Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 20:54     Subject: Re:Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
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.


I would not contribute based on general principle and get the teacher my own gift. Emails naming who hadn’t contributed? Minimum contribution? This is a public school not a private school. There are a variety of parents who may or may not be able to contribute. Why the hell are you guilting them into contributing to your ideal version of what an elementary school party should be? Holy crap.

My DS room parents send out an email and clearly say they understand that not eevery one can contribute and no one is required to contribute. Those who can contribute send in money but not everyone can. Or people can contribute at different levels because of jobs or number of kids.

Just damn
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 20:47     Subject: Re:Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Our room parent requested $100 at the beginning of the year. Is that you OP?

Not doing it. There is no way you need nearly $3000 to fund what you say is everything. If that’s what you need, your budgeting skills worry me.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 20:45     Subject: Re:Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
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.


Poor families should not feel compelled to contribute to your jackassery. That you feel compelled to invent a job for yourself to stave off boredom is not the problem of other families. I am a wealthy working mom, but I find all the asking for money to be highly immoral. It makes poor families feel unwelcome at PUBLIC school.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 20:43     Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:Can I just ask - who are you people having pizza parties in your child's classroom? The only thing ours does is a Thanksgiving potluck. I don't understand why there needs to be other parties?


Apparently FCPS has pizza parties accustomed other responses.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 20:42     Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Our school doesn’t do any of these types of activities and I honestly don’t think I’d be very happy about them if they did. I always contribute but expect my contributions to go towards teacher gifts and class supplies for educational or artistic needs. My kids don’t need more pizza or cupcakes.

But, with regards to funds, send reminders.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 20:38     Subject: Re:Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
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.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 20:32     Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??S XX e
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Maybe some families are struggling and don’t feel it’s prudent to contribute to such non-essential nonsense. You do you.


Our school dictates the parties. I don’t care if you donate but yes, we see your the biggest house in the neighborhood and drive the fanciest new car and then scream poverty over donating some napkins from dollar tree. Your kids will have fun and be treated the same either way.


Your school tells you that there needs to be a party, or that it needs to have pizza and fancy napkins?

And is it the school or the PTA?


School dictates it. Dollar tree is fancy? A few $5 pizzas is fancy.


27 $5 pizzas to be precise.

Most schools have free paper towels that work just fine to put a cupcake on. So yes. Judging a parent because they won’t make a special run to a special store is absurd. I am happy to have my kid eat off the school paper towels. I am happy to send you 30 napkins from the stack in my kitchen. If you are not happy to have those napkins in your pictures then please purchase them yourself.

I am a parent who contributes to the school. My kid’s teacher know that. I don’t need PTA mom to validate me.

Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 20:30     Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:Can I just ask - who are you people having pizza parties in your child's classroom? The only thing ours does is a Thanksgiving potluck. I don't understand why there needs to be other parties?


The rest of us don’t understand it either.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 20:24     Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Can I just ask - who are you people having pizza parties in your child's classroom? The only thing ours does is a Thanksgiving potluck. I don't understand why there needs to be other parties?
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 20:19     Subject: Re:Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
I have 3rd and 5th graders in an FCPS school. From time to time, they indeed have pizza parties. Our school only allows two parties a year but they do have a themed snack every so often that the room parents solicit goods from families. Our class donation is $10 a kid once a year for the parties and a sign up email also goes out for the parties.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 20:01     Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
Anonymous wrote:How many parties per year does your kid's class have (need)? At our MCPS schools, there's Halloween & Valentine's Day. Parent volunteers do it all; they can get reimbursed by the PTA for a small amount but I've always just paid myself for what I contribute and I think that's the norm.

I also question the pizza. Two kids, 10 years in MCPS I've never seen a party with pizza in the classroom.


We have Holiday, Japanese New Year, and End of the YEar
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 19:56     Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
I think you’re spending way too much per party. $125 for pizza?! Our class parties usually consist of a snack: some grapes or apple slices, popcorn or pretzels, and cookies or cupcakes. Costumes for the kids? That sounds way elaborate. Sure you can send out another email for contributions but I think you should really consider toning down the parties.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 19:00     Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
How many parties per year does your kid's class have (need)? At our MCPS schools, there's Halloween & Valentine's Day. Parent volunteers do it all; they can get reimbursed by the PTA for a small amount but I've always just paid myself for what I contribute and I think that's the norm.

I also question the pizza. Two kids, 10 years in MCPS I've never seen a party with pizza in the classroom.
Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 18:54     Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
My son's school doesn't allow food to be brought in for parties, due to allergy concerns.

Do you know what I do with room parent emails asking me to bring stuff in (non food)? I delete them. Because I don't have the time or energy to deal with another item when I have two kids and a full-time job.

Anonymous
Post 01/25/2019 18:43     Subject: Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??
I know that several PPs have asked, but did OP ever say what amount she was demanding from parents to pay for these mandatory gourmet pizza parties?