Our 3 yo class at a DCPCS agreed to collect $5 per family IF you were interested in participating. There was no pressure, the donations were anonymous (locked collection box). Our teachers will be receiving Target gift cards that they can use for personal or classroom needs (of which there are many). I chose to give more than $5 because I can but I'm sure some families can't give at all. Who cares, it's about giving not about how much. A lot of us also recently fulfilled the teacher's book fair wishlist. I'll have DC make cards for the teachers saying thank you and happy holidays and call it a day.

Our preschool pools all the money collected and distributes it among all the teachers and support staff including the cook and art teacher. The letters we sent out emphasized that it was completely voluntary. Because experience showed that individuals wanted guidance the suggested amount was "$10-20 per child or whatever your family feels comfortable with giving".

I helped collect my DC's class donations. Our family contributed more, and based on the overall donations, it's clear to us that either not everyone donated or the amounts were fairly small. TOTALLY OKAY!!! The gifts to the teachers will be on behalf of all students.

Im a preschool parent, not elementary, but i always appreciate some type of dollar amount guidnce, but agree dont set a required amount and make it voluntary. But i can afford it, so let me know if this is the type of pot i should put in $100 or $15. Ive been asked for both by different schools, and would never have known what the expectation was if i had not been given a suggested amount.

How about you worry about your own gift and leave others the hell alone. I can't stand people counting my funds, and then telling me what I should be able to do. Giving is best when its done willingly and from the heart, not forced from Super Room Parent.

Do not ask for any specific amount. How tacky! Welcome everyone to contribute, and make the gift from the whole class, regardless of who gives or how much! Yikes.

Why ask for money :if parents can afford it"? I don't really want to admit that I can't and I also don't want to be assumed lazy if I don't donate and it looks like I can.

$20 extra can be a lot depending on a situation...that's at least 3 home cooked dinners for our family of 4

Anonymous wrote:
I am the room parent allocating money. We are giving 2 $50 gift cards to the teacher + a book she requested from the book fair. For the para-educator , a $30 gift card. That will leave us with $100 for the rest of the year, 1 party, end-of-year gift.

Teacher again, this would actually annoy me even more than pushing for a donation. My para works incredibly hard, and deserves the same recognition.

This is how our public school works. At the beginning of the year we ask parents to donate $20 if they can to the room parent fund. There are 16 students in my child's class. The money is used for 2 holiday parties (Halloween, Valentines) and holiday gifts and end of year gifts.
I am the room parent allocating money. We are giving 2 $50 gift cards to the teacher + a book she requested from the book fair. For the para-educator , a $30 gift card. That will leave us with $100 for the rest of the year, 1 party, end-of-year gift.

Not all parents could afford to give $20, 3 parents did not donate, although I'm pretty sure that one of the parents could have donated, but just forgot and got lazy -- parent sent a check made out to school and I had to send it back, but never got a check or cash back)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$20 is very reasonable.

The vast majority of parents can afford it. Ones who really can't can opt out, of course.

Teacher here, please don't do this. Please please don't do this. If you want to give me a gift that's fine. If you want to send out 1 email saying "If anyone wants to join, please give at your discretion", but setting a cost, or implying that people need to "opt out" rather than "opting in", is absolutely unacceptable.

I would much much rather get nothing than know that you're creating this kind of class division in my class.

I agree, don't force people to give 20 dollars if you can't, people who can't afford it are likely to feel guilty or force themselves to give it even though they can't afford it. No teacher wants that kind of gift.

If you want to collect money, you can send an email to parents stating that your collecting money for a group gift and if anyone wants to contribute they can. Some may send 5, some may send 20 or more and that's fine. No need to specify a set amount will an all or nothing attitude. Teacher's will be grateful for it regardless.