Room Parents
2021-2022 Room Parents: Please take our Room Parent Survey by Sunday, May 1, 2022. This feedback will help us improve the room parent experience and is anonymous.
For preschool through 5th grade classes, the PTSA has room parents who volunteer to help organize class parties and recognize teachers throughout the year for things like their birthday, Teacher Appreciation Week, and the end of the year.
The PTSA is so grateful that these parents are willing to volunteer, so our kids can enjoy fun parties throughout the year! Aimee Wulfeck is our Room Parent Committee chairperson. For any questions regarding Room Parents, please e-mail Aimee Wulfeck at aimeewulfeck@gmail.com
Please remember that if you are a Beechwood employee (teacher/staff/sub) you cannot be reimbursed for any expenses. Someone else in your classroom should make the purchases because PTSA is not allowed to reimburse any Beechwood employee.
Parties
Party Details
Each party usually has four parts (depending on the grade level):
1. Games
2. Craft
3. Story (this may be substituted with a gift exchange of some sort)
4. Snack/Drink- snacks must be from the SnackSafely list – The peanut and tree nut free guide (Traditional Guide).
**For the 2021-2022 school year, students cannot eat in the classroom due to COVID rules. Therefore, snack/drink should NOT be a station for parties this year.
The easiest way to be sure every student gets to experience every part of the party is to have four stations. Ideally each station would be manned by a parent volunteer.
Times
For preschool through 5th grade classes, the PTSA has room parents who volunteer to help organize class parties and recognize teachers throughout the year for things like their birthday, Teacher Appreciation Week, and the end of the year.
The PTSA is so grateful that these parents are willing to volunteer, so our kids can enjoy fun parties throughout the year! Aimee Wulfeck is our Room Parent Committee chairperson. For any questions regarding Room Parents, please e-mail Aimee Wulfeck at aimeewulfeck@gmail.com
Please remember that if you are a Beechwood employee (teacher/staff/sub) you cannot be reimbursed for any expenses. Someone else in your classroom should make the purchases because PTSA is not allowed to reimburse any Beechwood employee.
Parties
- Halloween Party
- Friday, 11/29/21
- Christmas Party
- Friday, 12/17/21
- Valentine's Day Party
- Friday, 2/18/22
Party Details
Each party usually has four parts (depending on the grade level):
1. Games
2. Craft
3. Story (this may be substituted with a gift exchange of some sort)
4. Snack/Drink- snacks must be from the SnackSafely list – The peanut and tree nut free guide (Traditional Guide).
**For the 2021-2022 school year, students cannot eat in the classroom due to COVID rules. Therefore, snack/drink should NOT be a station for parties this year.
The easiest way to be sure every student gets to experience every part of the party is to have four stations. Ideally each station would be manned by a parent volunteer.
Times
- K - 1:30-2:15
- 1st - 12:30-1:15
- 2nd - 11:45-12:30
- 3rd - 9:00-9:45
- 4th - 9:45-10:30
- 5th - 8:15-9:00
- 6/10/22
- Final deadline to submit all party expense reports (Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day) due to treasurer Lisa Bush. Expense reports will NOT be accepted after this date.
- Click on the Forms tab above to access the reimbursement form
- Directions on how to submit your form and receipts to Lisa Bush are on the top of that form
Food/Snacks in the Classroom
Christmas Party Ideas
- All food brought into the classroom must be on the Snack Safely Guide. Please use their traditional guide for peanut and tree nut free foods.
- This list should also be used for foods brought into parties that aren't planned to be eaten, but will be used for projects where they will be touched.
- For the 2021-2022 school year, food cannot be eaten inside the classroom due to COVID rules. You may send students home with their snack if you'd like. Or you can save money and not include a snack to be sent home for the party. Foods sent home with students must also be on the Snack Safely Guide.
- Below are the totals per classroom/teacher that can be spent on class parties and other items that benefit the students in the 2021-2022 school year. For example, each 1st grade class will receive $198.
- Preschool $100
- Kindergarten $345
- 1st grade $198
- 2nd grade $237
- 3rd grade $207
- 4th grade $210
- 5th grade $181
- If you are unsure how much money you have left to spend for your class parties after submitting expenses, contact PTSA Treasurer Lisa Bush at lisabush327@gmail.com
- Beechwood will need a list of the 4 total volunteers (this includes the Room Parent if they plan to attend) that will be coming to each party. These lists should always be given to Aimee Wulfeck before the party. See dates above on when this list is due.
- Each parent coming into the classroom to volunteer at Beechwood needs to be on the approved volunteer list.
- If you are unsure if you are on this list or not, please contact Shaun Birindelli in the front elementary office.
- If you are not on the approved volunteer list and would like to be, complete this form and submit it to Shaun Birindelli in the front office along with $10 cash or check.
- Another part of the Room Parent's responsibility is to recognize the teacher and let them know how much they are appreciated. Some ideas on how to recognize your teacher are:
- Recognize them on their birthday, during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-6, 2022), at the end of the school year, and/or at Christmas
- Recognize a major achievement like having a baby, getting married, winning a special teaching award, etc.
- Bring them their favorite lunch, drink, or snack for their birthday or for no reason at all. NOTE: Alcohol is not allowed on school grounds (even unopened bottles). So, do NOT bring alcohol in a gift to teachers at school.
- Ask the students to make them a card for their birthday, Christmas, Teacher Appreciation week, or the end of the year
- Purchase something for their classroom that they could use for themselves or for the students
- Due to strict rules within National PTSA and the IRS, PTSA funds cannot be used to recognize teachers through the Room Parent gifts because we are only allowed to spend a certain percentage of our total budget on items outside of our mission (PTSA's mission is all about the kids).
- Room Parents can solicit the parents in their class to ask if anyone would like to contribute to a gift from the class or if someone would like to volunteer to recognize the teacher by bringing in their favorite lunch, drink, etc.
- Teacher gift purchases cannot be submitted for reimbursement with PTSA. Those gifts should come out of the donations sent directly to the room parent. Because you are not using PTSA money for these gifts, you are not restricted in what you purchase. Therefore, you can buy gift cards with the money you collect directly from parents.
- Room Parents were sent a copy of their teacher's favorite things to help guide any gift purchases for teachers. If you do not have this list, contact Aimee Wulfeck
- How many people can come to each party?
- Only 4 people total can come to each party. This number includes the Room Parent if they need to attend too.
- Please understand that the limit on volunteers has to do with parking and the number of visitors in the building at one time.
- If you have many parents who want to attend a party, you will need to spread out the volunteers across each party. In some cases, the Room Parent may need to hand over responsibilities to other parents to handle parts of the party, so that everyone has the chance to attend.
- Can I ask the parents in my class to donate more money for class parties?
- No. All parents were encouraged to donate to class parties from Open House nights through the Halloween party. If parents want to donate the supplies they purchase for the party and not be reimbursed that is acceptable. But, parents should not be solicited for more money for the parties. However, parents can be asked to donate for teacher gifts.
- What can I spend the PTSA class party budget on? What can't I spend the PTSA class party budget on?
- You can use PTSA funds to purchase items for class parties, including snacks, craft materials, decorations, and games. You can also use PTSA funds to purchase items for your teacher to use in the classroom that will benefit the students.
- You cannot use PTSA funds to purchase gifts for the teacher or to purchase gift cards for anyone.
- How do I get reimbursed for purchases made for class parties?
- Save all receipts used to make purchases for your class parties. All receipts should be submitted in a timely manner along with the reimbursement form (see Forms tab above) to the PTSA Treasurer Lisa Bush. If you only have an electronic receipt (for example from Amazon) then you can submit that electronically to Lisa Bush.
- PTSA is a tax exempt organization, so we cannot reimburse for tax. To avoid paying taxes on your purchases, e-mail the PTSA to ask for a copy of the tax exempt form to show businesses.
- My teacher’s favorite drink is alcoholic. Can I send alcohol to school?
- No. Alcohol cannot be brought onto the school grounds.
- Can I use the class list of names and e-mails for other things outside of Room Parent responsibilities?
- No. Parents agreed to share their contact information for class parties and Room Parent communication only.
- Can we bring in homemade snacks for the parties?
- No. Snacks must be from the SnackSafely list – The peanut and tree nut free guide (Traditional Guide).
- Can I work with other room parents?
- Absolutely! In fact, it would be much easier for classes in the same grade to work together to coordinate class gifts, crafts, games, etc. We would encourage you to do that.
Christmas Party Ideas
