all full. You cannot complain if parents don't sign up if they don't have the chance.

I always put about 10-12 things and then put other. That's usually where I have a parent sign up for pizza or other nicer stuff.

What? I am not complaining. The kids don’t need pizza along with other stuff. Too many kids are obese. Cut this out.

Once at school is not a big deal. If your kid is obese, then something you are doing at home is wrong or some kids are just a bit heavier. Its not your call to make. One slice of pizza vs. a bunch of crap snacks doesn't make a difference. I'm amazed that parents give their kids soda, candy and all kinds of there crap at home and then complain about a slice or so of pizza at school at a 3 time a year party.

No one wants that stuff. Skip all the extra stuff. One small treat and a little celebration. There is no need to spend $135 on pizza and then complain parents don’t want to contribute. No kidding. It is wasteful and gross.

Exactly this.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. For those of you who are saying I am spending too much on Pizza, for the record, Dominos was $120 for the last party. That included the small individual pizza for one child with allergies. I ordered the amount the teacher requested and she said it was all gone. I need to use Dominos because 1) it has to be delivered since I work full time and can't take a day off to deliver pizza and 2) it works menu-wise with the child with allergies. So I am not being extravagent; I am doing what the teacher requested.