Anonymous
01/26/2019 14:43
Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:MCPS parent here. We have a Halloween party, vday, and end of year. Gifts our given by the family if they want
they want.
Party is a mini cupcake on a paper towel with a bottle of water. Activity is playing games.
I think the mini cupcakes are $4.99/12. We need 3 boxes that $15. Say $10 for the water which will leave some left over for the next party.
I’m in a W district, not the room parent, and think this is fine.
Our MCPS school doesn't always have paper towels or even soap... As a W district, maybe you can share your supplies with some of our schools. One year, they didn't even have enough toilet paper.
You sound really stingy for being financially comfortable in your rich W school.
My BCC district ES PtA gives thousands each years to Focus schools PTAs. I’m sure many of the W schools do as well. You don’t need to be obnoxious. The PP described a party that is much closer to what my kids have for their classroom parties than a pizza for all bash. Doesn’t make anyone stingy.
It does make you stingy if you can spend $100 to go out to eat and not donate $5 or less (given carrots, plates, fruit can be less than $5) to a party a few times a year. PTA has nothing to do with room parties. I don't know any other PTA's that give to focus schools. And, even then, those PTA's are not spending it on the actual classrooms. It is obnoxious to be so selfish. Having pizza at a party is not that expensive. You only need a few pizzas and usually if you do sign up genius one parent ends up donating it. I don't know why you think these parties, even if they have nice food are that costly. But, probably because you've never done one or even attended. Some of us can do a lot with very little.
I’m a room parent and I’ve attended most of my kids’ parties and I’m not wrong just because I disagree with you. Our kids’ pizza parties are typically at 1:30/2 so the parents can then pick them up around dismissal time. We don’t have pizza partly because it’s expensive but mostly because it’s entirely unnecessary because the kids have just eaten lunch. We spend more room parent funds on craft materials or on cheap prizes for games and then have a fruit platter, pretzels and mini cupcakes that parents contribute. we save most of our funds for teacher gift cards, which means more than a slice of papa john’s after kids have just eaten lunch.
Anonymous
01/26/2019 14:38
Subject: Re:Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
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.
Anonymous
01/26/2019 14:35
Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:MCPS parent here. We have a Halloween party, vday, and end of year. Gifts our given by the family if they want
they want.
Party is a mini cupcake on a paper towel with a bottle of water. Activity is playing games.
I think the mini cupcakes are $4.99/12. We need 3 boxes that $15. Say $10 for the water which will leave some left over for the next party.
I’m in a W district, not the room parent, and think this is fine.
Our MCPS school doesn't always have paper towels or even soap... As a W district, maybe you can share your supplies with some of our schools. One year, they didn't even have enough toilet paper.
You sound really stingy for being financially comfortable in your rich W school.
My BCC district ES PtA gives thousands each years to Focus schools PTAs. I’m sure many of the W schools do as well. You don’t need to be obnoxious. The PP described a party that is much closer to what my kids have for their classroom parties than a pizza for all bash. Doesn’t make anyone stingy.
It does make you stingy if you can spend $100 to go out to eat and not donate $5 or less (given carrots, plates, fruit can be less than $5) to a party a few times a year. PTA has nothing to do with room parties. I don't know any other PTA's that give to focus schools. And, even then, those PTA's are not spending it on the actual classrooms. It is obnoxious to be so selfish. Having pizza at a party is not that expensive. You only need a few pizzas and usually if you do sign up genius one parent ends up donating it. I don't know why you think these parties, even if they have nice food are that costly. But, probably because you've never done one or even attended. Some of us can do a lot with very little.
Anonymous
01/26/2019 14:35
Subject: Re:Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
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).
Anonymous
01/26/2019 14:27
Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:MCPS parent here. We have a Halloween party, vday, and end of year. Gifts our given by the family if they want
they want.
Party is a mini cupcake on a paper towel with a bottle of water. Activity is playing games.
I think the mini cupcakes are $4.99/12. We need 3 boxes that $15. Say $10 for the water which will leave some left over for the next party.
I’m in a W district, not the room parent, and think this is fine.
Our MCPS school doesn't always have paper towels or even soap... As a W district, maybe you can share your supplies with some of our schools. One year, they didn't even have enough toilet paper.
You sound really stingy for being financially comfortable in your rich W school.
My BCC district ES PtA gives thousands each years to Focus schools PTAs. I’m sure many of the W schools do as well. You don’t need to be obnoxious. The PP described a party that is much closer to what my kids have for their classroom parties than a pizza for all bash. Doesn’t make anyone stingy.
Anonymous
01/26/2019 14:21
Subject: Re:Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:Also, when I was last room parent, I asked people to sign up to bring something specific (drinks, water, cookies) rather than asking for money. I happily funded everything else because I saw it as my room parent duty.
This is what I do and usually I have a few generous parents pick up the big things so I just have to do fill in and activities. I have no issue spending the money as if some of these parents would actually attend the parties they'd see how much some of the kids enjoy it. Likewise some kids don't get invited to birthday parties for their peers so these are the are the only parties they get to go to, which is pretty sad that parents deliberately exclude kids.
It really isn't that expensive and if you are a room parent year to year, you save the decorations so you just need food and some activities (as you save some from the year before).
Is it really that hard to chip in a pack of plates, a bag of veggies, etc? You really are going to deny your kids a few parties a year at school?
Anonymous
01/26/2019 14:17
Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:MCPS parent here. We have a Halloween party, vday, and end of year. Gifts our given by the family if they want
they want.
Party is a mini cupcake on a paper towel with a bottle of water. Activity is playing games.
I think the mini cupcakes are $4.99/12. We need 3 boxes that $15. Say $10 for the water which will leave some left over for the next party.
I’m in a W district, not the room parent, and think this is fine.
Our MCPS school doesn't always have paper towels or even soap... As a W district, maybe you can share your supplies with some of our schools. One year, they didn't even have enough toilet paper.
You sound really stingy for being financially comfortable in your rich W school.
Anonymous
01/26/2019 14:15
Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Haven’t read through responses, but why are kids getting pizza? In addition to lunch? Too much food, OP. Ugh.
135 dollars worth of pizza is 27 medium one-topping pizzas at Pizza Hut. One medium pizza per kid. Lol.
If we did that, I could send one pizza home per child and they'd have dinner.
Anonymous
01/26/2019 14:14
Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I didn’t have parties in school growing up I don’t think. Just a Halloween parade and Valentines card exchange. I don’t even remember “room parents.” Is this a new thing or a rich school thing?
From what I gather, both.
+1. When I growing up, our parties were 1 cupcake for a classmates birthday.
Kids don’t need this. Sounds like an unnecessary activity planned by “room parents”.
Most schools have done away with classmate birthdays and only have 2-3 parties a year. We don't have a parade as they say safety reasons.
Anonymous
01/26/2019 14:12
Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:Those over the top parties always seemed more about the PTA mom than the kids or what they wanted. Endless boring games, way too much sugar, teacher gifts that were weird. One room mom used the money to give the teacher a book all about ... her kid. A special book all about Larlas year. Crazy.
Are you really clueless about the different roles? PTA is completely separate from room parent. Most of us who do room parent are forced, for lack of a better term, as we volunteer once, are done with the nasty parents and choose not to do it and get calls from the teacher or principal or our kids tell us no party per their teacher in less your XXX step in and does it and they are upset (this happened with us where my child was so upset that the party was canceled). There are many room parents like OP who misuse the money. Depending on the room parent there is not much sugar. I keep it healthy except for a cupcake or small slice of cake. Most kids get far more sugar at home than school. If I got everyone to donate $5, I can easily do what most would consider a lavish party when it isn't, including pizza and a desert. Its all about how you spend the money. And, many of the kids like the dumb games (I wish we didn't do them but the teachers insist).
PTA is completely separate. They do not contribute money and many of the PTA parents refuse to do anything classroom related as the PTA is their passion. They are too selfish to even donate a box of kleenex or wipes when they send their sick kids to school.
Anonymous
01/26/2019 14:07
Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As a parent, I find all of the PTA emails annoying. I contribute but think they create lots of work for everyone. Less is more. The kids don’t care about half of what you do and most parents think you are giving us more to do to make yourself look busy. I’m also a teacher and feel the same way. My children’s school has a very active PTA and some parents treat it like a full time job. Where I work does not have a PTA that is as involved. Have less parties, stop ordering pizza and ask parents to bring in bulk popcorn in individual bags. That’s all they need.
And stop collecting for teacher gifts. It’s not necessary.
+1 the teachers don't want that crap anyway.
I collect and give the teachers a gift card. If I was a teacher that is what I would want.
Its not about what you would want as a teacher. I think our teacher would prefer we send in snacks and supplies so it doesn't come out of her pocket over a gift card. There is absolutely no reason for a room parent to collect for presents. Each family should do what they want and can afford. Depending on where you live, there are also limits on what can be given. For us, a group gift if you have that many parents donate can violate school ethics policies and it can cause issues. Its ok if each family gives $20 directly but not ok if it is collected and one large gift card.
Anonymous
01/26/2019 14:06
Subject: Re:Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
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.
Anonymous
01/26/2019 13:08
Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As a parent, I find all of the PTA emails annoying. I contribute but think they create lots of work for everyone. Less is more. The kids don’t care about half of what you do and most parents think you are giving us more to do to make yourself look busy. I’m also a teacher and feel the same way. My children’s school has a very active PTA and some parents treat it like a full time job. Where I work does not have a PTA that is as involved. Have less parties, stop ordering pizza and ask parents to bring in bulk popcorn in individual bags. That’s all they need.
And stop collecting for teacher gifts. It’s not necessary.
+1 the teachers don't want that crap anyway.
I collect and give the teachers a gift card. If I was a teacher that is what I would want.
Anonymous
01/26/2019 11:16
Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am a room parent and we ask for each family to contribute a certain amount at the start of the year. This covers teacher holiday and end of year gifts, costumes for the school play and all crafts/food for parties. Pizza alone runs roughly $135 per party. We have about 55% participation yet 100% of the kids get crafts, fed at the party, and costumes for the play. We sign the teacher gifts from the class. It's January and we are out of money once I set aside for end of year gifts ($25/teacher). That means no more parties for the rest of the year. Do I email the class asking again for those who haven't donated to step up? For those of you who don't contribute, how do you feel about your child taking part in the parties, etc when you've not helped? And for those in a financial hardship, I get it.. but I'd venture in our school that is not the primary driver.
It sounds like you have taken on a responsibility you are ill equipped to handle. You had a budget and blew it. Please refrain from volunteering for responsibilities in the future.
Agreed.
—room parent
Anonymous
01/26/2019 11:13
Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As a parent, I find all of the PTA emails annoying. I contribute but think they create lots of work for everyone. Less is more. The kids don’t care about half of what you do and most parents think you are giving us more to do to make yourself look busy. I’m also a teacher and feel the same way. My children’s school has a very active PTA and some parents treat it like a full time job. Where I work does not have a PTA that is as involved. Have less parties, stop ordering pizza and ask parents to bring in bulk popcorn in individual bags. That’s all they need.
And stop collecting for teacher gifts. It’s not necessary.
+1 the teachers don't want that crap anyway.