Anonymous wrote:My kids ES asks for a voluntary donation of $25 at the start of each year. It goes into a class treasury (by which I mean a grade level account, usable by all of the classes in that grade, and overseen by a grade level treasurer who is not a room parent). It's made very clear what the money is for - staff and teacher appreciation week events planned by the PTA, crafts for 2-3 class parties/year, and grade-wide activities like Colonial Day, etc. all of which is budgeted for based on how much is in the account. Also directly stated is what the money *doesn't* cover, including food for parties and holiday/end of year teacher gifts. For parties, room parents create a Sign Up Genius and solicit donations such as chips, veggies, water bottles, cookies, and basic paper goods. Any money left at the end of the year carries over with the class, which really helps given that 6th grade expenses are a bit higher with the addition of class t-shirts and the year end farewell ceremony and party. I've had a kid at this school for the past decade and have never 1) seen pizza, or any full meal for that matter, at a class party or 2) been asked to donate more because the account was misspent and couldn't cover costs mid-year.

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Anonymous wrote:Why do they need pizza?

Shouldn't you be planning within the money you have?

I find it cheaper to do pizza and a few other things then tons of random snacks. Kids will almost always eat the pizza (in less a food allergy). I do it as a way to cut down my costs.

It isn't working.

You need to plan with the money you have, not ask for more. You don't need "tons of random snacks" either.

Sounds to me like you don't budget very well.

How is pizza ever going to be cheaper than asking people to bring in cheese sticks and fruit OR pretzels and fruit? It's not.

You can’t have those snack items for kids in 5th-6th grade. Some of these kids are adult sized. You need some kind of a meal.

No you don't.

You do for our fifth grade class. The 2 parties this year - at the teacher’s request - are during lunchtime. She asked that the party include lunch. So we have to have a meal.

Of course it makes sense as a replacement for lunch but that’s not what anyone here is saying.

Even then, you should either push back on the lunch timing or tell the teacher you don't have $ to provide lunch, but you can provide a dessert to go with their regular lunch.

That’s insane. Twice a whole year it is reasonable for kids to have a group lunch of pizza during a class party. Pushback? Wth

If there is no money, there is no money, unless you think the pizza fairy is going to deliver the pizza for free. This whole thread started when op complained other parents weren't contributing enough to the party the teacher wanted/suggested. If the parents fund it (either collectively or the room parents sucking kt up), then great. If not, then even two times a year is more than can be done for that class.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need pizza?

Shouldn't you be planning within the money you have?

I find it cheaper to do pizza and a few other things then tons of random snacks. Kids will almost always eat the pizza (in less a food allergy). I do it as a way to cut down my costs.

It isn't working.

You need to plan with the money you have, not ask for more. You don't need "tons of random snacks" either.

Sounds to me like you don't budget very well.

How is pizza ever going to be cheaper than asking people to bring in cheese sticks and fruit OR pretzels and fruit? It's not.

You can’t have those snack items for kids in 5th-6th grade. Some of these kids are adult sized. You need some kind of a meal.

No you don't.

You do for our fifth grade class. The 2 parties this year - at the teacher’s request - are during lunchtime. She asked that the party include lunch. So we have to have a meal.

Of course it makes sense as a replacement for lunch but that’s not what anyone here is saying.

Even then, you should either push back on the lunch timing or tell the teacher you don't have $ to provide lunch, but you can provide a dessert to go with their regular lunch.

You can collect enough money or donations to make it work. I think that's great its at lunch. I wish ours were. This poster wasn't saying money was an issue, she/he as saying that is when the teacher planned it.

If parents can collect enough, great. Most of this thread is about the inability to collect enough for the party the teacher or the Pinterest mom wanted.

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Anonymous wrote:I was often the room parent when my kids were in lower grades and I used to send out emails at the beginning of the year detailing what activities, parties, food, teacher's gift we would have for the entire year. I met with the teacher to draw out the plans (usually duplicating what was done in the previous years), and send an email and a signup genius link to all parents. An email was sent every week for the first 6 weeks, listing the names of all the people who had contributed. Within the first couple of weeks, all parents used to sent in their fixed $ contribution. We usually had a set number of celebrations, some activities and holiday teacher's gift. We relied on some parents to make a costco run for the parties.

I did not want to run after people to get money from them, so I made sure that all the funds were collected during the first few weeks of school. I sent emails every week for the first few weeks listing the names of people who contributed and those who still had to. It was easy to write the reminder emails at the beginning of the year.

OP, being a room parent is a responsibility not a popularity contest. You need to be blunt and make sure that everyone contributes at least a minimum agreed upon amount. If people want to contribute more it is up to them, but the fixed amount contribution is mandatory.

Wow, this is really shitting. You called out the people who didn't contribute? You're pretty rude to even gripe about it behind their backs, but you are an awful person for shaming them in a group email.

- a room mom

Agreed. It is terrible to keep track and call out people like that.
Our teacher gave us room parents a form letter for the class donation which we adapted. In it she asked us to keep track of amounts but not who donated. I think that was best.

+1!

If a room parent in my DC’s class sent out a class wide email naming families who didn’t give money, I would think very poorly of that room parent, not of the parents who didn’t (for whatever reason) contribute!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was often the room parent when my kids were in lower grades and I used to send out emails at the beginning of the year detailing what activities, parties, food, teacher's gift we would have for the entire year. I met with the teacher to draw out the plans (usually duplicating what was done in the previous years), and send an email and a signup genius link to all parents. An email was sent every week for the first 6 weeks, listing the names of all the people who had contributed. Within the first couple of weeks, all parents used to sent in their fixed $ contribution. We usually had a set number of celebrations, some activities and holiday teacher's gift. We relied on some parents to make a costco run for the parties.

I did not want to run after people to get money from them, so I made sure that all the funds were collected during the first few weeks of school. I sent emails every week for the first few weeks listing the names of people who contributed and those who still had to. It was easy to write the reminder emails at the beginning of the year.

OP, being a room parent is a responsibility not a popularity contest. You need to be blunt and make sure that everyone contributes at least a minimum agreed upon amount. If people want to contribute more it is up to them, but the fixed amount contribution is mandatory.

Wow, this is really shitting. You called out the people who didn't contribute? You're pretty rude to even gripe about it behind their backs, but you are an awful person for shaming them in a group email.

- a room mom

Agreed. It is terrible to keep track and call out people like that.
Our teacher gave us room parents a form letter for the class donation which we adapted. In it she asked us to keep track of amounts but not who donated. I think that was best.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need pizza?

Shouldn't you be planning within the money you have?

I find it cheaper to do pizza and a few other things then tons of random snacks. Kids will almost always eat the pizza (in less a food allergy). I do it as a way to cut down my costs.

It isn't working.

You need to plan with the money you have, not ask for more. You don't need "tons of random snacks" either.

Sounds to me like you don't budget very well.

How is pizza ever going to be cheaper than asking people to bring in cheese sticks and fruit OR pretzels and fruit? It's not.

You can’t have those snack items for kids in 5th-6th grade. Some of these kids are adult sized. You need some kind of a meal.

No you don't.

You do for our fifth grade class. The 2 parties this year - at the teacher’s request - are during lunchtime. She asked that the party include lunch. So we have to have a meal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need pizza?

Shouldn't you be planning within the money you have?

I find it cheaper to do pizza and a few other things then tons of random snacks. Kids will almost always eat the pizza (in less a food allergy). I do it as a way to cut down my costs.

It isn't working.

You need to plan with the money you have, not ask for more. You don't need "tons of random snacks" either.

Sounds to me like you don't budget very well.

How is pizza ever going to be cheaper than asking people to bring in cheese sticks and fruit OR pretzels and fruit? It's not.

You can’t have those snack items for kids in 5th-6th grade. Some of these kids are adult sized. You need some kind of a meal.

No you don't.

You do for our fifth grade class. The 2 parties this year - at the teacher’s request - are during lunchtime. She asked that the party include lunch. So we have to have a meal.

Of course it makes sense as a replacement for lunch but that’s not what anyone here is saying.

Even then, you should either push back on the lunch timing or tell the teacher you don't have $ to provide lunch, but you can provide a dessert to go with their regular lunch.

You can collect enough money or donations to make it work. I think that's great its at lunch. I wish ours were. This poster wasn't saying money was an issue, she/he as saying that is when the teacher planned it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need pizza?

Shouldn't you be planning within the money you have?

I find it cheaper to do pizza and a few other things then tons of random snacks. Kids will almost always eat the pizza (in less a food allergy). I do it as a way to cut down my costs.

It isn't working.

You need to plan with the money you have, not ask for more. You don't need "tons of random snacks" either.

Sounds to me like you don't budget very well.

How is pizza ever going to be cheaper than asking people to bring in cheese sticks and fruit OR pretzels and fruit? It's not.

You can’t have those snack items for kids in 5th-6th grade. Some of these kids are adult sized. You need some kind of a meal.

No you don't.

You do for our fifth grade class. The 2 parties this year - at the teacher’s request - are during lunchtime. She asked that the party include lunch. So we have to have a meal.

Of course it makes sense as a replacement for lunch but that’s not what anyone here is saying.

Even then, you should either push back on the lunch timing or tell the teacher you don't have $ to provide lunch, but you can provide a dessert to go with their regular lunch.

That’s insane. Twice a whole year it is reasonable for kids to have a group lunch of pizza during a class party. Pushback? Wth

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was often the room parent when my kids were in lower grades and I used to send out emails at the beginning of the year detailing what activities, parties, food, teacher's gift we would have for the entire year. I met with the teacher to draw out the plans (usually duplicating what was done in the previous years), and send an email and a signup genius link to all parents. An email was sent every week for the first 6 weeks, listing the names of all the people who had contributed. Within the first couple of weeks, all parents used to sent in their fixed $ contribution. We usually had a set number of celebrations, some activities and holiday teacher's gift. We relied on some parents to make a costco run for the parties.

I did not want to run after people to get money from them, so I made sure that all the funds were collected during the first few weeks of school. I sent emails every week for the first few weeks listing the names of people who contributed and those who still had to. It was easy to write the reminder emails at the beginning of the year.

OP, being a room parent is a responsibility not a popularity contest. You need to be blunt and make sure that everyone contributes at least a minimum agreed upon amount. If people want to contribute more it is up to them, but the fixed amount contribution is mandatory.

Wow, this is really shitting. You called out the people who didn't contribute? You're pretty rude to even gripe about it behind their backs, but you are an awful person for shaming them in a group email.

- a room mom

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need pizza?

Shouldn't you be planning within the money you have?

I find it cheaper to do pizza and a few other things then tons of random snacks. Kids will almost always eat the pizza (in less a food allergy). I do it as a way to cut down my costs.

It isn't working.

You need to plan with the money you have, not ask for more. You don't need "tons of random snacks" either.

Sounds to me like you don't budget very well.

How is pizza ever going to be cheaper than asking people to bring in cheese sticks and fruit OR pretzels and fruit? It's not.

You can’t have those snack items for kids in 5th-6th grade. Some of these kids are adult sized. You need some kind of a meal.

No you don't.

You do for our fifth grade class. The 2 parties this year - at the teacher’s request - are during lunchtime. She asked that the party include lunch. So we have to have a meal.

Of course it makes sense as a replacement for lunch but that’s not what anyone here is saying.

Even then, you should either push back on the lunch timing or tell the teacher you don't have $ to provide lunch, but you can provide a dessert to go with their regular lunch.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People may appreciate being asked for money for particular things throughout the year rather than for one lump sum at the beginning. Also, have people bring food or pay for food for specific parties. We have much higher contribution rates than you, which could be due to a number of different factors, but we do both of the things I mentioned so perhaps that helps.

Most people if they can will chip in for specific things. Many people see the hazard in having a 'room fund' which collects $100 per child x 20-25 kids and is managed by a 'room parent' with little accountability and practically no oversight. People don't really know what that money is spent for or why.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need pizza?

Shouldn't you be planning within the money you have?

I find it cheaper to do pizza and a few other things then tons of random snacks. Kids will almost always eat the pizza (in less a food allergy). I do it as a way to cut down my costs.

It isn't working.

You need to plan with the money you have, not ask for more. You don't need "tons of random snacks" either.

Sounds to me like you don't budget very well.

How is pizza ever going to be cheaper than asking people to bring in cheese sticks and fruit OR pretzels and fruit? It's not.

You can’t have those snack items for kids in 5th-6th grade. Some of these kids are adult sized. You need some kind of a meal.

No you don't.

You do for our fifth grade class. The 2 parties this year - at the teacher’s request - are during lunchtime. She asked that the party include lunch. So we have to have a meal.

Of course it makes sense as a replacement for lunch but that’s not what anyone here is saying.

Even then, you should either push back on the lunch timing or tell the teacher you don't have $ to provide lunch, but you can provide a dessert to go with their regular lunch.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need pizza?

Shouldn't you be planning within the money you have?

I find it cheaper to do pizza and a few other things then tons of random snacks. Kids will almost always eat the pizza (in less a food allergy). I do it as a way to cut down my costs.

It isn't working.

You need to plan with the money you have, not ask for more. You don't need "tons of random snacks" either.

Sounds to me like you don't budget very well.

How is pizza ever going to be cheaper than asking people to bring in cheese sticks and fruit OR pretzels and fruit? It's not.

You can’t have those snack items for kids in 5th-6th grade. Some of these kids are adult sized. You need some kind of a meal.

No you don't.

You do for our fifth grade class. The 2 parties this year - at the teacher’s request - are during lunchtime. She asked that the party include lunch. So we have to have a meal.

Of course it makes sense as a replacement for lunch but that’s not what anyone here is saying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they need pizza?

Shouldn't you be planning within the money you have?

I find it cheaper to do pizza and a few other things then tons of random snacks. Kids will almost always eat the pizza (in less a food allergy). I do it as a way to cut down my costs.

It isn't working.

You need to plan with the money you have, not ask for more. You don't need "tons of random snacks" either.

Sounds to me like you don't budget very well.

How is pizza ever going to be cheaper than asking people to bring in cheese sticks and fruit OR pretzels and fruit? It's not.

You can’t have those snack items for kids in 5th-6th grade. Some of these kids are adult sized. You need some kind of a meal.

No you don't.

You do for our fifth grade class. The 2 parties this year - at the teacher’s request - are during lunchtime. She asked that the party include lunch. So we have to have a meal.